Over the past three years, the Executive through its various agencies has provided funding for the tourism sectorof £74 million in 2000-01, £82.3 million in 2001-02 and £82.6 million in 2002-03.In addition local authorities have provided area tourist boards with fundingtotalling around £8 million a year over the period.This funding for tourism hasin the main been focussed on the following areas:by VisitScotland onthe marketing of Scotland; quality assurance; supporting area tourist boards;by the enterprise agencieson enhancing skills and training in the tourism workforce and investmentin physical tourism infrastructure e.g. visitor attractions;by Scottish Natural Heritageon making it easier for visitors to appreciate Scotland’s naturalenvironment, e.g. through better visitor facilities at nature sites, andby Historic Scotland onnew and upgraded visitor facilities at historic sites.Local authorities alsoprovide and maintain local visitor attractions, fund local tourism projects andpart-fund area tourist boards.This considerable publicsector investment in Scottish tourism has helped the industry to recover well fromthe blows of 2001.