Ross-shire visitor improvement projects amongst latest bids into multimillion-pound Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
ROSS-SHIRE visitor attractions are among potential bidders for the latest round of a multi-million pound fund towards improvements.
Tourism projects across the Highlands have benefited already from a share of previous payouts from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF) which is helping to enhance the visitor experience, develop infrastructure and manage and improve visitor facilities.
Highland councillors on the Tourism Committee have welcomed a fourth round of RTIF applications that will be decided in September 2021.
Tourism Committee chairman, Cllr Gordon Adam said: “With the Highland and islands being recognised in Lonely Planet’s top 10 places to visit and with a fast-growing domestic market, it has never been more important and necessary to upgrade our infrastructure and services to meet the expectations of the growing number of tourists.
"It can’t happen overnight, however, and we are very conscious that the current allocation of £3 million to the whole of Scotland will not cover anything like the range of worthwhile projects in Round 4.
“Highland Council urges the Scottish Government to increase this fund so that the Highlands can provide the quality of facilities that our increasing number of visitors expect.”
The committee noted the 21 projects that have been awarded funding from the RTIF over the last three rounds of funding and the significant improvements they will offer the rural areas of Highland.
The fourth round of the fund has been announced with a closing date for applications on September 2021.
However, organisations seeking an early contribution as a “design grant” had to apply by May 19 this year, and approaches made in relation to this have given an early indication of some of the projects that might go forward as full applications in September.
Potential applications that the council are aware of at present include Achmelvich for improved parking and toilets; Ullapool to create a promenade and visitor information hub; Gairloch Beach for car park, new toilets and motorhome waste facility, Stac Pollaidh to expand car park and build new toilets, and South Bonar for motorhome facilities and toilet block.
Other Highland potentials are Duisdale, on Skye - motorhome parking and waste facility; Isle of Canna - improved welcome facilities and toilets; Glencoe - active travel improvements; Kilmuir, Skye - parking, EV charging, toilets and motorhome waste disposal; Kilt Rock, Skye - car park expansion; Lairg - motorhome parking and waste facility; Stoer / Drumbeg /Nedd - motorhome parking and waste facility, EV charging; Glen Affric - improved parking, toilets and paths at Dog Falls; Floddigarry, Skye - new car park and toilet facilities; Loch Fleet - improved parking and visitor facilities at Littleferry; Kinlochleven - motorhome parking and facilities; Sandwood Bay - car park and toilets, and Portree - Bayfield car park.
The final deadline for "expressions of interest" should be submitted is the August 13, 2021. It is anticipated that further community led projects are likely to come forward in the coming weeks. The council is also considering whether further projects might be put forward for funding.
