New opportunity to drive innovation in Scottish tourism
A new fund to encourage tourism operators in Scotland to develop innovative business ideas will be launched tomorrow (3 February 2009) at the Tourism Innovation Day in Musselburgh. Scottish Enterprise's Tourism Innovation Fund will provide matched funding of up to £30,000 and professional advice for tourism companies to help them grow their business by developing new products, services, processes and new ways of working.
"This is an exciting development to stimulate innovation within tourism, especially in this challenging climate. Innovation is essential to ensure Scotland's future economic competitiveness and growth in the economy. The fund will support businesses with innovative ideas to develop new ways of working, and deliver exciting and profitable new experiences for visitors to Scotland, so they spend more, stay longer and recommend Scotland to their friends and relatives," said Julie Franchetti, Scottish Enterprise's tourism innovation manager.
The new initiative is based on the success of the previous Tourism Innovation Development Awards (TIDAs). Support is aimed at individual or collaborative project ideas that offer genuinely innovative new experiences and give visitors a real reason to visit Scotland. It could be a product, business process or new collaborative experience that could increase existing markets or enter new ones.
Benefits of the fund include:
- up to £30,000 in matched funding to help implement business ideas;
- up to 5 days innovation support;
- Scotland-wide publicity; and
- the ability to turn business ideas into a profitable reality.
Winning projects will aim to deliver additional growth by achieving at least one of the following:
- generating higher tourism spend;
- increasing overnight visitor numbers;
- getting visitors to stay longer;
- improving visitors' tourism experience;
- developing new market sectors; or
- extending the season outwith peak months.
"The fund will provide Scottish tourism companies real opportunities to get closer to their customers and develop new distinctive experiences that will enhance trips to Scotland. In addition, Homecoming 2009 and the weaker pound should attract more visitors to Scotland this year," added Julie Franchetti.
The Tourism Innovation Fund (TIF) Awards are open to individual tourism businesses and groups of businesses working together. Applicants must be based in the Scottish Enterprise area and derive all or most of their turnover from servicing the needs of leisure and business tourists. Preference will be given to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
The winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and publicly announced. Final application deadlines are as follows:
- Round 1: 30 April 2009
- Round 2: 30 September 2009
- Round 3: 28 January 2010
To speak to someone about the Tourism Innovation Fund, call 0845 607 8787 or email TIF@scotent.co.uk