Let's Grow Adventure Tourism

Let’s Grow Adventure Tourism is an HIE funded initiative delivered by BTS, launched in 2020 for Adventure Tourism businesses both large and small. The programme will enable those who are leading Adventure Tourism companies to enhance the competitiveness, performance and sustainability of their businesses.

The programme has already helped 28 Adventure Tourism businesses from Lochaber and Skye area, as well as those located within the Cairngorms National Park. The programme was initially funded by the Inverness & Highlands City Region Deal under the ‘Northern Innovation Hub’, and was only available to businesses based within the Highland Council Area.

HIE have recently been successful in acquiring further funding, outside of the City Region Deal, which allows the programme to be opened to areas across the Highlands and Islands. They are now calling for businesses in Shetland and other remote and island communities to join the programme for a October 2021 start. The fully funded course will run from October to March 2022.

The definition of Adventure tourism for the programme is broad, so this is great for developing your business, whether you do boat tours and kayaking, cold water swimming and orca spotting, or a gentler stroll on the beach and a bit of bird watching. It also includes croft tours and agritourism.

BTS will deliver the training and are now working reach eligible businesses in targeted areas and bring them onto the programme as soon as possible. Visit here for further details of the programme, who it is for, delivery timeline and format etc., as well as indicative programme content. If you are interested, you can contact Stewart Walker of BTS directly on stewart@bts.scot or download the course brochure.