A total of £3m has been awarded to 10 tourism projects across Scotland, to improve visitor facilities and promote low-carbon transport options.
The projects have all been recommended for approval - subject to conditions - to receive cash from round five of the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).
Managed by VisitScotland on behalf of the Scottish Government, the RTIF was created to improve the quality of the visitor experience in rural areas that have faced pressure on their infrastructure due to this increase in visitor numbers.
It aims to reduce the impact of visitor numbers on local communities and facilities and create a more collaborative and sustainable approach to infrastructure provision and long-term maintenance of local facilities.
Round five of RTIF saw 15 applications considered by the assessment panel, made up of representatives from the Scottish Government, COSLA, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise, NatureScot and Architecture and Design Scotland; as well as VisitScotland.
It was open to applications from local authorities and national park authorities, in partnership with their communities.
Successful applications this round included the first RTIF approval for Renfrewshire Council for Lochwinnoch Boardwalk, in partnership with the RSPB.
Other round five applications recommended for approval include:
- £477,270 to upgrade the existing visitor infrastructure on the Isle of Staffa, in Argyll & Bute, to improve the visitor experience by reducing overcrowding and increasing visitor safety. This will comprise development of an upgraded and significantly larger boat landing jetty which will provide additional space for seating and a waiting area.
- £350,000 towards the Glencoe Greenway, a new low-level active travel route which will follow the A82 from Glencoe village into Glencoe National Nature Reserve and will directly connect with the National Cycle Network route 78 – the Caledonia Way. The project comprises two elements: A new path and an upgraded pathway.
- £207,886 to develop and build accessible path links to Bonaly Country Park, just outside Edinburgh, as part of the Pentland Hills Sustainable Access project, which seeks to reduced car parking requirements by providing accessible non-vehicle links to the park.
- £85,553 to develop six overnight motorhome bays with electric hook-ups and grey water disposal point as part of the Urgha Aire project, just outside Tarbert in the Outer Hebrides, to help deal with the increase in campervans and motorhomes arriving on the island.
Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said: “The fifth round of funding will provide the infrastructure required for locals and visitors to enjoy Scotland’s attractions in a sustainable way and will help provide greater access to iconic sites, enhance passenger flow, decrease crowding and also help to reduce car parking requirements.”
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland's chief executive, said: “Increasingly, visitors are becoming more mindful of their impacts on the world around them, both socially and environmentally.
“Being a responsible visitor and respecting and protecting our environment and communities makes for a better experience for everyone - RTIF projects will help ensure our visitor destinations remain sustainable for years to come.”
Councillor Donald Crichton, chair of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sustainable Development Committee, said: “We are delighted that the Urgha Aire project has been successful in this round of RTIF funding as it will enable the provision of a much-needed overnight electric hook-up area for motorhomes and campervans and therefore alleviating some parking and traffic issues in Tarbert.”
Councillor Ken Gowans, chair of The Highland Council’s Economy and Infrastructure Committee, said: “There is no doubt that previous funding awards have made a significant difference to our communities, environment and the visitor experience - so I look forward to seeing the development of these new infrastructure projects as they support the ongoing work to improve sustainable and responsible tourism within our region.”
Since the start of the fund in 2018 - and including this latest round - £18m of grant funding has been awarded to 74 projects across rural Scotland from 18 local authorities and both national park authorities – from the Borders to Shetland.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
