Funding bonanza for Arran tourism industry
Tourism on Arran is to receive millions of pounds of funding in two recently announced funding initiatives aimed at celebrating our natural heritage and promoting the area as a top tourist destination.
The Scottish Government announced a £300,000 funding boost for tourism in Ayrshire, Firth of Clyde and Clyde Islands at an industry event hosted by Scottish Tourism Alliance at The Waterside Hotel in West Kilbride on Wednesday.
Attending the event were more than 100 stakeholders from across the region, including Linda Johnston of Auchrannie Leisure Ltd and Alastair Dobson of Taste of Arran and Arran Dairies.
The event offered local businesses and other stakeholders the opportunity to be among the first to hear about the funding and how to be involved.
Additionally a £7 fund was announced on Monday through the government’s European Regional Development Fund programme and match funding from other sources.
And £5 million of that will be from the Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund, which is led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), which will invest in projects that benefit the Highlands and Islands by improving the experience of visitors who go to discover and explore the region’s nature and culture.
The fund will invest in around 10 major new projects. In addition to promoting the nature and culture of the area, this investment aims to create and support jobs, helping communities to sustain local services.
Job creation is an important measure of success for the fund and so all projects are encouraged to demonstrate benefits such as creating and sustaining employment, businesses and services in the local community.
However, the fund is not suitable for applications from the private sector, individuals, commercial enterprise or organisations run entirely by volunteers.
Kenneth Gibson MSP commented: ‘I welcome this significant investment, from which the isles of Arran and Cumbrae have an opportunity to benefit.
‘Projects must be seeking an European Regional Development Fund grant of a minimum of £250,000 with a total eligible project cost of £360,000 or more, so this offers an enormous potential.
‘The funding round closes on Monday April 22. Visit the dedicated Natural and Cultural Heritage Fund website for further information on eligibility and how to apply.’