The tourism industry is crucial to the economy of the Highlands and Islands, and proportionally more so than in the rest of Scotland. The sector includes a wide range of accommodation establishments; visitor attractions; restaurants, bars and take-away food shops; travel agencies and tour operators; libraries; and sporting and other recreational activities.
Most visitors come to the area because of its natural and cultural heritage, and to participate in outdoor activities such as walking and cycling, mountain biking and even surfing.
Famous destinations such as the Isle of Skye and Loch Ness with its fabled monster attract large numbers of visitors each year. Global whisky companies such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard showcase their individual brands through 5-star visitor centres, distinctive cultural and sporting events and exciting food and drink festivals.
The Highlands and Islands is a top destination for extreme sports enthusiasts. Sponsored events such as the Corona Extra Wave Classic PWA Windsurfing Championships in Tiree, the Nissan World Cup Mountain Bike Championships in Fort William, and the O'Neill Highland Open Surfing Championships in Thurso showcase our sports resources and attractions to a worldwide audience.
Starting as a one-day event in 2005, the annual Rockness festival is now Scotland's second largest festival attracting 35,000 and regularly named as one of the top three most scenic festivals in the world.
Tourism remains a key sector for HIE and one that can make a significant contribution to a competitive region.
Working with partners, especially VisitScotland, HIE is a key player in meeting national ambitions of a 50% growth in the value of the tourism sector equating to an additional £600m expenditure into the region.
Globally, tourism is the world's largest industry in terms of outputs, creating some eight per cent of jobs worldwide and expanding annually at the rate of four to five per cent.
News
25 April 2012
The opening ceremony of Mallaig’s new Yachting Marina will take place this Friday, celebrating the £950,000 development at the port.
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03 April 2012
The most northerly hotel in Britain is preparing for the summer 2012 season following a £70,000 refurbishment and internal upgrade programme developed with assistance from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
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14 March 2012
Sutherland-based artist Gavin Lockhart has been commissioned to undertake the next stage of public art at John O’Groats, with a series of works celebrating the dramatic and changing coastline of Caithness.
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12 March 2012
Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing today visited the site of the first luxury apartment to be built in a major project to redevelop the John O'Groats House Hotel and strengthen the local tourism industry.
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20 February 2012
A range of options for the future operation of Scotland’s busiest snowsports centre at Cairngorm is to be explored later this year by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
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Events
2012
May
18
18 May 2012 to 20 September 2012, Inverness
Crochte are inviting high-end, original Highland artists/makers to take part in Crochte 2012. Crochte is a high quality, selected showcase, where cutting edge Highland designer-makers are given the opportunity to sell their work directly to the public. The pop up gallery will be in the Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness, from 18th May until 20th September. The Highlands are split into regions, each region having 2 weeks within the gallery to promote themselves and their region.
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May
30
30 May 2012, A computer near you
Find out how employing homeworkers can help to reduce your business costs and increase staff retention through our live webinar.
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May
30
30 May 2012, A computer near you
If you have ever wondered whether you could work from home this webcast might just have the answer for you.
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May
30
30 May 2012, Strathpeffer
This seminar is for communities, agencies and developers who want to share practice and learning about some of the practical ways community benefit/investment funds are being implemented locally and the impact being achieved for communities.
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Jun
1
01 June 2012, UK wide
Deadline - 1 June. The Grierson Awards are open for entries to the 2012 Awards for factual programmes and documentaries.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012 to 19 June 2012, Highlands & Islands
As part of goNORTH 2012 HIE are organising a series of Trend Workshops and one to one consultations which are to be held in Inverness, Stornoway, Lerwick and Kirkwall. Please note that there is also an additional Business of PR & Styling – Fashion/Crafts event taking place on 6 June in Inverness.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012, 4 locations
As part of goNORTH 2012 HIE are organising a series of Trend Workshops and one to one consultations which are to be held in Inverness, Stornoway, Lerwick and Kirkwall.
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Jun
6
06 June 2012, Inverness
Deadline Extended: Thursday 17 May -
This one day intensive training course takes place on Wednesday 6 June, 9.30 am - 5.30 pm and consists of a series of practical exercises which will equip you with the knowledge, tools and experience to help you break into the film and television industry.
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Jun
12
12 June 2012, SECC, Glasgow
The Scottish Technology Showcase 2012 offers an ideal opportunity for you to find solutions to your business challenges. This free event provides a platform for technology to enable your business to become more productive and more competitive, whatever your industry.
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Jun
21
21 June 2012, CCA Glasgow
Cryptic is a Scottish charity who’s primary aim is to support emerging artists present quality, innovative work which crosses creative boundaries in music, visual art, film and new media. As a solution to the need for a regular, supportive platform for emerging artists with fresh ideas, Cryptic launched Cryptic Nights in 2009 and since then has presented 116 artists. Cryptic Nights aims to present projects which dynamically engage audiences beyond the traditional art forms with a Cryptic edge by..
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Jun
22
22 June 2012, UK Wide
IdeasTap, a not-for-profit initiative supporting young creative people aged between 16-25, has announced that its Ideas Fund Innovators is open to applications. During this funding round, the Ideas Fund Innovators aim to offer ten projects £1,000 each to help get them off the ground.
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Jun
27
27 June 2012, The Links, Golspie Business Park, Golspie
This event is for companies interested in finding out about European opportunities and the support available through the Enterprise Europe Network.
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Aug
3
03 August 2012, London
The British Business Embassy, developed by UK Trade & Investment as part of the GREAT campaign, will help showcase global business partnerships along with the best of what the UK has to offer in some of our most successful industries, including ICT.
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Aug
23
23 August 2012 to 25 August 2012, Edinburgh
ScreenHI has been working with the Media Guardian Edinburgh International Television Festival (MGEITF aka the Telly Festival) for several years now, sponsoring delegates from the Highlands and Islands on their Fast Track initiative. 2012 sees MGEITF launching a new scheme, which replaces Fast Track and aims to identify and reward 30 of the most exciting rising stars of the TV industry.
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Oct
26
26 October 2012, Highlands and Islands
Deadline - 27 April; 27 July & 26 October 2012. The Wellcome Trust is inviting organisations and individuals to apply for funding through its Arts Awards.
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