Brussels has approved a major aid scheme for tourism and gastronomy

The European Commission has approved a proposal from the transport sector to help large tourism companies and approved a major state aid scheme. Entrepreneurs in the gastro-sector and tourism who exceed the use of aid of 200,000 euros will be able to apply for a higher financial contribution to save their business. Firms can apply for aid from the large scheme immediately after increasing the financial package by EUR 37.25 million. Minister Andrej Doležal will present the large state aid scheme in question at the next government meeting. The large scheme is based on a de minimis aid scheme, with the condition for obtaining state aid remaining a 40 percent decrease in sales compared to the same period in 2019. For the same period, it is possible to apply for financial aid under only one scheme, ie either a de minimis aid scheme or a State aid scheme. "We prepared a large scheme in cooperation with experts from the gastrosector and tourism. Large companies will now also receive aid, "said Katarína Bruncková, State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, adding that the difference will be in the amount of possible uncovered fixed costs, when in a large scheme large companies will be able to apply for a financial contribution of up to 70 percent of uncovered financial costs. For small and medium-sized enterprises, this will be the limit of 90 percent. "We recommend companies that can fit up to 200,000 euros to take advantage of the de minimis aid scheme. Due to the lower volume of financial assistance, it will be administratively simpler, "said Radúz Dula, General Director of the Tourism Section of the Transport Department. Even in the large scheme, the eligible beneficiaries will be the operation of catering and accommodation facilities, travel agencies, water parks, swimming pools, tourism guides, organization of congresses and corporate exhibitions, botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserves, amusement parks, operation of cable cars and ski ski lifts, museums or historical monuments.