Financial support for the tourism industry has been extended to the end of the year.

The Department for Enterprise says the travel and tourism sectors continue to face challenges from the impact of Covid-19, and existing schemes are being extended.

It’s a further boost for the industry during what the DfE has labelled a ’transitional period’ ahead of a return, it’s hoped, to normal levels of trading in 2022.

The seventh round of funding under the Strategic Capacity Scheme for accommodation businesses will open later this week and covers August and September. An eighth round will follow, offering support from October to the end of December.

Meanwhile, the Salary Support Scheme has also been extended. And the DfE says extensions to the Coronavirus Business Support Scheme for sole traders and self-employed within the industry are being made ’on an ongoing basis’.

Applications for the Business Overheads Grant scheme can be made from this week. This grant payment is available exclusively for businesses operating in the sectors to help meet salary and overheads costs.