Meetings

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

29th March, 2021

Location: Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 29th March 2021, 11am. 

 

1.Welcome and introductions

Present: Janet, Heather, Mark, Laurie, Alistair, Colin, Murray, Pete, Grant, Olly. Apologies: Chris F, Chris T, Rhona, Geva

2. RESPOND

Business Support update

Local authorities are working to tie up the recently closed funds.  There will be additional available funding for the discretionary schemes, which are likely to be amended to increase the payment to existing applicants and widen the criteria for new applicants.  Details of this are likely to be announced shortly.   There was a discussion about varying levels of funding according to employee numbers as some local authorities are already doing.  Aberdeenshire Council are looking at doing this, as well as opening the scheme to larger employers.  Highland Council are trying to be more targeted, as employee numbers are not always a good indication of the degree of financial hardship experienced.  DMOs flagged up that there continue to be some businesses who either haven’t yet received support, but need it, or who haven’t received enough support to make a difference.  Businesses in the tourism supply chain continue to be particularly vulnerable.   Alistair advised that Belinda Miller will be leaving Aberdeenshire Council on Thursday.  Matt Lockley will be taking over roles on CTERG and Cairngorms Tourism Partnership and membership lists have been updated accordingly.  

Key issues from DMOs

CBP have finished their series of sectoral re-opening workshops, involving over 100 businesses.  Confidence varied by sector with the hostel sector struggling most with likely guidelines and restrictions.  VMS re-opening workshops are still running.  Some attractions and activity providers are now starting to re-open, along with an increase in the takeaway food offerings.   Businesses urgently need clarity on the guidelines on re-opening, and this is expected in the next week or two.  It is expected that guidelines will be similar to those in place last summer, though industry bodies are involved in tweaking them where appropriate.   The Scottish Tourism Index have released their latest wave of research which shows significant demand but not as strong as last summer.  Only 5% Scots have already booked a staycation.  CBP will be running an accommodation occupancy survey shortly, but anecdotally self-catering bookings are stronger than for serviced accommodation.  Many existing future bookings are those that have been rescheduled.  CBP are hosting a webinar to discuss the Scottish Tourism Index findings on Wednesday.  

3.RESET

The Responsible Tourism campaign that VisitScotland have developed with partners including CNPA and CBP is now up and running with the hashtag #RespectProtectEnjoy which sits well with #CairngormsTogether at a local level.  As part of the campaign, unbranded shared assets are being developed, and SOAC messaging has already been updated. These assets are available at https://assets.visitscotland.com/login.  

4.RESTART

 

National and local visitor management groups.

The Cairngorms Managing for Visitors group met last Wednesday and is then scheduled fortnightly from 14^th April.  Visitor Management Plans are largely finalised and seasonal rangers are out and about, and officially rota-ed on duty from this weekend.  The 4 permanent CNPA rangers should be in post by June as recruitment will start next week.  FLS also have their ranger team on the ground at Glenmore.  Pete noted more public concern about re-opening, particularly in Deeside, where there needs to be clear communication around road closures and additional staffing.  

Capital Investment

Round 4 of the Rural Tourism  Infrastructure Fund is now live. The Park has been selected as one of five areas to submit a strategic plan for infrastructure and CNPA will be funded  with approximately £35k from VisitScotland; application is due in mid-April. CNPA will also be recruiting an Infrastructure Projects Officer in the next few weeks.  

Messaging for Easter and re-opening

Upcoming CNPA communications work includes: -          Working on ranger video on dog-walking, -          Influencer video on responsible behaviour. -          Paid social activity to younger visitors, campervanners and campers.  This could potentially use geo-tagging through a wider UK National Parks’ project if it fits with the existing agreed messaging. -          Messaging on ground-nesting birds through the Capercaillie project

5.RECOVER

- Tourism Recovery Programme VisitScotland staff are developing more detail about the programme and Chris T will give an update on this at the next meeting.  Mark has been involved in the development of this through STERG.  Significant funding is available for the programme which includes a Days Out incentive scheme and  a social tourism scheme for disadvantaged young people, carers and those on low incomes, which will work with National Parks and link to volunteering and responsible tourism.   - Cairngorms Green Recovery Fund The fund was launched last week, and will open from next Monday, with initial decision by 3^rd June and a 2^nd round in August if necessary. Some previous applications have been redeveloped for submission and it can be used as match funding against eg. the NatureScot green recovery fund.

AOB 

There will be a new CNPA structure from 5^th April. Murray will be Director of People and Place, with responsibility for visitor services, planning, rural development and tourism.  Grant will email details in the next week or so.  

Next Meeting

Suggested date of Monday 12^th April.  Heather to check availability of members before confirming.

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

15th March, 2021

Location: Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 15th March 2021, 11am.

1.Welcome & Apologies

Present: Mark, Laurie, Murray, Pete, Heather Apologies: Janet, Grant, Alistair, Rhona, Chris F, Colin, Rhona, Chris T, Geva

2.RESPOND

Business Support update

Alistair sent an update on business support from Aberdeenshire Council. The 1^st and 2^nd wave of B&B fund applicants have been contacted and the 3^rd wave applications for those not included in earlier rounds open tomorrow.   They are still in discussion with government over some large B&B not on assessors’ list.  A paper on the Discretionary Fund is being considered this week regarding distribution of additional funding.  Applications are slowing for the Strategic Framework Fund which is likely to be extended to June.

Key issues from DMOs

Laurie and Mark confirmed that business support seemed to be running fairly smoothly.  However clarity for re-opening is urgently needed from tomorrow’s government announcement. CBP have an open meeting with Fergus Ewing tomorrow morning in advance of the government announcement, and have set up a series of sectoral re-opening meetings over the next few weeks. MoraySpeyside are also having re-opening conversations with businesses.  They have been invited to input to a new Northeast Resilience group.  Chris F is also involved and has flagged up the key role of CNPA in Deeside.   It was agreed that Murray would chat to Rhona Gunn to improve contact between CNPA and Moray Council staff.  Pete advised that Moray Council had windfarm funding for a new Speyside Way website.  CNPA preference would be for DMOs to lead on that.

3.RESET

CBP operational readiness survey results (attached)

There are few surprises in the survey results.  Key issues were again identified as Covid restrictions, cash flow, staff availability and the time required to train new employees and furloughed staff. The results have been circulated to Fergus Ewing, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Scottish Tourism Alliance.

4.RESTART

Visitor management issues in light of slight easing of restrictions 12/03

At the CNPA board meeting last week there was a discussion as part of a budget paper on the employment of full time rangers, which was approved.  Eight seasonal rangers are already employed and started training today.  They will be on the ground from end March.  FLS, NTS and NatureScot will also have more staff on the ground. In terms of ranger communications:

• Seasonal rangers welcomed the CBP campervan work, but were concerned that not all wider messaging was aligned.
• Two meetings have been held, with rangers from the East & West of the National Park, to discuss collective communication.
• Fortnightly managing for visitors meetings are now taking place again with land managers.
• Feedback from rangers will be fed into CTERG weekely or fortnightly.
• Rangers will be advised to check the CBP status website for up-to-date information for visitors.
• Core messages should also be made available for wider frontline staff.

Re-opening with Confidence - #cairngormstogether community meetings 01/03/21

Mark said that the meetings went well, but this needs wider PR to get the message out to local communities.  CNPA already plan to put out a blog from Janet, and some tourism infographics, but some wider press would also be good. Heather and Pete to discuss with Olly.  CBP will also do some PR around the sector meetings next week.

National and local visitor management groups

VS have organised a visitor management summit on the 19^th March.  Mark and Olly will be attending the Education and Marketing group on Thursday before that. Laurie advised that FLS in Moray are planning to continue their campervan provision project into 2021.

Messaging for Easter and re-opening. 

Mark and Olly will today be discussing final messaging.

5.RECOVER

N/a

6.Any Other Updates

N/a

7.Date of next meeting

Monday 29^th March 2021 @ 11am

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

1st March, 2021

Location: Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 1st March 2021, 11am.

Present: Janet, Murray, Pete, Heather, Mark, Chris F, Chris T, Grant, Laurie, Alistair, Colin. Apologies: Rhona, Belinda, Geva

1.Welcome and introductions

2.RESPOND

Business Support update

Colin and Alistair gave an update on the local authority managed funding schemes: - The strategic framework funding is relatively straightforward, though Aberdeenshire have had to deal with enquiries from many ineligible businesses. - The discretionary fund in Highland has had some technical issues around uploading supporting information.  If additional funding is made available, it is likely that the threshold for support will be dropped to those businesses suffering a 30% drop in income.  Aberdeenshire’s scheme already has a 30% threshold.  It is likely that any further funding here would increase the level of support received by eligible businesses. - Details of the new B&B scheme have not yet been released, as criteria are proving more complicated than expected. - There remains an issue with the large self-catering premises scheme in that owners of multiple premises are excluded unless there are at least 7 beds in one single property.  The Scottish Government have been asked to reconsider this. In discussion it was flagged up that there still remain a small number of businesses falling through gaps in support.  However a larger problem is that the amount of support for businesses varies widely.  Fixed levels of support from some schemes means that some businesses will have no drop in income, while others are receiving only a small percentage of their usual income.  There is also an issue where businesses have diversified, as many new schemes are targeting specific sectors.

Key issues from DMOs

-          There has been disappointment and anger from many businesses about the lack of business re-opening information in the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework update last week.  Discussions about what that framework looks like are taking place with business groups to try to influence decision such as support for level 2 businesses when visitors cannot travel from level 3 & 4 areas.  It is key that information is available ASAP to allow businesses to plan for re-opening and marketing.  As things stand, businesses are missing bookings from an English market currently able to book in England with more confidence. -          There are also frustrations about delays to some of the business support schemes. -          Moray Council are planning some visitor management interventions this summer, including from campervans which has caused some issues with campsites. -          News of a few cases of the Brazilian covid variant arriving in Aberdeen may have communications implications for VistAberdeenshire.

VisitScotland Overview

VisitScotland and the wider STERG group are liaising with government on the need to give business clarity on lead times for re-opening.  220 VS staff are currently working on the 13 funding schemes they administer, which is a significant proportion of overall staff.  There are dedicated emails for each scheme if businesses have questions about them.  Because they are working to allocate fixed levels of funding, there will be a period of analysing applications and processing appeals after the application deadline before awards can be made.  The timescale for schemes varies, but a press release will be issued this week to give an update.

3.RESET

 Strategic Framework update 23/2/21

It was agreed that it might be appropriate for CTP to add to the many voices calling for clarity for business re-opening, particularly around support for level 2 businesses within a tiered system that stops many visitors from travelling.  It may also pick up other areas of concern from the ‘Re-opening With Confidence’ meetings. Janet and Murray to liaise on this after the meetings.

4.RESTART

Re-opening with Confidence - #cairngormstogether community meetings 01/03/21

Three separate meetings are planned, for community councils, local councillors and an open meeting for all interested residents. It was noted that there are a lot of business owners registered for the open meeting.

National visitor management groups

- Communications subgroups have been feeding information on the various themes together, with a campaign due to be in place by 1^st April, including TV advertising.  The enforcement group is also meeting shortly.

Other relevant recent or upcoming meetings

-          Cairngorms Local Outdoor Access Forum met last week and agreed slightly stronger messaging, particularly around fires. -          3^rd March: National Parks UK Comms campaign meeting. -          8^th March: FLS Glenmore community meeting -          10^th March: CNP ‘Managing for Visitors’ group meetings restart.  Ranger service meetings also planned over the next couple of weeks. -          12^th March: CNPA board meeting, including Green Recovery Fund, permanent ranger service & capital funding. -          19^th March: Stakeholder group meeting with Fergus Ewing

Messaging for Easter and re-opening.

The current ‘Stay at Home’ restriction is due to be lifted on Easter Monday (5^th April) and that is expected to lead to increased number of local visitors.  Even with movement restricted to local authority level, there are a potential 850,000 legal visitors. There was a discussion about better communicating alternative locations, such as the community path networks.  This could be done through, for example, local media.  However it was acknowledged that the majority of visitors will still want to visit honeypot sites and provision of adequate facilities at these key locations was the priority. A CNPA / CBP meeting has been set-up for 9^th March to discuss a communications plan in more detail.  Other DMOs are welcome to join as well if they wish.

5.RECOVER

Nothing to discuss

6.Any Other Updates

Nothing raised.

Date of next meeting

Monday 15^th March 2021 @ 11am

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

15th February, 2021

Location: Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 15th February 2021, 11am.

 Present: Janet, Mark, Laurie, Chris F, Colin, Belinda, Geva, Murray, Pete, Heather

Apologies: Alistair, Rhona, Chris T, Grant  

1. Welcome and introductions

2. RESPOND

Business Support update

Belinda and Colin gave an update on Local Authority Funding Schemes.  There remain some areas that need further clarification, including: - Whether significant additional Discretionary Fund budget will be made available and how LAs will then  choose to allocate the funding . - How numbers of qualifying businesses have been identified for the new schemes for B&B’s, larger (7+bed) self-catering premises and exclusive use venues. - Whether self-catering providers paying domestic rates can apply for Strategic Framework Funding. - Whether self-caterers with multiple units under one rateable value can apply for the larger self-catering scheme.  

Key issues from DMOs

VisitAberdeenshire met with CBP and CNPA last week to discuss current visitor communications.  Their focus in the short term will be on responsible local access messages, with paid external campaigns on hold for the moment.   CBP have also halted their paid campaign for summer bookings in light of cautious government messaging around summer breaks.  They have submitted their application to the HIE destination management funding scheme.   VisitMoraySpeyside have been successful in their application for HIE funding, and will be recruiting in the next few weeks.  They have identified areas of partnership working with the neighbouring DMOs.  Otherwise their main priority has been assisting businesses to access financial support.

3. RESET

Winter lockdown issues and messaging

There were no major incidents reported at visitor hotspots over the weekend, perhaps because of inclement weather.  Geva has discussed with Olly some messaging around wildlife disturbance during the winter and spring, especially in the context of increased dog ownership.  It was agreed that the messaging must be positive and engaging.  

4. RESTART

National visitor management groups

Mark and Olly sit on the Visitor Management Communications & Education group which met last week to discuss the input of the various themed sub-groups looking at particular issues.  The campervan subgroup is led by CNPA and has been slightly delayed by Olly taking over the work, but will meet next week.  Mark stressed the importance of this work in reaching new audiences, rather than just ‘shouting’ at our existing engaged audiences.   The National Access Forum is also meeting this week and campervan issues are also on the agenda for that.  

Planning for easing of lockdown

CNPA are interviewing this week for 8 seasonal rangers to work from mid-March until October.  A proposal for a permanent ranger service will go to the CNPA board in March.   CNPA have given funding for quick car park improvements at key sites including Loch an Eilein, Glen Tanar and Linn of Dee. A regular land manager’s meeting will again take place from 10^th March.  

#cairngormstogether community meetings

The next community meeting has been scheduled for Monday 1^st March and is being promoted.  Pete flagged up that anecdotal concern about number of lockdown visitors doesn’t mean that any of those visitors are breaching the guidance in place.  

5. RECOVER

CNP Green Recovery Fund 2

• CNPA has received a healthy budget settlement for 2021/22 and it is likely that another, possibly larger, Green Recovery Fund may run this year, again in partnership with the Cairngorms Trust. CNPA also  had further funding made available for capital projects over a four year period  which was very welcome.

 

CAGOUL project

Plans for the Cairngorms and Glenmore Outdoor Use and Learning project are moving forward, with two meetings last week: one a wider Traveltech workshop looking at case studies from elsewhere; one with local land managers to identify priorities for use of the data.  The project will use the Internet of Things network to develop a network of path and traffic counters to give real time visitor information and trend data.  This data will, for example:

• In the short term, guide timely distribution of resources such as rangers
• Provide more accurate information about visitor volume to feed into the STEAM model.
• Inform larger interventions through projects such as Heritage Horizons.
• Potentially link to data on visitor experience.

The project will be discussed in more detail at the next CTP meeting

 6. Any Other Updates

There was a discussion about accurate re-opening visitor information about businesses and facilities that were open or partially open.  Mark confirmed that the CBP website would again include this information for businesses, and could potentially also include similar details for car parks etc.   The next CNPA board meeting in March will include an update and discussion on the Tourism Action Plan.   CNPA have seen an advance draft of the HIE Cairngorm Estate Masterplan, and will be feeding comments back.  Murray confirmed that CNPA do not currently have a view on the calls for an independent enquiry about the funicular railway.

7. Date of next meeting

It was agreed that timing of the next meeting would depend on any announcements on restrictions easing from upcoming government lockdown reviews, but would be 8^th March at the latest.

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

25th January, 2021

Location: Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via video-conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 25th January 2021, 11am.

Present: Murray, Grant, Pete, Heather, Olly Davies, Chris F, Laurie, Alistair, Colin, Geva Apologies, Mark, Chris T, Rhona

1.Welcome and introductions

Olly Davies, new CNPA head of Communications, introduced himself. He has previously worked for Edinburgh Fringe Society, Scottish Wildlife Trust and Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.  He can be contacted at [email protected] or 01479 870523.

2.RESPOND

Business Support update

Highland and Aberdeenshire Council have been processing both the Strategic Business Framework Fund, and the Top Up Grants.  Both should be paid this week to eligible applicants.  Aberdeenshire Council have today gone live for applications to the discretionary fund, which will provide a £2k grant to those who can evidence a 30% reduction in income and have not been eligible for other support.  It will be on a first come, first served basis.  Highland Council who to confirm details of their discretionary scheme shortly.

Key issues from DMOs

VisitAberdeenshire have recently carried out a business survey to measure the impacts of the January lockdown, which is attached. They have a business webinar on the 26th, looking at target markets, and have their board meeting on the afternoon of the 25th. VisitMoraySpeyside have been concentrating on helping businesses with grant applications.  They flagged up that Moray Council’s timeline to administer the new grants is not as fast as Highland and Aberdeenshire Councils.

VisitScotland Overview

Chris T was unable to attend the meeting, as VisitScotland are preparing to launch their new funding schemes. He asked to pass on the information that Scotland Reconnects will be running again on the 27th-29th April, with a view to VisitScotland Expo running again in 2022.

3. RESET

STEAM data 2020

Heather has fed in additional data to the STEAM model to try to capture more accurate information about visitors who this year may not have passed through businesses.  Path counter data has been supplied and the Cairngorms Business Barometer has been shared to try to get a picture of business levels post-lockdown.  Given the unusual nature of the year though, the data may just need to be accompanied by disclaimers.

4. RESTART

Managing for our visitors – planning for Easter 2021

The CNPA board on Friday agreed the budget for seasonal rangers who will start work in mid-March.  There is an opportunity to consider how they, and other ranger services, gather and report visitor data.  In addition, CNPA are taking on 6 young people through the Kickstart scheme, 5 of whom will work in the ranger team from June. Plans are also being finalised for infrastructure investment at key sites where the work can be carried out in this financial year. There is already anecdotal evidence of relatively high visitor numbers at key sites, particularly at weekends in good weather.

Meeting of #cairngormstogether

The businesses involved in last summer’s #cairngormstogether group met last Thursday to look over the previous work with a view to echoing it as this lockdown comes to an end.  Businesses were generally very positive about the previous work.  There was a feeling, though, that we need to work to keep messages positive eg. talking about ‘managing for visitors’ not ‘visitor management’.  It was also agreed that the communities meetings that were part of the project should be repeated.  Grant suggested that holding them in March would allow for a fuller update.

5. Recover

6.Any Other Updates

7.Date of next meeting.

There will be a full Cairngorms Tourism Partnership meeting on 1st February, so the next CTERG meeting is scheduled for 15th February, unless there are major changes before then.