Make your life easier with a MyHIE account. It’ll save you time, help you find and organise content based on your needs and interests.
With an average pre-COVID visitor spend of £1.5bn in the region, 3,200 registered tourism businesses locally, and with tourism jobs representing up to 43% of the workforce in some areas, tourism is central to Highlands and Islands life. It sustains many of our local, regional and island economies and communities.
The tourism and hospitality sector has been one of the worst hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. An Ekosgen report published by HIE estimates that visitor spend here is likely to have declined by between £370m–£584m in the financial year 2020-21. Alongside our public sector partners, we're doing all we can to support the response and recovery measures to help our industry get back on its feet.
We’re here to help local enterprises as they look at operating safely, innovating ways of doing business, and meeting the increased demand for sustainable, authentic experiences full of adventure.
Review and innovate your processes, go digital, and get specialist industry advice. Scroll here to find more information.
Get funding and expert advice through HIE’s innovation business support programmes.
Programme for communities interested in tourism development
HIE’s Let’s Grow Adventure Tourism programme offers free support from industry experts to help you grow your business.
Our series of tourism webinars brings you all of the latest industry trends and insights to help you attract more visitors.
HIE’s technology placement programme offers SMEs in the Highland Council area funding of up to 50% of salary costs towards employing a graduate
Our review for account managed businesses and social enterprises.
Get dedicated support to help you start your Social Enterprise. Coaching, 1-2-1 support and dedicated learning resources are available.
Support for SME farmers, rural businesses and employees to gain leadership skills and confidence to drive their business forward.
Our Leadership programme supports business growth through effective and ambitious leadership which will accelerate innovation, international trade and maximise digital connectivity.
Highlands and Islands businesses and organisations can access specialist digital advice online.
HIE's graduate placement programme provides funding to businesses to employ a graduate. Placements are advertised when available helping graduates secure employment..
Operate after Brexit. Together with our partners we are helping businesses across Scotland adapt to the new operating environment following our exit from the EU.
Looking for a comprehensive overview of all the available products, services and events available across the public sector partners in Scotland? You'll find it here.
Find Business SupportVisitScotland has information on available funding, the latest research and more.
VisitScotland industry informationthrough grants and support for the region’s tourism sector
HIE funding for tourism’s digital enablement 2020/21
for destination management organisations
of HIE tourism investments going to social enterprises
Find out more about projects and investments across the area.
A Scotland-wide programme launched to support business and community-led tourism enterprises.
A three-year strategy to help in the recovery of the tourism industry in Skye and Raasay has secured £350,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
HIE support for new Benbecula distillery and visitor centre being developed with green tech and creating 22 jobs.
A project is underway to upgrade the Busta House Hotel in Shetland.
A three-year tourism project launched in the Cairngorms National Park area.
Investment in community-led tourism facilities.
What's new this summer at Nevis Range
A three-year strategy to help in the recovery of the tourism industry in Caithness and Sutherland has secured £365,000 investment from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A set of 10 strategies to shape development of the publicly-owned Cairngorm Estate over the next 25 years has been published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A pony trekking business in the Isle of Lewis has diversified a croft to provide year-round experiences for local people and visitors.
Work is underway to redevelop two former schools in the Isle of Lewis into community hubs offering social and economic opportunities for residents and visitors.
Ten Outer Hebrides community organisations working to build back better after lockdown with HIE support.
Tha pròiseact trì-bliadhna gus misneachd agus seasmhachd a thoirt air ais gu roinn turasachd Innse Gall, air £375,354 fhaotainn bho Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE).
A three-year community-led project to bring about recovery and create a more sustainable future for tourism in Wester Ross, has secured £193,000 from HIE.
The £390,000 project, by destination management organisation Destination Orkney Limited (DOL) will deliver a series of initiatives aimed at inspiring, enabling and delivering destination recovery.
How communities are investing in the future of tourism
A £2m project underway to upgrade the Isle of Mull Hotel has secured up to £510,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A project to create a new luxury venue and holiday accommodation in Moray has secured up to £100,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
A three-year project to restore confidence and resilience in Moray’s tourism sector, has secured £350,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
Snowsports centres across Scotland are to share a £3 million funding package to support them through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Plans by a hotel in Moray, for a £469,465 refurbishment of its function hall, have secured up to £100,000 from HIE.
Businesses and community organisations are delivering a wide range of innovative projects across the region. Here are just a few of them.
When tourism assets are owned and managed by communities themselves there can be huge benefits in community wealth building.
Find out more about the range of community-led tourism work on the UK's most northerly island.
Despite the COVID-19 lockdown the Community Interest Company Loch Ness Hub has renovated the disused Tourist Information Centre in Drumnadrochit.
Offering expanded and green services it will be the area's new one stop shop for information, baggage transfer service, an e-bike facility and will sell local products.
Gavin and Penny Ellis have run the Knockomie Inn in Moray for more than 25 years.
Here they share their experiences of the pandemic (recorded in 2020) and share ideas on safe re-opening.
Pre COVID Billy and Anne Harley embarked on an ambitious growth plan for their 18-bedroom Uig Hotel.
Find out more about their international marketing plan.
We're supporting an EU North Sea Interreg project called CUPIDO. Tourism organisations are learning how digital technology can open up access to our unique history and heritage.
Find out about some of the projects using 3d, virtual reality, and more to bring their histories to life.
To support COVID-19 recovery, HIE has invested £440,000 in 14 West Highland tourism facilities, from Gairloch to Kilchoan.
All run by the community, the attractions are investing in infrastructure to support the return of visitors.
See what they're doing in our feature.
If you're looking for an introduction to our unforgettable region, you can find all the hints and tips you'll need here.
Find out more about current opportunities
We want Scotland to be a first choice marine tourism destination
Catch up with our Speak Scotland podcasts helping you make the most of Gaelic and Scots dialect in your enterprise
Find out how your business can attract domestic and international visitors during the year of Coast and Waters 2021.
The Gaelic Tourism Strategy for Scotland was launched in October 2018 and highlighted that the Gaelic language and its associated culture represents a compelling opportunity for the Scottish Tourism industry as a unique selling point and authentic part of the experience of visiting Scotland.
We work in partnership with the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and other public sector agencies, local authorities, industry, communities and more. By working together, we can better support sustainable growth of the tourism sector.
The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) is the industry membership body for Scotland’s tourism industry and leading representative of the issues and challenges facing the industry.
