Visitor attractions partners

3 minute read • Last updated: 25 February 2025

Scotland’s visitor attractions are supported by key organisations that provide funding, training, advocacy, and business development resources. These partners help museums, heritage sites, cultural venues, and other businesses enhance the visitor experience, preserve and promote Scotland’s rich heritage, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Whether you need help with professional development, or commercial support, these organisations offer expertise to help attractions thrive.

Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions

The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) is the representative body for the visitor attractions sector in Scotland. With over 300 organisations in its membership, ASVA is the voice of the sector, engaging with government and industry bodies.

ASVA supports Scotland’s visitor attraction sector through advocacy, networking opportunities and tailored advice, offering access to training, operational guidance, and funding information.

Engaging with ASVA could help your business to enhance performance and the visitor experience you offer.

Find out more from Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.

New quality scheme

ASVA’s new quality scheme is now open with prices starting from £250. The scheme is not-for-profit and tailored specifically to your needs. Any business can sign up but there are additional benefits for ASVA members.

Learn more about ASVA's quality scheme.

Historic Environment Scotland

Standing stones viewed in landscape — Calanais Standing Stones

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body set up to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.

HES plays a crucial role in supporting tourism businesses associated with Scotland's rich historical and cultural heritage. By offering guidance and resources to visitor attractions that showcase Scotland's monuments and historical sites, they help enhance visitor experiences through conservation efforts, educational programs, and promotional activities. HES ensures that Scotland’s heritage attractions are visible, accessible and educational.

Find out more about Historic Environment Scotland.

Museums Galleries Scotland

Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the national development body supporting over 450 museums and galleries across Scotland.

MGS enhances this sector through strategic funding, advocacy in partnership with the Scottish Government, and tailored advice to local communities.

The wide range of services they offer the sector extend to regular training programs for staff, ensuring a fair workplace, and effective project management that tackles sensitive historical narratives, all part of their comprehensive strategy to promote and preserve Scotland's rich museum heritage.

Find out more from Museums Galleries Scotland.

Association for Cultural Enterprises

The Association for Cultural Enterprises represents over 1,650 arts, heritage and cultural sites across the UK and beyond.

It primarily supports visitor, cultural, and heritage attractions by providing resources and training to improve commercial skills and revenue generation.

They focus on enhancing retail, publishing, and product development within museums, galleries, heritage sites, and cultural institutions. The association can help you innovate and thrive in a changing marketplace while maximising visitor engagement and financial sustainability.

Find out more about the Association for Cultural Enterprises.

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