The Highland Council successfully awarded Rural Tourism Infrastructure Funding

The Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) successfully awarded The Highland Council funding provision to employ a development officer to progress a Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP). This funding will allow the Council to expand on the previous infrastructure planning work that was disrupted as COVID-19 related work took precedence and will allow a more detailed plan to be presented to the Scottish Government with a view to attracting future funding.

Tourism Committee Chair, Cllr Gordon Adam said: “Developing a Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan with communities, businesses and partnership organisations will allow the Council to plan what’s needed for Highland tourism in an environmentally sensitive way. I welcome the decision by the Scottish Government to allow local authorities and national parks the opportunity to apply to the RTIF for this work and look forward to the Development Plan being presented to the tourism committee in early 2022.”

The Highland Council submitted a RTIF bid for funding in spring 2021 and was successful in being awarded a grant to cover up to 90% of the costs of employing an officer for a fixed term of approximately 6 months to produce the STIDP. A project officer has been appointed to undertake this role and took up post this month. A successful application was submitted by the Cairngorms National Park Authority who will be undertaking similar work for the part of the Highlands that falls within the Cairngorms National Park.

Following completion of the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plan (STIDP), the Council will submit a copy of the plan to VisitScotland for further consideration with the Scottish Government by January 2022. The plan, along with those from other areas is anticipated to then be used to help guide the planning of any future tourism infrastructure funding programmes.