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A major new fund to reinvest Visitor Levy proceeds directly back into Edinburgh’s visitor economy has launched today.
The Edinburgh Visitor Economy Improvement Fund (EVEIF) is a new Council grant funding programme to support businesses in strengthening the city’s visitor economy, while meeting the levy’s overarching aim of sustaining Edinburgh’s status as one of the world’s greatest cultural and heritage cities and effectively managing the impacts of a successful visitor economy.
Part of the Visitor Levy’s transformational £90 million investment programmes, the fund has been designed to help the sector respond to changing market conditions, rising operational pressures and evolving visitor expectations by encouraging partnerships, innovation and knowledge‑sharing between organisations.
It is envisaged that proposals could involve - but are not limited to - initiatives such as joint marketing activity, wayfinding information, themed trails, neighbourhood maps, seasonal campaigns, and other projects designed to encourage visitors to discover more of the city beyond its traditional hotspots.
The fund can also support operational projects like technology sharing between businesses to improve efficiency, sustainability initiatives to reduce waste and adapt to climate change, and skills development to improve recruitment and training programmes.
The first phase - which is now open for applications - focuses on collaborative projects involving three or more businesses already working together as a collective, such as high street alliances, local associations or emerging business groups.
Grants between £1,000 - £15,000 are available. Applications must be submitted by a named lead organisation on behalf of participating businesses. Eligible business collectives are encouraged to apply via the Council’s website.
Future phases will support projects that improve accessibility and inclusion across Edinburgh’s visitor economy. Both individual businesses and constituted groups will be eligible to apply for the next phase of the fund.
Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “The Edinburgh Visitor Levy allows us to invest in the services and spaces that matter to residents, businesses and visitors, and one of the most important outcomes of the scheme is increasing our support for the organisations that help make the city the special place it is today.
“Introducing the EVEIF is a key part of this and means we can support businesses of all sizes on a range of practical improvements, while helping them adopt greener practices, provide Fair Work and greater job security for their employees and improve Edinburgh’s visitor experience even further.
“This is a great opportunity for visitor economy businesses to work together on practical improvements. We can support these organisations to invest in their businesses while protecting and improving their local neighbourhoods, and help to make our city a stronger and more welcoming destination for everyone in the process.”
EVEIF is funded through Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy, which formally came into effect on Friday 24 July 2026, and is delivered through the Destination and Visitor Management investment programme.
The levy’s agreed investment programmes are worth over £90 million over the next three years and have been designed to sustain and enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as one of the most beautiful and enjoyable destinations in the world.
The initial programmes fall under three well-defined themes: City Operations and Infrastructure; Culture, Heritage and Events; and Destination and Visitor Management. The Council will receive the first levy receipts in October and November of this year.
Several ‘early win’ projects have already started, including:
- A £132,000 contribution towards Edinburgh’s Festival Carnival and Mardi Gras events, which took place over the weekend of 18/19 July, providing an early demonstration of the Council’s intent to reinvest the levy’s funds into experiences that everyone can enjoy, whether they are visitors or residents.
- Funding ten festival city ambassadors to help visitors find their way around the capital this summer, and work alongside the Council’s partners to make sure Edinburgh remains a vibrant and inclusive place.
- Partnering with Police Scotland to create a City Centre Policing Unit, increasing public safety in the city centre and freeing up existing resource for frontline officers to be more present across other areas of the city.