Tourism and events

Support for tourism businesses

We work with stakeholder groups to build on existing advantages and increase productivity and sustainable growth in Scotland's tourism industry.

We have also established a range of agencies to support tourism businesses and those working in the industry. These are:

• Business Gateway, which provides advice and access to free business support services
• Scottish Enterprise, which promotes economic growth in eastern, central and southern Scotland
• Highlands & Islands Enterprise, which promotes economic growth in north-west Scotland
• the Scottish Ancestral Tourism Group, which helps businesses maximise income from ancestral tourism

We support these agencies in delivering various initiatives designed to develop and grow the tourism industry. Notable initiatives include:

• accessible/inclusive tourism
• business events including VisitScotland's Conference Bid Fund, which is match-funded by cities and can be applied for by convention bureaus or local authorities
• brown tourist signposting
• marine and coastal tourism
• support for the redevelopment of Inverness Castle