Cairngorms Tourism Partnership - September 2020
Date:
Meeting details
Date:
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group
14th September 2020, 11am.
1.Welcome and introductions
Present: Janet, Geva, Murray, Laurie, Pete, Chris T, Grant, Alistair
Apologies: Heather, Mark, Rona, Chris, Colin S
2.Respond
MoraySpeyside
New Moray Speyside promotional video being ‘gently’ released https://twitter.com/i/status/1305513302798274562
Business TBID invoices 25% payment at last assessment. Tourism Infrastructure Fund bids focussing on 8 campervan disposal points and Bow Fiddle Rock car parking.
MS, Visit Cairngorms & Loch Ness collectively in discussion with HIE over 3 yr funding bid to support market development extending the visitor season with a strategic approach to ‘new’ market development.
Visit Scotland
Covid-19 changes to ‘six gathering’ is currently, short term, impacting on B&B’s, larger self-catering, and tours. Four & Five Star hotels booking well, three and lower less so – overall rates lower.
The need for DMO’s work clearly demonstrated this summer & VS in discussion with HIE on collective support.
VS developing winter promotion – VS keen to hear of areas/activities that are in need to promotion or are ‘too busy’
AC
Similar mixed feedback with some businesses doing well others less so.
Tourism Infrastructure Fund bids being worked up for Braemar and Ballater
Virtual Highland Games well received; 154,000 views in 24 hrs, 225,000 in 48 hrs – mostly NZ, Australia, USA, and Europe.
CNPA
Tourism Infrastructure Fund bids being worked up for Loch Muick car park & traffic management, Beinn a Ghlo (Blair Atholl) car park and Dinnet visitor management.
Outdoor Education Centres collectively campaigning for Scottish Gov support – there are a large number of the centres are in and around Cairngorms
3.Reset
Overview of consumer insights and other research – Scottish Tourism Index – wave 4
4.Restart
Visitor Management Issues – still busy across CNP and anticipated to continue through to October half terms. Land Managers meetings now fortnightly with a specific focus each meeting on; campervans (9 Sept), traffic management and visitor man planning. Longer end of season review 28th October.
Media very interested in CNPA mid-term review with their focus on the increase in irresponsible behaviour. CNPA focus being on partnership delivery of reopening, significant but ‘still small’ increase in irresponsible behaviour and responsible behaviour by vast majority of visitors, and the need to plan now for 2021.
5.Recover
– RTIF applications covered in 2. CNPA and partners encouraged to share their views with VS on how to make the scheme more effective. Advantages of Scotland wide approach and focus to solving problems such as ‘campervan waste’ agreed with a longer term 3yr+ approach to solving such agreed needs.
6.Any Other Updates
Scottish Gov 14 Sept, national partnership meeting looked at how to improve rural visitor experience recognising the need to address both infrastructure and behaviour change. There are likely to be two national groups emerging to shape this work –
Europarc annual conference held virtually with CNPA sharing the Cairngorms Covid-19 stories at an oversubscribed workshop of 60. Common themes across Europe of ‘new’ visitors with an increase in irresponsible behaviour
CNPA looking at the opportunity for a bid to http://www.oecd.org/cfe/leed/tournat.htm
CNP Tourism Partnership full meeting set for 9th November with a focus on end of year review.
Post Meeting:
Emailed updates from VS
Recovery Activity
Marketing
Other
Visit Britain Video https://www.visitbritain.com/gb/en/escape-everyday
7.Date of next meeting
28th Sept 2020 11.00 – 12.00
