The Anstruther Fish Bar & Restaurant and Cambo Estate are among 35 businesses which have made it to the finals of the VisitScotland awards.

The Anstruther Fish Bar & Restaurant has been shortlisted in the People Development category and Cambo in the Events and Festivals category.

They met with judges and sponsors of the individual awards, for an evening of recognition and thanks.

VisitScotland chairman, Peter Lederer, said: "I would like to congratulate all businesses who have reached the finals of this year's Scottish Thistle Awards. Every year the quality of entries is high so to come this far is an achievement in itself.

"The Scottish Thistle Awards recognise small and large businesses across Scotland that go that extra mile to drive up quality. By leading the way with world-class, innovative products and services we will continue to make a difference that will keep visitors coming back to Scotland for more."

Now in their 16th year, the Scottish Thistle Awards are open to all businesses operating in Scotland's tourism industry and can enter as many of the 10 categories as appropriate.

The coveted accolades celebrate quality and innovation and with a high standard of entries again this year, competition to make the shortlist was strong. The 2007 winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony in Edinburgh on October 26.

Finalists:


Business Tourism - Horsecross (Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre), The Westin Turnberry, Unique Venues of Edinburgh.

Customer Care: Accommodation - Foxglove Cottages, Drymen; Millness Croft Luxury Cottages, Inverness; Morag's Lodge, Fort Augustus.

Customer Care: Serviced Accommodation - Clach Mhuilinn, Inverness; Radisson SAS Hotel, Edinburgh; The Western House Hotel, Ayr

Customer Care, Activities and Attractions - Haggis Adventures, Rabbie's Trail Burners, The Famous Grouse Experience, Crieff.

Events and Festivals (Regional)- Cambo Snowdrops, Fife; Kirkintilloch Canal Festival Group; RBS Caledonian Challenge.

Events and Festivals (International)- Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, Glasgow; Loch Ness Marathon; Dumfries and Galloway Council for the Tour of Britain.

Innovation - Loch Lomond Seaplanes; Lothian Buses; Our Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh.

Marketing Initiative - Dynamic Earth/ Mother Earth of All Adventures, Edinburgh; Glasgow Mackintosh Festival; Mary King's Close/Ghost Fest, Edinburgh.

People Development (Small) - Anstruther Fish Bar and Restaurant; The Famous Grouse Experience, Crieff; The Shetland Fudge Company.

People Development (Large) - Historic Scotland – Visitor Services and Business Development; Horsecross (Perth Concert Hall and Perth Theatre); The Town House Company, Edinburgh.

PR Excellence - Historic Scotland; McKinlay Kidd Limited, Glasgow; Podge Publicity, Edinburgh.

Operator Programme of the Year - HotelBeds, JAC Scotland.

Sustainable Environment - Crown Estate, Glenlivet; Rabbie's Trail Burners, Edinburgh; Radisson SAS Hotel Edinburgh.

Taste of Scotland - Finzean Estate, Banchory; The Captain's Galley Restaurant, Scrabster; The Forth Floor at Harvey Nichols, Edinburgh