Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 13 December 2016
To ask the Scottish Government how much VisitScotland has spent on promoting the Highlands and Islands (a) in and (b) outwith Scotland in each year since 2007.
The Highlands and Islands are actively promoted by VisitScotland as part of its national and international marketing campaigns, as well as through other marketing activities including its consumer website, visitscotland.com, social media and through the 31 iCentres across the area, as well as elsewhere.
VisitScotland does not keep records for the total spend for promotional activity within the Highlands and Islands as its marketing spend is recorded by campaign, rather than by region, and these may feature a number of areas from across Scotland.
In addition to direct marketing, VisitScotland provides grant support through its Growth Fund (and predecessor Challenge Fund (2007-2010)) to organisations to assist the marketing of their areas. Funding within the Highlands and Islands each year since 2007 is given in the following table:
|
Year |
Amount (£) |
|
2008 |
40,278 |
|
2009 |
16,714 |
|
2010 |
No awards |
|
2011 |
314,246 |
|
2012 |
91,379.61 |
|
2013 |
67,500 |
|
2014 |
72,202 |
|
2015 |
65,000 |
|
2016 |
70,000 |
VisitScotland also provides financial support for and organisation of trade familiarisation trips for the travel trade. Support provided for the Highlands and Islands each year since 2007 is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Amount (£) |
|
2008 |
40,198 |
|
2009 |
26,766 |
|
2010 |
23,375 |
|
2011 |
25,265 |
|
2012 |
19,955 |
|
2013 |
38,717 |
|
2014 |
26,764 |
|
2015 |
23,112 |
|
2016 |
22,950 |