An Aviemore-based adventure tour operator is planning to create eight new jobs after securing £76,000 funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Wilderness Scotland will use the grant from the development agency to further develop its international trade and marketing programme.
The award-winning firm, which relocated from Edinburgh to the Highlands five years ago, offers a range of guided adventure holidays, including walking, road cycling, kayaking and mountain biking.
Since the move the company has invested significantly in international marketing, which has helped the business treble in size.
The firm, which currently employs 32 people plans to build on that activity through digital marketing and sales missions to North America, Europe and other emerging markets.
HIE account manage Linsey Munro, said the company’s ambitious international growth plans had impressed the agency.
She said: “Adventure travel is growing in popularity and Scotland is an attractive destination for people across many countries.
“Wilderness Scotland is a very efficient operation with clear plans for developing and marketing its range of adventure holiday packages.
“We have been impressed by the company’s ambitious plans for international growth and very pleased to be able to support these.”
In recent years, the firm has been named top adventure travel company in Europe by National Geographic and the best green tour operator at the World Travel Awards. It holds a five-star accreditation from tourism body Visit Scotland and a gold award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme.
Stevie Christie, head of adventure at Wilderness Scotland paid tribute to HIE for supporting the company’s growth plans.
He said: “Since we relocated to the Highlands in 2011, our business has trebled in size.
“The support and guidance from HIE has been instrumental to this growth allowing us not only to significantly expand our reach in international markets but to invest in building an incredibly committed and talented staff team.
“We’re delighted to receive HIE’s continued backing which enables further investment in quality and growth over the next two years of our business plan.”