Up to £6 million is to be invested in Scotland's rural tourism infrastructure.

The Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund will help ensure the services and facilities tourists and communities need are provided.

The £6m fund will be invested over two years to support a range of improvement projects such as parking, camping facilities, recycling points and footpath access.

The initiative is expected to launch in early 2018 and will be administered by public sector partners working with local authorities, with input from communities and the industry to identify projects requiring support.

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Announcing the funding, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "The tourist boom that our country is enjoying is great news. It means more jobs and investment but it can also mean pressure on transport, services and facilities – especially in rural areas. The Scottish Government is determined to help.

"Our new £6 million Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund will take bids from communities and work with local councils to support projects that enable even more people to enjoy Scotland, the most beautiful country in the world."

(LM/MH)