Press release -
Innovative tourism partnership for the Outer Hebrides
VisitScotland, in partnership with Outer Hebrides Tourism, has announced a new approach in the delivery of visitor information in the Outer Hebrides.
A formal agreement has been reached which will ensure that visitors to the Outer Hebrides have a varied, convenient and co-ordinated range of channels to obtain information – encouraging them to stay longer, spend more and spread the benefits of tourism across the Outer Hebrides all year round.
In collaboration with Outer Hebrides Tourism and other partners, plans are now being put in place to: enhance the current iCentre in Stornoway; create a new year-round information partnership in Tarbert with a retail business; develop new and enhanced information partnerships in the Uists, supported by a dedicated member of staff based seasonally in one partnership outlet; and develop a stronger presence on Barra with the local tourism industry for the 2019 season.
It follows a strategic review of the current provision of visitor information in the Outer Hebrides, in close consultation with Outer Hebrides Tourism and stakeholders, to meet the ongoing changes in the ways visitors seek information, whilst recognising the unique nature and geography of the islands. The review was carried out as part of last year’s announcement by VisitScotland on changes to its information provision across Scotland.
In line with its plan to improve connectivity for visitors, Outer Hebrides Tourism also hopes to roll out Wi-Fi across various partnership locations throughout the islands.
In addition, the new approach seeks to provide an appropriate presence for the Outer Hebrides in mainland VisitScotland iCentres such as Ullapool, Oban, Portree and Inverness as well as continue to promote the VisitScotland Visitor Information Partner (VIP) programme across the islands. More than 100 partner attractions, accommodation providers and restaurants in the Outer Hebrides have already joined the VIP programme.
VisitScotland’s fleet of Coo Vans and its team of outreach staff will also continue to visit the region.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland said: “Our continuing partnership with Outer Hebrides Tourism will see us working closely with communities, businesses and organisations to ensure there is an information touchpoint in every single corner of the Outer Hebrides, showcasing its rich assets, hidden gems and local stories.
“Tourism today is all about consumer choice, providing innovative new approaches to grow the visitor economy. We know that many visitors now want to combine their traditional tourism experiences with something special that takes them off the beaten track, giving them an authentic experience of Scotland that they won’t get elsewhere.
“This partnership, alongside our ongoing online developments and digital collaborations, will help boost visitor information provision and support our tourism partners in regions throughout Scotland.”
Ian Fordham, Chair of Outer Hebrides Tourism added: “Research has shown that visitors are now seeking information on their holiday destination in places as diverse as the breakfast table, the pub or on the road. Then on holiday, they continue to search for information during days out, before they leave their accommodation or at visitor attraction.
“But in places like the Outer Hebrides, the personal touch remains important, so we are keen to ensure that our visitors can access information in a ‘joined-up’ way, through a variety of options wherever they are across our islands and whatever time of year.”
VisitScotland’s website visitscotland.com and Outer Hebrides Tourism’s website www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk mean there is always advice on what to see and do in the Outer Hebrides.
Last year VisitScotland announced changes to its information provision across Scotland, in the wake of the changing behaviour of visitors. The new national strategy aims to address a drop in footfall to VisitScotland information centres across the country, with two out of three visitors now accessing information online, whilst recognising the need to maintain a strong face-to-face information provision.
Further VisitScotland information services:
The VisitScotland iKnow global online community accessed through visitscotland.com currently has 7,300 members and allows those who love Scotland to bring alive the streets, characters and landscapes of our country. Other digital outreach includes innovative partnerships with TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Digital Tourism Scotland.
END
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- outer hebrides
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
VisitScotland
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Outer Hebrides Tourism
- Follow us on twitter: @outerhebs
- Outer Hebrides Tourism is a Community Interest Company, which exists to develop, promote and sustain the tourism industry in the Outer Hebrides. Tourism generates £65m in economic value for the islands, sustains 1000 FTE jobs, and is one of the key growth sectors in the economy of the Islands.
- There are approx 218,000 visitors per year, 900 accommodation providers directly supported by tourism, and 100's of other businesses whose livelihoods depend on the visitor economy.
- The current tourism strategy for the Outer Hebrides, entitled “Tourism Outer Hebrides 2020”, developed and delivered in a public-private partnership by OHT, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Visit Scotland. View it here.
2018 Year of Young People
- The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally
- Central to YoYP 2018 will be a celebratory events programme that puts young people at the heart of its development and delivery, creating new and valuable experiences for young Scots and the wider public, with links to the inaugural 2018 European Championships.
- Over 200 young people throughout Scotland are currently being recruited to become YoYP 2018 Ambassadors. Ambassadors will ensure that people and organisations in their communities know about what’s happening and will lead on projects and activities to create events and opportunities to celebrate young people.
- The Year of Young People will have six themes which were developed in co-production with young people themselves:
- Participation – looking at how young people can influence public services and decisions which affect their lives
- Education – creating a stronger role for young people in shaping their learning
- Health and Wellbeing – supporting young people to lead healthier, active lives and have opportunities to learn about and improve their mental health and resilience
- Equality and Discrimination – broadcasting the value of young Scots, challenging negative perceptions of young people, and supporting young people to take leading roles in challenging discrimination in all its forms.
- Enterprise and regeneration – celebrating young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live
- Culture – celebrating young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.
- Further information on what’s happening and how people can get involved can be found on the new website www.yoyp2018.scot or @YOYP2018 on Twitter.
