Tourism Innovation Fund

European Regional Development Fund logoThe Tourism Innovation Fund (TIF) provides matched funding of up to £30,000 and professional one-to-one advice to help develop and commercialise the very best innovative tourism ideas.

TIF support is allocated via a competitive judging process. Successful projects will demonstrate industry-level tourism innovation combined with a real potential to achieve significant business growth as a result (for example, generating higher tourism spend; increasing overnight visitor numbers; getting visitors to stay longer; or extending the season outwith peak months).

The intention is for winning projects to become exemplars for Scottish tourism innovation and where possible be developed into case studies to help stimulate further innovation throughout the industry.

The innovative idea could be based on a product, service or business process. Financial support from TIF can contribute to costs incurred in the development of an idea (for example, market research, producing samples, feasibility studies or preparing for market launch). Terms and conditions apply.

TIF does not support projects that are intended to only promote existing products and/or experiences - i.e. pure marketing projects. VisitScotland's Business Growth Fund supports collaborative marketing project ideas.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be based in the Scottish Enterprise area. Businesses in the Highlands and Islands Enterprise area should refer to the HIE website for more information on innovation support
  • The proposed project is required to derive the majority of its turnover from servicing the needs of leisure and/or business tourists.
  • Applications from public sector organisations will not be accepted; however public organisations can form part of a collaboration with a private sector business or businesses.

Although open to individual tourism businesses, TIF would particularly welcome collaborative applications from groups of businesses working together. Preference will also be given to small or medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

Application Process

Support will be awarded via a competitive process that incorporates the following stages:

1. Submission of an Application Form

  1. Complete the pre-application checklist to ensure you are eligible to apply.
  2. Once you have completed the checklist, you can download a Tourism Innovation Fund Application Form and Guidance Notes.
  3. Complete the form and email as an attachment to TIF@scotent.co.uk by the relevant closing date:

Round 1 - 30 April 2009 - COMPLETE
Round 2 - 30 September 2009 - COMPLETE
Round 3 - 28 January 2010 - COMPLETE
Round 4 - 30 April 2010 - COMPLETE
Round 5 - 30 September 2010
Round 6 - 28 January 2011
Round 7 - 29 April 2011
Round 8 - 30 September 2011
Round 9 - 27 January 2012

4. Application Forms received after a closing date will be accepted into the next round.

2. Presentation to a Judging Panel

  1. A short-list of applicants will be drawn up based on Application Forms received. Applicants will then be invited to present to a Judging Panel consisting of members of the Scottish Enterprise Tourism and Innovation teams supported by tourism industry representatives.
  2. Winning projects will be selected by Scottish Enterprise.

Contact us

For more information call 0845 607 8787 or email TIF@scotent.co.uk

Tourism Innovation in Action

The Tourism Innovation in Action brochure outlines how some Scottish tourism businesses have benefited from their innovative approach and provides information on further innovation support available for tourism companies.

PDF document Download the Tourism Innovation in Action brochure to find out more (PDF,1.59Mb) Opens in a new window

PDF document Download issue five of the Tourism Innovation in Action brochure (PDF,473kb) Opens in a new window