Our role in tourism
Tourism is one of seven key sectors identified in the Economic Strategy and SE works with the private sector and public sector partners to realise the sector’s potential and contribution to economic growth in Scotland. Our main roles in tourism are:
- providing advice and support to enable Scottish tourism businesses to be internationally competitive and grow
- encouraging and supporting tourism businesses to work together to tackle common issues, share experience and best practice and deliver joint development projects
- supporting investment in key infrastructure projects to enable growth in the sector
Our tourism priorities
- Innovation, to establish a culture of innovation in the industry around effective use of market intelligence, business collaboration and investment in new products and services
- Destination Development, to realise the full tourism and economic value of the main tourism destinations in the SE area through a coordinated approach to investment and improving the quality of the visitor experience
- Product Development, to maximise the value of key Scottish tourism assets such as golf, outdoor activities and Scottish food and drink
- Company Growth, to develop strong leadership and management skills within those tourism businesses with growth potential and those that will are key to realising the potential of our key destinations and products
Our main tourism support activities
Tourism Innovation Programme
A programme to help tourism businesses develop and implement new business ideas. This includes: an annual programme of tourism innovation workshops and funding and advisory support through the Tourism Innovation Fund for highly innovative ideas in tourism.
Tourism Intelligence Scotland
A partnership project with Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and VisitScotland to gather and disseminate market intelligence to tourism businesses.
Other support
Support for local tourism partnerships in the main tourism destinations in the Scottish Enterprise area, including funding for project management resources and business and product development projects.
Support for industry groups working in product or market areas with high growth potential e.g. mountain biking, golf, business tourism and Scottish food and drink.
Tourism infrastructure projects, usually in partnership with local authorities or other government agencies. Our current supported projects include the new arena at the SECC, the replacement stands for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the new Forestry Commission Scotland mountain bike visitor centre at Glentress.
Intensive one to one advice and support to over 120 tourism companies that have identified high growth potential
Support through workshops, seminars and web-based resources on a wide range of researched and specific business issues such as, strategic planning, business improvement, leadership, innovation, market and workforce development.
Partners
The delivery of the Government Economic Strategy depends on the efforts of all public agencies across Scotland working towards the same goal.