Thanks a million from Scotland

VisitScotland announces new million pound growth fund to help tourism businesses

VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation, has announced a new Growth Fund, which will allow businesses to apply for a total of £1 million of funding over the next three years.

1st March saw the official start of a fund designed to support tourism groups throughout Scotland in marketing their product to its maximum potential.

The VisitScotland Growth Fund aims to build on the success of the European Union supported Growth Fund which saw VisitScotland along with the EU hand out a million pounds to local marketing groups throughout the nation.

In recognition of the importance of this initiative, VisitScotland has streamlined the Growth Fund into core activity and will make available another million pounds given out over a three year period.

The fund is open to Destination Organisations (DOs) and industry groups.  It can support groups with up to 50% (from £5,000 – £65,000) of their marketing costs to develop and deliver new marketing activity, to help them reach new target markets, increase visitor numbers and create the environment for visitors to do more, stay longer and spend more.

Added to this, the group will also have full access to a specially matched VisitScotland advisor and their knowledge and expertise as well as connections throughout the industry. Groups will have to commit to a three year period of activity with the overall vision to sow, reap and harvest from their marketing efforts.

The last Growth Fund saw forty-seven groups involving 2120 individual businesses from across the nation gain a total of over one million pounds in funding.

Speaking at the Scottish Tourism Week conference in Edinburgh today, Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland commented; “After the success of the previous Growth Fund, the decision to carry on even without the European Funding was a simple one. In the current economic climate, the necessity to harness local enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment through partnership building has become of paramount importance – the Growth Fund allows us to get involved at the very earliest stages of this.”

Tourism Minister, Jim Mather said: “The Scottish Government has long recognised tourism as a key economic driver. The sector makes a vital contribution to the Scottish economy and carries huge potential for future growth – and we are committed to supporting Scottish tourism to achieve the growth we all want to see.

“VisitScotland’s new £1 million Growth Fund will support efforts across the industry to achieve exactly that. It will support  businesses to find new, innovative and collaborative approaches to improve their tourism product or offering – and in doing so, provide new, exciting reasons for visitors to come to Scotland and experience all we have to offer.”

For further information about the Growth Fund as well as information about previous successful applications go to VisitScotland’s corporate website; www.visitscotland.org/growthfund

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle edits the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite, latest special Vision offer at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1146486.php