Tourism and events partner updates

12 minute read• Last updated: 2 September 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.

December updates

Two cyclists stand on a pebbled bay looking out towards sea on a sunny day. — Bay at The Back of The Ocean, Iona
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Islands Business Resilience Fund – expansion announced

The Scottish Government has announced businesses in Coll, Tiree, the Small Isles, Mull, Iona, Ulva, Gometra, Barra, Vatersay, Islay and Jura which have been impacted by ferry disruption are now able to access financial support thanks to the expansion of the Island Business Resilience Fund.

This fund is managed by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) on behalf of the government and aims to support those sectors being impacted most, such as the visitor economy.

Applications will be accepted from Monday 8 December and close on 12 January 2026. The amount awarded will be based on demand and the size and scale of organisations that apply.

Find out more about the fund eligibility criteria and apply on the HIE website.

Changes to VisitAberdeenshire business listings

New steps to access and update business listings on visitabdn.com are being implemented.

If your business is already listed, you will receive an email over the coming weeks inviting you to reset your password and log in to the new portal. There are a number of new features you can now take advantage of, including uploading your latest special offers.

VisitAberdeenshire will host a short webinar on 7 January to help you explore the portal and understand how to make the most of this free resource. Register for the training session.

If you don't yet have a listing or require access to your listing sooner, please contact VisitAberdeenshire on submissions@visitabdn.com.

November updates

The winners of the Scottish Thistle Awards 2025 pose proudly on stage with their awards — Scottish Thistle Awards 2025
© VisitScotland

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.

October updates

Help empower Scotland’s young talent with Career Ready

Join over 300 organisations across Scotland already working with Career Ready to connect with and inspire young people – while gaining real business value.

By providing a mentor and a paid summer 2026 internship, your organisation can:

open doors for young people from lower socio-economic backgrounds
invest in Scotland’s future workforce by building skills and confidence
grow your own team through meaningful mentoring experiences
showcase your organisation and the variety of careers it offers

A small commitment can make a big difference with 98.6% of Career Ready students go on to positive post-school destinations. There is a particular demand for mentors in Dundee this year.

Find out more including information on how to apply on the Career Ready website.

A cheerful assistant serves a customer — Lagg Distillery
© VisitScotland / Allan Myles

Scotland Loves Local Gift Card

The Scotland Loves Local campaign has launched a dedicated consumer page and gift card site. It encourages people to spend locally and support businesses within their communities. Each prepaid Mastercard-based card is tied to a specific local authority area and can be spent only in participating local businesses – keeping money circulating in the local economy. In short, it's great way to give your business and local High Street a much-needed boost.

Businesses can sign up free of charge to accept the card, provided they have a Mastercard-compatible payment terminal. The newly updated Business FAQs explain how the scheme works and how to get involved.

Learn more at the Scotland Loves Gift Card FAQ page.

Find about more about the campaign on our Scotland Loves Local page.

September updates

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.

A lady is served plates of colourful looking food in a bar setting. — Bootleggers Bar and Grill, Elgin
© VisitScotland

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.

Halloween festival performers — Performers at Paisley Halloween Festival
© Dylan Glynn

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.

August updates

Looking across the city of Edinburgh — Edinburgh skyline
© VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Be part of Edinburgh’s Resident Days initiative

Forever Edinburgh are calling on venues, attractions and experience providers to get involved in Resident Days, an opportunity for residents with an EH postcode to enjoy free or half-priced access to local leisure and hospitality experiences on specific days.

Proposed Resident Days are:

World Tourism Day (Saturday 27 September 2025)
Carers Rights Day (Friday 21 November 2025)
St Andrew’s Day (Sunday 30 November 2025)
Burns Night (Sunday 25 January 2026)

You can choose to take part in one, some, or all; and as a participating partner, you will benefit from Forever Edinburgh’s supporting marketing campaign.

Find out more and get involved on the Forever Edinburgh website.

Edinburgh Visitor Levy – accommodation guidance

Understand your responsibilities as an accommodation provider under Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy scheme, with newly published guidance from the City of Edinburgh Council’s visitor levy team.

Find out more and read the information on the City of Edinburgh Council's website.

Scottish Thistle Awards national-only categories finalists

The finalists have been announced for the Scottish Thistle Awards 2025 national-only categories. The three categories are:

Best Luxury Experience
Best Business Event
Outstanding Sporting Event

The winners of these categories will be announced at the National Final ceremony on the 20 November.

Find out more about the Scottish Thistle Awards national-only categories finalists.

A goat jumps up behind a laughing couple who are sitting in a field. — Lunan Bay Farm
© VisitScotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Scotland’s Agritourism Survey 2025 now live

Agritourism businesses can now take part in Scotland’s Agritourism Survey 2025, to help measure the industry’s scale, performance and its potential for growth in the future.

The data collected will show the impact that agritourism has on the Scottish economy and the role it plays in sustaining businesses and rural communities.

The survey is led by VisitScotland on behalf of the National Agritourism Strategy Board and is open to all farms, crofts, estates, and smallholdings currently operating, or considering, agritourism or farm retail.

The deadline to take part is midnight on Monday 15 September.

Find out more and take part in Scotland's Agritourism Survey.

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.

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.

June updates

Celebrating Scottish manufacturers

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 was 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 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.

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.

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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