A £100 million fund to support small and medium-sized marine tourism businesses has been welcomed, but owners have called for a simpler process.
Sail Scotland had lobbied the Scottish Government to provide assistance to the industry in a bid to help the marine and adventure tourism sector survive.
Both organisations had received correspondence from members who were highly concerned after failing to qualify for any other government support.
Sail Scotland estimates 95% of business could be lost across the sector this year due to the industry’s reliance on seasonal visitors, with businesses only able to recover in spring 2021.
The organisation believes it could be too late for many by then.
Mark Henrys of Northern Light Cruising Company, which operates out of Oban, has said he welcomes the government funding but reckons the process to access funds could be made easier.
He said: “Right from the start of this process we have been completely ignored.
“They opened the pre-applications at 2pm and I managed to complete it at 7.30pm and we are still not even sure if it has been acknowledged yet.
“This funding will soften the blow but it could have been handled much better.
“It is not the easiest of processes and we are not even certain of getting anything at the end of it.”