Tourism

A further 30 events have been announced as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters 2020.

The Themed Year will see a wide variety of events take place right across the country -- from coastal-inspired opera to a seaweed festival!

Events supported through round two of the Year of Coasts and Waters event fund include:

Places are still available on some upcoming public information sessions being held by the Scottish Government's Transient Visitor Levy Bill.

The Scottish Government is consulting on the principles of a locally determined visitor levy (tourist tax). They're holding events in different parts of the country to provide an opportunity for everyone who has an interest to discuss and inform us on what a Scottish Visitor Levy might look like. ​

The line-up of speakers for the first-ever Scottish Highlands and Islands Rural Economy Conference -- the SHIREs Conference -- has been announced.

The first ever National Islands Plan for Scotland has been laid before the Scottish Parliament for consideration.

The proposed National Islands Plan provides a framework for action in order to meaningfully improve outcomes for Scotland's island communities.

Last month Angus LEADER hosted a group of individuals from Belgium and Romania as part of a tourism project across the three countries. The Transnational Cooperation Project, funded through the Angus LEADER programme aims to build the capacity of each area to develop a flourishing visitor economy that benefits the whole community.

This year's Stranraer Oyster Festival has been hailed a 'phenomenal success' by organisers.

Attendance at the event was up 25% on last year, with around 17-18,000 people thought to have attended the three-day event.

The community-run festival is organised by the Stranraer Development Trust and takes place next to Loch Ryan, which contains Scotland's last remaining wild, native oyster fishery.

Ten community ownership projects have been awarded funding from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF). 

The programme is funded by the Scottish Government and delivered in partnership by the National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. 

A project to redevelop the Johnston School in Kirkcudbright is now getting underway, following the formal appointment of a contractor.

The exciting project will convert the empty and unused site into a multi-use building, including the conversion of the former gymnasium into a Dark Skies Visitor Centre.

To celebrate funders and project leaders met at the site this week, with Galloway Glens Administrator Jude Crooks boldly donning a spacesuit on loan from the Glasgow Science Centre.

A new exhibition telling the story of the Cairngorms has been opened by Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy Fergus Ewing. 

'The Cairngorm Story' is Cairngorm Mountain's newest visitor attraction, located at the base station of the mountain. 

The exhibition tells the story of the Cairngorms -- its wildlife, mountains, unique natural environment -- and highlights the achievements of mountaineers, Olympians, photographers, writers and artists from the area.