Tourism and events partner updates

CyberScotland Week is back

CyberScotland Week returns for its eighth year from 23 - 28 February 2026 and organisations, businesses and community groups across Scotland can get involved by hosting an event or activity.

The 2026 theme continues last year’s focus on “Can’t Hack it?!” highlighting how everyone in Scotland can take simple, practical steps to stay safer online. From individuals and families to small businesses and large organisations, the message is clear: improving cyber resilience does not have to be complicated, but it does require awareness and action.

Businesses can get involved by hosting an event – you could host a panel session, workshop, webinar, coffee morning or drop-in session, and play your part in helping everyone in Scotland stay safe online.

Find out more and register your event on the CyberScotland Week website.

Scotland's Marine Tourism Conference

Sail Scotland have announced details of their annual conference.

Part of the national Scottish Tourism Month Programme and proudly supported by VisitScotland, this annual full day industry event is specifically for the marine tourism sector and is a unique opportunity for the whole industry, not just Sail Scotland members, to come together, learn, and network with others.

There is a packed programme lined up, with engaging content including discussions and sessions with a focus on:

• strategic importance of marine tourism and sustainable and responsible consumer behaviour
• the importance of continued investment in marketing, infrastructure and product development

The conference will be held in Glasgow on the 25 February. Book now and take advantage of the early bird discount using the code SS-EARLY10.

Find more details and book your ticket now.

VisitAberdeenshire launch updated visitor sites and more

With a completely redesigned layout to improve user experience and create seamless journeys, the visitabdn.com site aims to inspire visitors from the planning stage through to the moment they leave.

Local businesses can benefit from greater visibility and stronger promotion of experiences, events and offerings helping to drive engagement, bookings and footfall.

Alongside the main visitor site,  VisitAberdeenshire have also launched a new Content Hub, Business Community (industry site), Travel Trade and Aberdeen Convention Bureau websites, making it easier than ever to access information and resources.

Scottish Thistle Awards – the winners are crowned!

The excellence and innovation of Scotland’s tourism industry was celebrated at the Scottish Thistle Awards final on Thursday 20 November.

An amazing evening saw outstanding businesses, events and individuals from across the country recognised and the award winners announced.

Find out about the winners from across all the award categories.

Tay Country Toolkit for group operators 

If you are a coach operator or group organiser planning a visit to Tay Country, then check out Scotland’s Tay Country Group Operator Toolkit. 

This free resource offers insights and practical guidance for planning group experiences in Angus, Fife, Perthshire, and the city of Dundee. 

The toolkit includes: 

• coach friendly destinations
• parking and driver facility locations 
• group friendly attractions and accommodation 
• seasonality and event information 
• key contacts and resources 

Find out more and download the toolkit from the Scotland’s Tay County website. 

AI Adoption support for SMEs

As part of the National AI Adoption Programme, funded by The Scottish Government, The Data Lab is delivering fully funded support to help Scottish SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) and social enterprises explore how AI can improve productivity, drive innovation, and support sustainable growth.

Support opportunities include:

• courses, practical workshops and events
• hands-on AI project support
• grant support for using AI in your business

The programme will run until 31 March 2026.

Find out more about the AI support available to you on The Data Lab website.

Back Burn restoration project at Coul Den

A major restoration project led by Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) has returned a 700-metre section of the Back Burn at Coul Den reservoir, Glenrothes, to its natural course, improving biodiversity and enhancing access for local communities.

Working with Fife Council and SEPA, the project has removed old man-made structures and created a more natural channel with rock ramps, step pools and new planting to support fish and habitat recovery. Footpaths have been improved, with a new bridge and boardwalk allowing the burn to flow naturally while maintaining access.

This work forms part of a wider programme that will ultimately restore 5.8km of watercourses, with further restoration on the Back Burn through Balbirnie Estate scheduled for 2026.

This project is a strong example of responsible tourism in action. It shows how restoring natural habitats and improving access can benefit visitors, communities and the environment. It’s a useful model for:

• enhancing biodiversity
• improving visitor experiences
• supporting community wellbeing
• delivering sustainability through partnership

Find out more about the Back Burn River Restoration Project on the FCCT website.

Get ready for East Lothian Business Month

This October, Invest East Lothian are presenting a full month of business-focussed events for the East Lothian business community.

The programme includes networking events, training workshops and webinars.

East Lothian tourism businesses may be particularly interested in the How to Grow Your Business Through the Travel Trade Workshop on the 22 October.

Find more information, including the full calendar of events, on the Invest East Lothian website.

Central & East of Scotland Thistle Awards winners announced!

At an evening celebrating the very best of the tourism and events industry in the region; the Central & East of Scotland Thistle Awards winners were announced on the 11 September at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre in Edinburgh.

The awards recognise outstanding businesses, events and individuals working across the tourism and events sectors.

Find out more about the Central & East of Scotland Thistle Awards winners.

Discover more about applying for awards and accreditations.

Scottish Food & Drink September is back!

This September sees the return of Scotland Food & Drink’s month-long celebration of the sector’s people, products and produce.

The theme this year is innovation – showcasing all that is new and dynamic across Scotland’s food and drink businesses, whether that be exciting new products or cutting-edge sustainable processes.

Businesses can get involved by downloading the Scotland Food & Drink campaign toolkit containing ideas to inspire, as well as logos and assets you can use on your channels.

Find out more and download the toolkit from the Scotland Food & Drink website.

Take part in Business Baseline 2025

Business Baseline is an annual survey created to gain insight and understanding into the opportunities and challenges facing businesses in Scotland and will help inform future business support.

The survey has been designed by Business Gateway and the Improvement Service and is delivered in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Government, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), and VisitScotland. 

The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete and will close on 19 September 2025.

Find more information and take part in the Business Baseline survey.

Get involved in National Innovation Week 2025

National Innovation Week 2025 celebrates Scotland’s proud legacy of innovation and showcases Scotland’s global leadership in technological advancement.

Businesses of all types, with an interest in innovation, are invited to get involved in a series of series of events and networking opportunities.

Events will be taking place across Scotland from 22 to 26 September 2025.

Find out more on the National Innovation Week website.

Expanded Festivals Fund announced

Delivered by Creative Scotland, this Scottish Government initiated funding aims to support non-profit cultural festivals in expanding their international and domestic reach and profile, and/or to create opportunities for skills or sector development. 

Festivals can apply for funding between £50,000 and £200,000 to support programmes of activity running from 1 May 2026 to 31 December 2027.

The deadline for the first stage of the applications process is Wednesday 15 October 2025.

Find full details and how to apply on the Creative Scotland website.

Scottish Start-up Month has arrived!

Business Gateway has launched a month-long celebration of Scottish entrepreneurial spirit, with a host of free tools and support for new businesses. Established businesses can also get involved and pledge support for this initiative.

Available resources include a Planning to Start toolkit and market reports for a variety of sectors, including tourism. There will also be a StartSMART webinar on 24 September at 12pm, featuring a panel discussion with three business owners which will explore what it’s really like to run a business.

Find out more about what’s on offer and how to get involved on the Business Gateway website.

Digital support for Highland tourism operators

Highland and Islands Enterprise are offering tourism businesses in the Highland council area the opportunity to receive up to three days of free, personalised, one-to-one digital advice from industry experts.

Delivered through the Northern Innovation Hub, eligible businesses can receive guidance with selecting and implementing digital solutions designed to support their organisation’s growth. 

Find more details including how to apply on the HIE website.

Funding in support of Scotland’s diaspora now open

Applications are now open for the Scottish Connections Fund 2025-26, which helps strengthen Scotland’s international diaspora.   

It offers funding to individuals and organisations around the world to take forward new and innovative projects to bring our diaspora communities together and promote Scotland’s reputation and interests.

Organisations and individuals can apply for a grant of up to £5,000 to support their project.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on 9 September 2025.

Find out more including information on how to apply for the Scottish Connections Fund.

Caravan park security awareness

In light of increased caravan thefts in recent weeks, Police Scotland are reminding camping and caravan parks to be vigilant this summer and consider the security measures they have in place.

Find information and top tips on caravan security on the Secured by Design website.

Scottish Thistle Awards regional finalist

The shortlists for the Scottish Thistle Awards regional finals have been announced. The awards celebrate excellence and innovation across different sectors of the tourism industry. There are five regional finals which take place in September and October across the country, followed by a national final in November.

Find out more about the Scottish Thistle Award regional finalists.

Excellence Award finalists

Scotland Food & Drink have announced the finalists for the Excellence Awards, which celebrate the best of our food and drink scene. The final takes place on 4 September at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Glasgow.

See this year’s Excellence Award finalists.

See more about applying for awards and accreditations.

Scotland’s berries

Scotland Food & Drink have launched a new Berries of Scotland campaign to raise awareness of the heritage and importance of our berry sector. The campaign runs for four months and there is a toolkit available with assets including logos, leaflets, banners and social media imagery.

Find out more about the Berries of Scotland campaign and download the toolkit.

New visitor marketing campaign for Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh Council’s destination marketing team Forever Edinburgh have launched their new visitor marketing campaign for the city.

Stay Different will promote longer stays, off-peak and winter visits, as well as the lesser known attractions of Edinburgh.

This is a three year campaign aiming to support a more balanced and sustainable visitor economy by focusing on getting visitors to experience Edinburgh in a mindful and sustainable way.

A Stay Different microsite went live on Wednesday, 28th June 2025: www.edinburgh.org/staydifferent

USA tariffs guidance

With the recent introduction of trade tariffs, Find Business Support have put together a variety of resources to help Scottish businesses prepare and respond to the challenges created by these changes. They have also collated official news and updates on the subject.

Find useful resources and updates on USA trade tariffs on Find Business Support.

Drive on the Left – road safety campaign

With the peak tourist season approaching the Scottish Government and Road Safety Scotland have once again launched their ‘Drive on the Left’ campaign to remind visitors of the need to drive on the left on Scotland’s roads.

Businesses can help deliver the message to visitors by distributing a range of ‘Drive on the Left’ campaign materials, including:

• wristbands
• leaflets / posters with QR codes
• videos

Drive on the Left campaign assets are available from Road Safety Scotland.

Get ready for the European Accessibility Act

From 28 June 2025 the Euopean Accessibility Act (EAA) will apply for any business that trades in the EU, including UK based organisations providing products and services to consumers in the EU.

It applies to any business with at least 10 staff and a turnover above €2 million.

It’s aim is to ensure people with disabilities have equal access to products and services, including those sold online. It could for example, apply to a tourism business selling accommodation on their website, or the online sale of tickets for a visitor experience.

Find information on preparing for the EAA on the Business Disability Forum, or take a look at AbilityNet's free five-step EAA-Readiness Guide.

Lyme Disease Awareness Month

Resources are available to help you spread the word to your customers throughout May, which is Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Materials highlight the preventative measures that can be taken to avoid tick bites and provide advice on what to do if bitten.

Find a range of stakeholder assets on lyme disease for your marketing channels from the Scottish Government.

Scottish Enterprise launch a new export assessment tool

The Scottish Enterprise export assessment tool is aimed at Scottish businesses that are completely new to exporting, or those already exporting that want to target new markets, export new products, or make changes to their approach. The tool is available online and it’s completely free to use.

It takes less than 10 minutes to complete and provides a detailed export progress report of where the business is in their export journey, what the next steps should be, and what support is available to them.

Find out more about Scottish Enterprise’s digital export assessment tool.