Tourism seminar focuses on community initiatives

Highland tourism business operators and community tourism groups will gather on Wednesday (5th December) in Inverness to discuss how they can work together to improve their tourism product and attract more visitors.

Delegates at The Highland Council’s 6th Annual Tourism Seminar will hear speakers from Alness, Invergordon, Crieff, Castle Douglas and Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire.

The theme of the seminar links closely with the “Community Tourism Initiative” award sponsored by the Council in this year’s Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.

As seminar host, Councillor Drew Hendry, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee will welcome delegates attending, he says: “I am looking forward to hearing the depth of content and breadth of information from the speakers attending and hope that this will encourage lively discussion. We need new ideas and thinking that will help develop community tourism in the Highlands in order to boost one of our major industries.”

Speakers will outline the differing challenges they have faced including: fundraising, marketing, raising local awareness, recruiting and retaining volunteers, and competition from other destinations.

With the tourism marketplace becoming ever more competitive, there is growing pressure on Highland destinations to create a clear identity for themselves to attract visitors and to persuade them to spend more time and money in the area.

Invergordon recently launched their “Off the Wall” initiative and project manager Helen Kermode will be telling the audience about the origins of the project in a small town in Western Canada.

Alness has won many “In Bloom” awards in recent years, putting it firmly on the tourist map and Carolyn Wilson will be talking about the hard work behind the scenes to achieve that success.

Katy Galbraith from Crieff will outline how The Drover’s Tryst has grown from a simple walking festival to include a wide range of outdoor activities, arts and crafts and a programme of evening entertainment, attracting a much wider audience.

Castle Douglas in Galloway is now established as “Scotland’s Food Town” and Steve Groome will be telling the audience how that came about and how they are now collaborating with the other themed towns in Galloway to promote “Glorious Galloway”.

Andrew Bibby of Hebden Bridge Walkers’ Action will explain how Hebden Bridge became Britain’s first “Walkers are Welcome” town and how the accolade has brought significant economic benefits to the town.

Anyone interested in attending the seminar can email: gordon.ireland@highland.gov.uk.
 
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For further information please contact:  Colin Simpson, Tourism Co-ordinator, The Highland Council’s Planning and Development Service  tel: 07714 516141 or Gordon Ireland, Highland Council’s Tourism Development Officer tel: (01463) 710729.

The Highland Council Tourism Seminar - Wednesday 5th December 2007
Working Together for Tourism  - Programme

0930 - 1000  Arrival and coffee.
1000 - 1005 Welcome – Councillor Drew Hendry, Chair, The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment & Development Committee.
1005 - 1015  Setting the scene – Joan Campbell
1015 - 1030  Alness in Bloom – Carolyn Wilson
1030 - 1045  Invergordon Off the Wall – Helen Kermode
1045 - 1100  Castle Douglas, “Food Town” – Steve Groome
1100 - 1130  Tea/coffee
1130 - 1145  Drover’s Tryst Festival, Crieff – Katy Galbraith
1145 - 1200 Hebden Bridge, Britain’s first “Walkers are Welcome” town Andrew Bibby
1200 -1245  Question and answer session
1245 - 1400  Lunch and networking
1400 - 1515  VisitScotland/Greenbusiness UK