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Visit Scotland | Alba

The Scottish Government established Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF). We manage the fund on its behalf.

The fund aims to improve the visitor experience in rural parts of Scotland that have seen large increases in visitor numbers. In particular, it aims to help address pressure on local infrastructure or any negative impacts on communities. It does this by:

  • supporting the provision of extra facilities to meet visitor needs
  • dispersing visitors from hotspot areas
  • creating lower impact visits

The fund supported the development of 24 Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plans, which:

  • take a more strategic approach to visitor infrastructure development
  • align with the objectives of Scotland's national strategies
  • inform the fund's priorities

Scotland's national strategies

Who can apply for RTIF?

Only local authorities and national park authorities can apply for funding.

Community groups and other agencies can apply to these authorities if they have eligible projects. A project can be eligible if it has been identified in the Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development (STID) plan as a priority.

Individual businesses are not eligible for the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund.

To date, £19 million of grant funding has been awarded  to 76 projects across rural Scotland since the start of the fund in 2018. It has also helped to leverage more than £15 million in additional funding for these rural areas.

Contact our team with queries

What can RTIF support?

The fund exists to support the delivery of more responsible tourism actions. It helps to leverage additional investment for rural areas facing increased visitor demand. It stimulates collaboration in these areas to address climate change as Scotland transitions to a low carbon economy. 

Funding is focused on developing infrastructure to improve visitor management, such as:

  • low carbon transport
  • multi-use paths
  • toilets and motorhome facilities
  • visitor information signage

The fund does not support revenue activity such as the provision of rangers services, marketing, maintenance etc.

RTIF round five approved projects

RTIF round four approved projects

RTIF round three approved projects

RTIF round two approved projects

RTIF round one approved projects

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