Welcome Schemes

If your business caters to visitors with specific needs or interests, then you might be interested in applying to one of our Welcome Schemes, which can guide those visitors to your door. They cover an array of visitor demographics from golfers to cyclists or those travelling with children for example. Basically anyone who may require special efforts and attention during their visit. 

All our Welcome Schemes have been developed by us in close consultation with experts in each individual field and are designed to complement our other Quality Assurance schemes. That’s organisations such as Mountaineering Scotland, Cycle Tourism Forum, and St Andrews Links Trust to name a few. 

You don’t have to take part in our Quality Assurance Schemes to apply, but we do ask that all applicants come equipped with a genuine desire to have a flexible and inclusive approach to accommodate their visitors’ diverse needs.

To apply to any of the VisitScotland Welcome Schemes, simply complete the application.

• Quality Assured businesses online form. 
• Non-Quality Assured businesses online form. 

The Ancestral Welcome Scheme is available to accommodation providers, restaurants and visitor attractions who are knowledgeable, passionate and committed to meeting and exceeding, the needs of the ancestral visitors. 

• Quality Assured businesses online form. 
• Non-Quality Assured businesses online form. 

The scheme is also open to professionals in the industry who provide family history or genealogy services. To apply for the Ancestral Welcome simply complete the online application form: genealogy support services. 

The Anglers Welcome Scheme is open to serviced, self catering, hostel, caravan and camping accommodation providers. The scheme recognises the special efforts made by businesses to provide for anglers.

The Bikers Welcome Scheme recognises the special efforts made by accommodation providers and visitor attractions to provide for motorcyclists. 

The Children Welcome Scheme recognises the special efforts made by accommodation providers, visitor attractions and cafes/restaurants to provide for children and their families. 

The Classic cars Welcome Scheme is for self catering and serviced accommodation providers as well as visitor attractions and garages who make additional effort to provide for visitors with classic cars. 

The Cyclists Welcome Scheme recognises the special efforts made by accommodation providers, visitor attractions and cafes/restaurants to provide for visitors arriving with bikes. 

The Experiencing Gaelic Scheme/Fiosraich Gàidhlig recognises accommodation providers, visitor attractions and cafes/restaurants who make a special effort for visitors wanting to experience the Gaelic language and culture.  

The Field sports Welcome Scheme recognises the special efforts made by serviced and self catering accommodation providers to welcome visitors with an interest in field sports.

The Golfers Welcome Scheme is open to serviced, self catering, hostel, caravan and camping accommodation providers who provide for visitors with golf equipment. 

The Visiting Golfers Welcome Scheme is for golf clubs who accommodate visiting golfers.

The Groups Welcome Scheme is available to serviced, self catering and hostel accommodation providers who take special efforts to support groups of visitors. 

The Pets Welcome Scheme recognises accommodation providers, visitor attractions and cafes/restaurants who make additional efforts to welcome visitors and their pets.

The Walkers Welcome Scheme is available to accommodation providers, visitors attractions and cafes/restaurants who make special efforts to provide for walkers.