Tourism and events partner updates

6 minute read• Last updated: 12 August 2025

Keep up-to-date with news in the tourism and events industry. We’ll update these highlights regularly with key information and opportunities available to your business from our partners across the sector.

August updates

Apply now for the Changing Places Toilets Scotland Fund

Administered by Inspiring Scotland, this £10 million fund will support the increased provision of up to 150 Changing Places Toilets to meet the needs of disabled people who require carer support and equipment to use facilities.

Non-profits and small businesses can apply for project costs, and up to £10,000 in development costs, associated with building a Changing Places Toilet. Priority will be given to areas which do not currently have adequate provision of Changing Places Toilets.

The deadline for applications is midday on Monday 20 October 2025.

Find out more including information on how to apply on the Inspiring Scotland website.

Looking across a calm sea inlet to a lighthouse as the sun sets on the ocean's horizon. — The Museum of Scottish Lighthouses, Fraserburgh.
© VisitScotland / Damian Shields

Get the latest news from VisitAberdeenshire

VisitAberdeenshire’s industry newsletters are packed full of great information for tourism businesses across Aberdeenshire and the city of Aberdeen.

The August edition features their 2024/25 Impact Report, details of how to list your business on their new website, information on marketing campaigns, upcoming events and more.

You can read the August newsletter and sign up for future editions on the VisitAberdeenshire website.

Scotland Food & Drink and HIT Scotland Legacy Scholarship Award – finalists announced

Aberdeenshire local, Alanna Taylor, Fraser Cameron, from Dumfries, and Perthshire-based Andrew Jackett, have been selected by judges as the final three candidates for this new scholarship award for Scotland-based chefs.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to spend a week at The Ritz London, led by Executive Chef John Williams MBE.

The winner will be revealed at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards on Thursday 4 September at DoubleTree by Hilton, Glasgow.

Find out more about the finalists and the legacy scholarship on the Scotland Food & Drink website.

July updates

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.

Turquoise coloured sea washes onto a long quiet beach on a sunny day. — Baleshare beach, North Uist
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Islands Business Resilience Fund

If you run a small or medium-sized tourism business and ferry disruption has impacted your operations, the Islands Business Resilience Fund could help.

Non-repayable revenue grants in region of £3,000 up to £35,000 are open to those operating in oneof the following islands: Arran, Benbecula, Berneray, Colonsay, Eriskay, Grimsay, North Uist and South Uist.

This fund is being delivered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on behalf of Scottish Government.

Applications must be received before Monday 1 September 2025.

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

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.

Net Zero 50 – last call for nominations

If you know someone who has made a significant impact on the sustainability movement, why not nominate them for the Net Zero 50 List 2025?

The Net Zero 50 List 2025 in partnership with CGI and the Green Business Journal recognises individuals across a range of sectors that are leading the way towards a low-carbon future.

Entries and nominations close at midday on Friday 25 July 2025.

Find out more and make your nominations on the Net Zero 50 List 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.

Get ready for the Tall Ships Races

Aberdeen will welcome the Tall Ships Races on the 19 July, marking the start of the free four-day family festival. This will be the third stop on the month-long 2025 Tall Ships Races tour.

To help businesses in and around the city prepare for the festival, Tall Ships Races Aberdeen have created a business guide detailing timings, locations and road closures, along with hashtags and tips to use in your marketing.

Print or download a copy of the business guide from the Tall Ships Races Aberdeen website.

The image shows a restaurant kitchen with plated dishes on a counter. Two chefs in white uniforms are visible in the background. — Loch Fyne Restaurant & Oyster Bar
© VisitScotland / Grant Paterson

Skills in Scottish food and drink – have your say

Scottish food and drink businesses are being asked to share their insights on the sector's key skills challenges by completing an online survey by the 15 August.

Employer feedback is crucial for updating the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership's Skills Action Plan. The current plan, launched in 2020, guides efforts to address skills issues across the industry.

Find out more about the Skills Action Plan and complete the survey.

June updates

Celebrating Scottish manufactures

Insider Media have launched the Insider Made in Scotland Awards in recognition of the companies and individuals that are advancing manufacturing in Scotland.

Whether it be food and drink, renewable energy solutions or digital technology, our tourism and events industry benefits from a host of excellent Scottish manufacturers supplying high quality products and services.

The deadline for entries is Wednesday 30 July with the awards taking place at the Voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 25 September.

Find more details on the Insider Made in Scotland award categories and how to enter.

Three people in a loch.They are enjoying themselves and are attached to flotation devices. — Enjoying Scotland's waters safely
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Water safety - raising awareness amongst your customers

Water Safety Scotland are calling upon tourism businesses and events to raise awareness of the risks around water.

Scotland is renowned for its beaches, shorelines, lochs and rivers, and while they are beautiful places to enjoy, they can present very real dangers.

Download a Water Safety Code poster from Water Safety Scotland to display in public customer areas, eg in bedrooms as part of guest information packs, or on notice boards or display counters.

The poster is free and available in English, Chinese, French, German, Gaelic, Polish, Punjabi and Ukrainian.

Print or download a copy from the Water Safety Scotland website and help make sure our visitors enjoy Scotland’s waters safely.

Regional Food Fund – successful applicants announced

Covering a range of food and drink initiatives across Scotland, successful applicants to the Regional Food Fund are set to benefit from grants of up to £5,000 in 2025/26.

Delivered by the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership and supported by the Scottish Government, the Regional Food Fund aims to provide support for small-scale regional and collaborative projects across the country.

The latest funding recipients include a food and drink festival in the Outer Hebrides, a virtual farmers’ market for Argyll & The Isles and the promotion of Scotland’s artisanal cheeses.

Find out more about the Regional Food Fund 2025/26 projects.

Man sitting at laptop looking at his phone. — Suspicious emails, texts or phone calls may be a scam.
© VisitScotland / Matt Davis

Be aware – VisitScotland scam email

Some businesses have been in touch with us to flag scam emails claiming to be selling a VisitScotland distribution / member list.

We are not working with any other organisation to contact you on our behalf and our distribution / member list has not been made available to purchase.

Should you be contacted by a third party - or if you are unsure whether the person who has contacted you works for VisitScotland - please get in touch by emailing business.support@visitscotland.com and we'll confirm whether the communication is from us.

Tips from Police Scotland

Police Scotland has a host of advice and information related to scams and fraud which may assist you in identifying false approaches:

be on guard if someone turns up unexpectedly
don’t assume it’s real – professional-looking websites, adverts or social media posts don’t always mean that an opportunity is genuine
criminals can use the names of well-known brands or individuals to make their scams appear legitimate
don’t be rushed or pressured into making a decision – a genuine organisation won’t force you to part with your money
avoid uninvited investment offers, especially those over cold calls

Find more advice for businesses at the Police Scotland website.

May updates

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 goes 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.

Remind your visitors to drive on the left.
© VisitScotland / Cutmedia

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.

Scotland Food & Drink and HIT Scotland Legacy Scholarship Award

Applications for this new scholarship are open to any chef in Scotland with at least five years of experience working full-time in a professional kitchen. The successful scholarship candidate will have the opportunity to spend a week at The Ritz London, led by Executive Chef John Williams MBE.

Applications are now open and will close on Friday, 13 June 2025.

Find out more about the Legacy Scholarship.

A dog with its mistress on a woodland path. — Be mindful of ticks and stick to paths if out walking.
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

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.

April updates

New quality scheme

ASVA’s new quality scheme is now open to all attractions, activities and experience providers with prices starting from £250. The scheme is not-for-profit and owned and overseen by the businesses themselves, so its tailored specifically to your needs. There is also specific training and services to support the scheme. Any business can sign up but there are additional benefits for ASVA members.

Find out more on ASVA's quality scheme.

A woman standing and a woman in a wheelchair look at a museum exhibit. — National Museum of Scotland
© VisitScotland / Peter Dibdin

Edinburgh launches new accessibility guide for the city

Forever Edinburgh has launched the Edinburgh: Accessible Highlights Guide in partnership with award-winning Edinburgh-based disabled access charity, Euan’s Guide.

The guide highlights leading attractions, experiences and events across the city that are providing facilities, products and services for those with accessibility requirements.

If your business or event is interested in featuring in future editions of the guide, then please email Forever Edinburgh to find out more.

Wildfire advice

Everyone is advised to be aware of a wildfire risk this spring in Scotland. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have created a toolkit to help you share this key message with your customers in-person and through your marketing materials.

Wildfire Campaign Toolkit 2025

Martyn’s Law

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 (also known as Martyn’s Law) received Royal Assent on Thursday 3 April. It will introduce new regulations to ensure venues and events are better prepared, protected and ready to respond in the event of a future terrorist attack. There will be an implementation period of at least 24 months before the act comes into force.

UK Government website factsheet

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