About the fund and who can apply
The Edinburgh Visitor Economy Improvement Fund (EVEIF) is a new grant funding programme financed through Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy as part of the Destination and Visitor Management (DVM) investment programme.
We’ve established the EVEIF to
- support targeted, practical and measurable improvements that strengthen Edinburgh’s visitor economy
- enhance visitor experiences
- help businesses work together to address shared opportunities and challenges.
Through EVEIF, we are supporting projects that
- contribute to Fair Work principles
- help advance Edinburgh’s net zero ambitions
- make the city a more accessible and inclusive destination for everyone.
We have two phases for the funding
- business development strand
- accessibility and inclusion strand.
Business development strand
This is the first phase. This will support collaborative projects led by constituted groups of businesses (three or more organisations working together) operating within Edinburgh’s visitor economy.
Eligible projects must demonstrate clear collective benefit and may include
- shared digital and AI-enabled solutions
- sustainability initiatives
- workforce development
- collaborative visitor experiences
- operational improvements
- innovative pilot activity that
- strengthens business resilience
- enhances the visitor experience across the city.
Accessibility and inclusion strand
This second phase is planned from 2027/28 onwards which will support projects that improve accessibility and inclusion across Edinburgh’s visitor economy. Individual businesses and constituted groups will be eligible to apply for this fund.
The fund is part of our wider commitment to reinvesting visitor levy income into initiatives that deliver benefits for
- residents
- visitors
- businesses.
Project requirements
As well as meeting the benefits already outlined, projects must go beyond existing or planned activity.
Projects may last up to 12 months. Multi-year may be considered from 2027/2028 onwards. They may include innovation or AI where it improves
- efficiency
- accessibility
- visitor experience.
Where projects involve the use of generative AI, applicants should demonstrate that it is used
- responsibly
- with appropriate human oversight
- in line with relevant good practice, including the principles of the Council’s Generative AI Policy.