Supporting food and drink tourism

Food and drink tourism businesses throughout Scotland will benefit from £220,000 of funding to help promote the sector.

The funding will be used to develop a website with resources and information to help businesses encourage more tourists to enjoy Scottish food and drink. It will also support industry-led work to unlock the growth potential of the sector.

The Food Tourism Action Plan, which launched in 2018, aims to double the amount visitors spend on food and drink from £1 billion a year to £2 billion a year by 2030.

Attending the Showcasing Scotland West regional food event in Glasgow, Tourism Secretary Fergus Ewing said:

“The Scottish Government is committed to working side by side with industry to unlock the potential of this growing sector. Our tourism industry is of crucial importance to the Scottish economy and food and drink tourism poses exciting opportunities, particularly for rural communities.

“This funding will give food and drink businesses throughout the country access to online tools and resources to enable them to market their produce to visitors.

“It will also build on the great work already underway and allow more of our hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions to showcase Scotland’s world-renowned food and drink.”

The funding will be managed by the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the representative body of the Scottish tourism industry.

Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance Marc Crothall said:

“We are absolutely delighted that the Scottish Government recognises the value of Scotland’s tourism and food and drink sectors all working together to deliver the £1billion growth ambition outlined in Scotland’s Food Tourism Action Plan.

“One of our key priorities is to create memorable experiences, and Scotland’s food and drink offering is at the heart of creating the sort of experiences today’s visitor is looking for.

“Our ambition is bold and we have a strong shared vision which will drive us forward to deliver our aims. This funding announcement offers a huge boost to both sectors and is one I welcome warmly.”

Background

The Showcasing Scotland West regional food event is being delivered by Scotland Food & Drink and the Scottish Tourism Alliance as part of the annual Scottish Tourism Alliance conference, bringing together buyers and suppliers to increase sales of Scottish produce.

The Food Tourism Scotland Action Plan, led by the Scottish Tourism Alliance and Scotland Food & Drink, sets out a range of actions to maximise the potential of two of Scotland’s most successful sectors – tourism and food and drink. 

Scotland’s future tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, was officially launched at the Scottish Tourism Alliance Signature Conference in Glasgow. The strategy, which has the vision of Scotland becoming the world leader in 21st century tourism, has received a £5.5M package of support from the Scottish Government over the next five year.