Tourism links
Government and public agencies
The Scottish Government
The Queen opened the new Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh in October 2004.
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. It is responsible for most of the issues of day-to-day concern to the people of Scotland, including health, education, justice, environment and rural affairs, and transport. The Tourism Framework for Change sets out the strategic priorities for the industry.
Tourism is within the responsibilities of the Scottish Parliament. It is in the brief of Jim Mather, MSP, Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism.
The Scottish Government website's Tourism section includes government press releases on Scottish tourism news.
Public agencies
The industry is supported by three main public agencies: Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, are both business development agencies; VisitScotland is responsible for the marketing and promotion of Scotland as a 'must visit, must return' tourism destination.
The VisitScotland website provides information on market trends, key statistics and industry news.
Scotland is also represented in 31 offices abroad by VisitBritain, the national tourism promotion agency.
Tourism organisations
Links to other organisations supporting Scottish tourism:
- Association of Scottish Self-Caterers
- Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions
- British Hospitality Association
- ConventionScotland
- EventScotland
- Federation of Small Businesses
- Forestry Commission
- Green Tourism Business Scheme
- Historic Scotland
- National Trust for Scotland
- Scottish Tourist Guides Association
- Scottish Natural Heritage
- Sustainable Tourism Unit
- Training for Tourism
- VisitScotland
- VisitBritain
- Wild Scotland
