The Scottish Government has announced that hospitality businesses will have their rates capped for the next three years.
Hotels across the Highlands have already benefitted from a cap in 2017/18 and 2018/19, and it means that rates are capped at a maximum of 12.5 per cent in real terms each year until April 1, 2022. It is hoped that last week’s news will be welcomed by the tourism industry, which is critical to the Highland economy, with B&Bs, hotels, pubs and restaurants among those set to benefit. Kate Forbes MSP welcomed the news saying: ‘this provides certainty, stability and a competitive business edge – not just for the next year but for the next three years.
‘I hope the rates cap enables businesses to make decisions with greater certainty, control their costs and invest in business growth at a time when hospitality is essential to the wider tourism industry.’