Bids

The tourism and visitor market in Scotland has faced very challenging times recently, from the global effects of the recession and the ‘ash cloud’ to the emerging public sector cuts which will create pressures on funding. Scotland enjoys an enviable reputation as a world-class visitor destination, but ever-increasing international competition and economic pressures will mean that the tourism and visitor businesses will have to be more effective and explore new funding models to deliver on the ever increasing demands of the tourism and visitor customer.

A BID is a sustainable financial model that can provide the financial resource to assist tourism and visitor businesses, working collectively, with the delivery of projects that will make an impact and improve their business environment. A BID also gives business a local voice and a ‘seat at the table’ with those agencies and bodies who help shape the tourism and visitor industry in Scotland, helping to develop and improve the level of service provided by statutory and non statutory bodies.

A BID could be developed across a group of businesses involved in a Destination Management Organisation who wish to secure their financial base and ensure that all who benefit also contribute whilst making certain that they have a fundamental role in the development and improvement of the tourism and visitor market in Scotland.

Working together ensures that budgets work harder and smarter, delivering on local issues and concerns whilst contributing to the growth of the tourism and visitor market nationally.

Each tourism and visitor business has different issues and concerns. We provide information and support to allow you to develop and operate a BID which is accountable locally to the businesses involved in the BID.

The projects and services that the businesses believe are important to the improvement of the businesss environment are decided, managed and funded locally.

'The message is out that BIDs are moving. We need to gear up to work with the Project Director of Business Improvement Districts Scotland, to broadcast the fact that the process is working, and if more business districts work together to improve themselves, we will take it even further. I want BIDs to boost the local economy, create more employment, create a feel-good factor, reinvent civic pride and trust locally and boost tourism. I also want them to boost mentoring, with people helping other businesses to come forward'.

Scottish Parliament Wednesday 23rd April 2008