Highland Experience Tours has added five AOS Grand Toro coaches supplied by EVM to its fleet.
The Edinburgh-based travel operator, which benefited from £2m in financing from Lombard, is creating 20 new jobs in rural areas as a result of the expansion.
Established two decades ago, Highland Experience Tours specialises in taking tourists away from the crowds to the lesser-known areas of Scotland, providing an “authentic” experience.
After starting out with just one vehicle, the business now has 30 luxury mini-buses, as well as coaches, having ridden what it admits were difficult times during the pandemic.
Michael Bremmer, Managing Director at Highland Experience Tours, says: “Ever since we first started Highland Experience Tours, we have been passionate about creating an authentic way to explore Scotland’s hidden beauty which also gives back to the communities and landscapes we operate in.
“Like many in our industry, COVID was an incredibly challenging time for us, and we had to essentially halt our services with no real idea of when we’d be able to begin again. This obviously took its toll, but we remained determined to come back stronger than ever and have been able to grow the business to beyond even pre-pandemic levels.
“Investing in this new fleet marks a new chapter for us, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support of Royal Bank of Scotland and Lombard in helping us reach this milestone.”
Steven Gillies, Senior Relationship Manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, who facilitated the deal with Lombard, adds: “Having worked with Highland Experience Tours since 2019, it’s been a privilege to watch the team recover from the pandemic and continue to grow their services and offering.
“Royal Bank of Scotland is committed to supporting enterprise and Highland Experience Tours is a great example of a resilient business who are focussed on looking to the future.
“Its unique approach to tourism is helping to promote Scotland’s rural landscapes to the world – bringing a significant economic boost to the communities within them – and we look forward to continuing our banking relationship for years to come.”
