The Highland Council's Administration programme 2009 - 11 commits the Council to "develop Highland tourism – our most significant industry - in partnership with the business sector, VisitScotland, EventScotland and HIE. We will focus on opportunities such as Gaelic, green tourism, events and activities. We will improve the Council’s own services for visitors."
The Council's own services cover many aspects of tourism including providing much of the infrastructure as well as facilities and services such as:-
- Countryside rangers
- Access officers
- Long distance routes
- Paths and trails
- Cycle routes
- Car Parks
- Picnic areas
- Visitor centres
- Libraries
- Archive and Genealogical research service
- Leisure centres and Swimming pools
- Museums and galleries
- Arts and events
- Parks and gardens
- Tourism signposting
- Public toilets
- Street cleaning
- Licensing services
- Transport services and information
The Council's tourism section helps develop tourism projects, works to attract cruise liner business to the Highlands, provides financial assistance to VisitScotland for general tourism promotion and can provide discretionary financial assistance to tourism groups for tourism development projects. The Council also organises an annual tourism seminar
The work of the tourism section is overseen by a Tourism Project group which includes the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee, 6 other elected Members and officers representing other Council Services.
For further information about the Council's tourism work please contact Colin Simpson, Tourism Co-ordinator on 01463 244168 or colin.simpson@highland.gov.uk