VisitScotland releases £150,000 Year of Natural Growth Fund to help industry prepare for 2013
VisitScotland has launched a £150,000 cash fund to boost marketing projects themed around the Year of Natural Scotland 2013.
The Year of Natural Growth Fund has aimed to give industry groups a chance to link their offerings to the focus year of 2013 and capitilise on the opportunities it will create. The Growth Fund award will be made on a 50:50 match funding basis from a minimum of £2,500 to maximum of £25,000 - i.e. a total marketing project spend of between £5,000 to £50,000. It is hoped the money will support marketing projects showcasing Scotland’s unique natural environment and support the growth of tourism spend across the county.
With 40 per cent of all tourism spending in Scotland going on nature-based activities, and the value of wildlife tourism being estimated at over £270m, VisitScotland has encouraged the tourism industry to think about ways Year of Natural Scotland can work for them, including promoting places off the beaten track, creating itineraries for rural wildlife walks or developing nature trails through the city.
The release of the fund has coincided with the launch of an industry toolkit which tourism businesses can download from VisitScotland. The toolkit has included logos and images, and features a range of marketing tools to help businesses throughout the yearlong focus.
Fergus Ewing, Scottish government minister for energy, enterprise and tourism, commented: "The Year of Natural Scotland is an opportunity to spotlight, celebrate and promote Scotland’s outstanding natural beauty and landscapes. We can also inspire the people of Scotland and our visitors to experience and participate in Scotland’s natural heritage at festivals and events, natural tourism attractions and outdoor locations.
"It will promote the contribution of Scotland’s nature and landscapes to making our country a better place to live, work and visit and help to ensure our nature and landscape are seen as assets which contribute to the Scottish economy. Importantly, it will ensure momentum is maintained on celebrating some of Scotland’s greatest assets as we progress towards 2014, when the staging of a second Year of Homecoming, Commonwealth Games and Ryder Cup will ensure Scotland is centre stage in world terms," he continued.
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