Question reference: S6W-04927
- Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 9 December 2021
-
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 23 December 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the publication of its Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) on short-term let licensing, on what evidence it considers that the tourism sector will have recovered adequately by 31 March 2023 to ensure that the licensing scheme does not add to any burden currently being experienced by the tourism sector.
Answer
The Scottish Government understands the impact that COVID-19 has had on the tourism sector which is why we have supported the tourism and hospitality sector through the pandemic, not least through an extension of 100% NDR relief for all retail leisure and hospitality premises for 2021-22.
Our proposals to licence short-term lets were developed in response to concerns raised by residents and communities across Scotland and members of all parties. It is right that we are taking action now to address these concerns. We do not consider our licensing scheme to be onerous.
We have committed to working with local authorities to review levels of short-term let activity in hotspot areas in summer 2023. This review will also seek to confirm that the wider sector is still healthy, making sure we have avoided unintended consequences.