A SCHEME offering lower cost ferry fares will be rolled out to both routes serving the Isle of Arran, in what has been hailed as a major boost to the island's tourism economy.

The introduction of road equivalent tariff (RET) will see the cost of a return car journey from Brodick to Ardrossan drop from £70 to £29.70 and passenger fares falling from £11.35 to £7.30.

RET was first introduced on Western Isles, Coll and Tiree services in 2008 and was expanded to Islay, Colonsay and Gigha in 2012.

A further roll-out will involve another 14 ferry routes, including services to Barra, Mull, Eigg, Skye, Raasay, Cumbrae, Muck and Rum, and will be in place by next October.

RET, which commences on the Arran routes today, links ferry fares to the cost of travelling an equivalent distance on land and covers fares for passengers, cars, small commercial vehicles and coaches.

Kenneth Gibson, SNP MSP for Cunninghame North, said the RET introduction follows figures showing the number of tourists coming to Scotland has hit a six-year high.

He said: "Arran is a ­spectacular destination and I have every confidence that the roll out of the ferry RET will help make life easier for islanders... and make the island even more appealing and accessible to tourists than it is already."