An £18 million cash boost will benefit the tourism industry, renewable energy projects and road improvement schemes across the Highlands and Islands.

Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Minister Jim Mather said the money, which has the potential to create over 60 jobs and is from the European Regional Development Fund, would be a vital part of work to protect and strengthen economic recovery both in the region and across Scotland.

Enterprise, Energy and Tourism Minister Jim Mather said: "This is a significant investment across a wide range of projects which will provide important support to both the economy of the Highlands and Islands and Scotland as a whole. In a competitive process, it is projects such as these which do best as they are clearly aligned with Scottish Government and EU priorities.

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"Tourism and renewable energy are areas where Scotland - and the Highlands and Islands in particular - has real and tangible advantages over its competitors.

"Funding to support these industries is vital and it is absolutely right that this funding focuses on those priorities.

"The development of visitor attractions like the facilities at Sumburgh Head, the chambered tomb of Maeshowe and the Highlanders Museum will ensure tourists continue to enjoy a superb visitor experience when they spend time travelling across the region.

"Renewable energy developments in Orkney, Shetland and Caithness will be among the projects supported. That will help create jobs and continue our work to exploit Scotland's vast green energy potential. These projects merely serve to demonstrate the many advantages of our drive to transform Scotland into a low carbon economy.

"Of course the Highlands and Islands has many remote communities, for whom transport access is a vital issue. That is why improving various roads across the region is an important part of this funding. Above and beyond that, it will help several local economies as Scotland continues to recover from recession."

(GK)