Destination Management Organisations at risk of closure due to
the coronavirus pandemic will receive financial support thanks to
a new £1.3 million scheme launched by the Department for Digital,
Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) today.
The funding, which is available to any at-risk DMO in England
which usually receives at least 50% of its income from commercial
sources, will be used to cover operating costs and the cost of
employees that cannot be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job
Retention Scheme because they provide crucial business support
services.
Tourism Minister said:
At the moment it is of utmost importance that everyone plays
their part and stays at home to protect the NHS and save lives.
However, we also need to act now to help the tourism sector be as
strong as possible when we get through this pandemic. Destination
Management Organisations will play a vital role in this recovery
and this fund will support their essential work.
DMOs provide expert advice and guidance to local businesses and
are a crucial part of developing and promoting English tourism.
As a result of the coronavirus outbreak, a number of DMOs are
currently facing cash flow issues and loss of commercial income.
This funding will ensure that DMOs can continue to provide
critical business support and start to prepare for recovery.
Under the scheme, DMOs will be able to receive up to £2,500 per
month for two members of non-furloughed staff who provide crucial
business support services and up to £5,000 to cover operating
costs.
VisitEngland Acting CEO Patricia Yates said:
Tourism has been one of the earliest and hardest hit of all
economic sectors and this fund will help to ensure DMOs can
continue to provide crucial support and expert guidance to the
hundreds of thousands of small-to-medium sized businesses that
make-up England’s tourism sector. Our intention is to get the
funds out quickly to DMOs with a light touch application process
as we work with them in recovery planning, to ensure that tourism
rebounds and once again becomes one of the most successful and
vibrant sectors of the economy.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
The funding will last until 30th June 2020 and is repurposed from
the Discover England Fund. DMOs play a vital role in the
development and promotion of English tourism. There are an
estimated 150 in England, each running marketing campaigns,
providing advice to local tourism businesses and conducting
research on behalf of their members. Many also manage central
Government grant schemes like the Discover England Fund.
