Councillors consider ways of attracting visitors to Kirkcaldy

Kirkcaldy councillors are considering ploughing £20,000 into high-profile events to attract more visitors to the area.

The town has lost one event for 2014 after the Pearl Izumi Tour cycling series was cancelled when the local authority said it did not represent good value for money.

Now councillors are looking to give their backing to a host of other events, including Fife Carnival and the Adam Smith Festival, to boost the area.

Area services manager Danny Cepok said that the Fife Carnival was a “successful event that exceeded expectations”.

First held last year, the event attracted 17 international performance groups and an estimated 10,000 visitors.

It has been proposed to run it in the Kirkcaldy area again this year, this time supplemented with an evening music festival.

Mr Cepok said: “High-profile events not only bring visitors to the area, but also help to raise the profile of the area as a destination.”

Councillors wanted to see more detailed funding information before the events are put back on the agenda for the meeting in March.