£1.5m tourism investment at heart of Highland’s budget proposals for Recovery, Health and Prosperity

Cllr Gordon Adam, Chair Tourism Committee

Cllr Allan Henderson, Chair Communities & Place Committee

A visitor management strategy with £1.5 million investments will be at the heart of proposals being considered by Highland Councillors as they decide the local authority’s 2021/22 to 2023/24 revenue budget tomorrow (Thursday 4 March 2021).

Chair of the Council’s Tourism Committee Cllr Gordon Adam said: “Members will be asked to support a long-term Highland Visitor Management Strategy which could provide a range of investment opportunities in roads; parking and visitor management; public toilets; enhanced litter and waste collection services; and provision for motorhomes; and public transport.

“It is absolutely vital to the economic recovery of the Highlands that we are ready to welcome visitors to the region when lockdown restrictions ease. It is also essential for the wellbeing of Highland communities and the preservation of our magnificent environment that this welcome is managed appropriately. This why the council – cross service and in partnership with other organisations is proposing this visitor management strategy which councillors are being asked to approve a £1.5 million investment for.”

The breakdown of the proposed funding for projects in the visitor management strategy is as follows:

• £280,000 investment in roads such as improving passing places, lay-bys, road signs and verges;
• over £200,000 investment in parking management at tourism hot spot car parks;
• ten new seasonal access ranger posts (£300,000) focussing on visitor management issues;
• £60,000 investment in public toilets and
• £180,000 increase in waste management service, frequency and capacity to help combat littering;
• £200,000 for motorhomes campsite and waste servicing;
• £60,000 for park and ride public transport schemes to 3 sites on Skye; and
• £175,000 to work with Cairngorms National Park Authority visitor management improvements in Aviemore – Glenmore corridor area.

Chair of Communities and Place Committee, Cllr Allan Henderson added: “If agreed, governance for this important strategy will be overseen by the Council’s Recovery Board which will monitor and evaluate its progress. Three council committees would also be involved in the policy and implementation of actions, namely the Economy and Infrastructure Committee; Communities and Place Committee and Tourism Committee.”

The budget proposals will be considered by Council on 4 March 2021.

Link to the agenda: https://www.highland.gov.uk/meetings/meeting/4398/highland_council