Grant News

Local and National Park authorities in Scotland can apply for funding through the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF), established by the Scottish Government in 2018 and managed by VisitScotland. The fund aims to improve the visitor experience in rural areas experiencing increased tourism, addressing pressures on local infrastructure and mitigating negative impacts on communities.

Since its inception, RTIF has awarded £20 million to 75 projects across rural Scotland, leveraging an additional £16 million in funding.

The current application round for projects taking place in 2025/26 is open, with a submission deadline of the 28th February 2025. Applications should support the priorities outlined in the 25 Strategic Tourism Infrastructure Development Plans. RTIF is exclusively open to applications from Local and National Park Authorities; private sector businesses are not eligible for support.

Successful grant awards will be announced after the 1st April 2025.

The fund focuses on developing infrastructure to improve visitor management, such as low-carbon transport options, multi-use paths, toilets, motorhome facilities, and visitor information signage. It does not support revenue activities like ranger services, marketing, or maintenance. Interested authorities can obtain application forms and guidance documents from their respective Local or National Park Authorities or by contacting the RTIF team directly (link below).