Meetings

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

11th January, 2021

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

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

1.Welcome and introductions

Present: Janet Hunter (Chair), Geva Blackett (CNPA Board), Grant Moir (CNPA), Chris Taylor (VS), Chris Foy (VA), Mark Tate (CBP), Rhona Fraser (HIE), Laurie Piper (MS), Murray Ferguson (CNPA), Pete Crane (CNPA) Apologies: Colin Simpson (HC), Heather Trench (CNPA), Alistair Reid (AC)   2.RESPOND

Business Support update

Following update from Highland Council  ‘All businesses who had applied for restrictions grants before Christmas were paid before Christmas so all applications were up to date at that point. We then suspended applications over the Christmas holiday – largely this was because the Scottish Government had announced numerous schemes but not launched them so we were concerned that if the form was left live people would fill in any form they could find and we’d end up delaying processing of closure applications as we’d have to respond to all the incorrect ones. Evidence from other local authorities is that this did happen! We then re-launched the scheme on Thursday 7th and received about 1000 applications in the first 24 hours. As our team now has the capacity to process 400 – 500 applications per day over the next fortnight we’re confident they will all be paid w/c 25 January as is intended (payments on this scheme are done retrospectively at the end of each 4 week period and this one ends on Tuesday 26th January). Those who had applied in Nov / Dec will have payment made to them automatically without the need to reapply and have been notified of this. We anticipate up to 8000 applications in total but probably significantly less. This will depend a lot on self-catering applications as we have around 4800 registered as such in the rates system but this includes second homes not let out commercially and so many will be ineligible to apply for a grant as they won’t be trading as a business.’ Highlands & Islands Enterprise currently developing a community programme recovery fund and organising a wide range of webinar training and information opportunities (list at end of this note)

Key issues from DMOs

The second ‘lock down’ is proving exceptionally challenging for many businesses with many in the tourism sector having little or no business since October and with some businesses still appearing to fall between gaps in funding, further challenged by the complexity over agreeing ‘business’ criteria and finance/banking requirements needed to meet public sector financial support criteria. Small businesses appear to be finding the situation particularly challenging. Four weekly Strategic  Framework Business Fund now operating ‘Temporary closure grant - £2,000 or £3,000 (depending on rateable value) if your business is required to close by law Business restrictions grant - £1,400 or £2,100 (depending on rateable value) if your business can remain open but is specifically required to modify its operations by law, for example having to close earlier than normal.This does not include where a demand for your products or services has been reduced because of the pandemic Grants paid every 4 weeks in arrears as long as restrictions last.’ Tourism Hospitality Fund of £104m has been advertised but yet to be launched by Visit Scotland (see below) – it is likely to comprise 15 sections inc specific areas of work such as ‘Outdoors £2.5m ‘ Area Specific Cairngorms Business Partnership The anticipated winter marketing is largely on hold  with work now looking at a ‘Spring’ focus Aberdeen C&S  is planning spring promotion of Aberdeen City and Shire, inc Cairngorms, with potential launch mid-February depending on Covid-19 guidance An Insights Seminar on Business Product  is arranged for 12 January, and Adventure Tourism later in January and a Business Restructure Programme training is underway with potential for current businesses to become mentors to share the work later this year. A monthly 2021 photo competition has been agreed with the Evening Express with the January theme being local:  ‘Your Back Yard’ Morayshire There appears to be a gap in the training and support around ‘Thoughtful Leadership and Inspiration’ with indications that many small businesses appear uncertain on how to determine the best way forward with further indications that this is leading to noticeable stress? This uncertainty also appears enhanced for many by potential impacts of Brexit

VisitScotland Overview

Priority is to agree criteria and eligibility for Tourism Hospitality Fund and then manage and deliver the funding Coast and Waters campaign paused. Marketing is currently on hold with messaging focussed on ‘dream now travel later’.  ITB is 9^th -12^th March with opportunities to promote Scotland ITB Berlin 09 – 12 March 2021 (atta.travel) Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund  3 successful applications announced today with £80k and four projects in Highlands, and Glenshee toilets in Aberdeenshire securing funding VS Webinars continuing in 2021 VisitScotland and Digital Boost webinars - News | VisitScotland.org

3.RESET

Consistent lockdown messaging CNPA web information regularly updated on car parks, toilets etc. Public sector outdoor sites currently ‘open’. Legislation allows  travel ‘for recreation’ within LA area and 5 miles out with, but messaging focus is on #StayLocal. Collective messaging should continue to focus on #CairngormsTogether with current steer on   #StaySafe #StayLocal/Home Nature Scotland is coordinating, with partners, consistent ‘outdoors’ messaging for 2021 but with Easter only 12 weeks away there is much work to be done.

4.RESTART

Visitor management planning for Easter 2021 CNPA is appointing 8 seasonal rangers to be in post for Easter 2021 and has secured Kickstart funding with UK National Parks for 6 CNPA posts (5 six month ranger posts). CNPA has also requested additional funding from ScotGov for permanent ranger service to support seasonal posts and partner services – awaiting 28^th Jan budget decision. CNPA is also agreeing a range of visitor improvement projects for delivery by partners by March 2021 including car park, toilet and road improvements – details to follow once agreed. Residents are again raising concerns about visitor numbers at key sites (eg Glenshee and Glenmore) and associated behaviour (eg littering) Action 1 CBP and CNPA to agree next set of virtual community meeting to update residents on spring 2021 work and communication. - National Education & Marketing group meeting 17/12 Action 2 Update from CBP at next meeting

5.RECOVER

6.ANY OTHER UPDATES

Cairngorm Mountain closed on 24 Dec with core maintenance staff in post and majority of staff ‘Furloughed’. Work on funicular reinstatement ongoing where possible. Snow gates closed at Glenmore with support from Police Scot and HC, and many residents. Season ticket holders to be refunded. Latest draft of CM master plan being finalised and will be presented to CNPA Board in February. Glenmore roadside path from Beach Car Park to Glenmore Lodge junction completed December (RTIF) . Crossing points January ( depending on weather) along with upgrades to Beach Car Park.

7.DATE OF NEXT MEETING

25th January 2021 @ 11.00 – 12.00 Fortnightly

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

14th December, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group Meeting Note 14^th December 2020 Present: Heather, Murray, Pete, Janet, Geva, Chris F, Chris T, Laurie. Apologies:  Grant, Colin, Rhona, Mark, Alistair. 1.Welcome and introductions  2.RESPOND - Business Support update Additional funding schemes were announced last week (as detailed in attached CBP update) but there is not yet a lot of detailed information on the new funding schemes and it seems unlikely that they will be up and running before January. Within the Moray area, Laurie flagged up that 2/3rds of businesses eligible for existing grants have not yet applied and there is a lack of faith in the new schemes reaching the businesses that need them.  In all areas, there is a sense of frustration that the schemes are not better developed when they are announced. - Key issues from DMOs VisitAberdeenshire have completed analysis of survey for local people on staycation experiences this year and plans for holidays next year. The top priority emerging is getting out for countryside walks.  They are also working on a local towns’ campaign with Aberdeenshire Council early next year and scenario planning for future promotion. Murray updated on the STA Destination Forum meeting with Fergus Ewing last week, which Mark, Laurie and Chris F also attended..  The mood was generally low.  While rural areas destinations generally have lower restrictions, few customers are able to travel. Looking forward, by the end of April only around 400,000 people are likely to be vaccinated, mostly frontline health staff and care home residents.  This is unlikely to give a major boost to tourism numbers. VisitScotland Overview The marketing team continue to push the  #ScotlandLovesLocal messaging.  Businesses that are trading can upload offers etc. to the website and this will continue into the new year.  The event recovery fund is still live and getting a good level of enquiries. The Scotland Reconnects trade event had great feedback and the site will remain open for an additional few weeks until 22^nd Dec.  The STERG business survey had over 3k responses. The cruise research (2019) now has reported and is available.  There will be more work on it early in the new year to consider how the industry will recover. There are lots of film & TV enquiries at the moment as international travel is difficult.  VS are working up some training opportunities for taking advantage of that market. Brexit Issues Issues arising from Brexit will be discussed at the next meeting of the Cairngorms economic steering group on 11^th January, which will be attended by Highland Council’s Brexit officer.  Janet offered to circulate a useful summary of the issues from Perth & Kinross Council (checklist and details of events attached).  It was agreed that it would also be added to the next CTERG agenda.  Geva advised that Martin Bremner was the relevant contact at Aberdeenshire Council, and requested a CNPA board update on Brexit, possibly at the informal board discussion on the 9^th February. 3.RESET. No issues discussed. 4.RESTART CNPA / CBP community open meetings Meetings with community councils and land managers respectively were held last week to talk about visitor management issues and introduce the Heritage Horizons project.  A similar business meeting is being held with CBP tomorrow.   Geva requested the note of the previous meetings in advance of local community council meetings this week. NatureScot Visitor Management Grant Fund. This fund has just been launched by NatureScot.  https://www.nature.scot/new-green-recovery-fund-help-manage-visitors-nature-hotspots  While project eligibility is fairly wide, the timescale is tight with projects to be delivered this financial year.  Similarly, Pete advised that £200k underspend on the RTIF path at Glenmore could be re-allocated to other visitor management projects in this financial year.  A range of projects at key sites around the national park have been identified that don’t need planning permission and could happen this financial year. Marketing or communications updates. CNPA messaging continues to focus messaging on stay safe, stay local, support local businesses.  There is some concern from Police Scotland about potential bonfire parties in countryside areas at Hogmanay, and they are staffing accordingly. Chris F asked about preferred wording of mountain safety messaging. Pete advised that the best approach was to share content and messages from Mountaineering Scotland. The Tomintoul and Glenlivet marketing plans have been developed by 42 Studios and are being finalised at the moment. There was a discussion about the safe re-opening of ski centres, at a time when there could be far more demand than usual from those unable to travel abroad.  Most ski centres are moving to an online booking system in advance with limited tickets, though there may still be people turning up on the day as well, and with no coaches or car sharing, parking may be an issue.  VisitScotland are in touch with the centres and manage the Ski Scotland pages, and Chris agreed to keep the group up to date on planned messaging. It was agreed that ‘Plan B’ messaging similar to the summer could be useful at trying to keep people within the area and spending money even if they could couldn’t ski.  It was also recognised that with most visitors generally coming from the central belt, actual numbers may be limited by the tier system. 5.RECOVER Murray gave an update on a number of related technology projects  - Traveltech directory been launched to connect tourism businesses with providers of technology https://www.visitscotland.org/news/2020/traveltech-for-scotland-directory - Interface looks to foster links between businesses and academics https://interface-online.org.uk/.  Murray had a meeting with Lesley Judge who leads on the tourism element of the project and agreed that someone would be invited to the next CTP meeting. - Cairngorms IoT Project has funding to deliver a network of path and traffic sensors to give real time information on where people are going.  This will help guide ranger deployment and visitor management planning. All of these technology projects rely on good connectivity and it has just been announced that the £385 million R100 project has now been formally agreed with BT.  More details on the areas that will benefit will be available in Spring. https://www.gov.scot/news/superfast-broadband-for-homes-and-businesses-in-the-north/ Janet also gave a short update on the Smart Village project, a ScotGov digital initiative for communities of place and interest to better use technology to connect.

6. AOB

Discussion on priorities for early 2021. Everyone to feed back to Janet thoughts on the future role of the group, and priorities, but in discussion the following priorities were identified:

• Agree 2021 visitor management messaging ASAP.
• Agree the role of the CTERG and links with CTP and visitor management group.
• Support for DMOs, particularly through the HIE scheme.

7. Date of next meeting.

Monday 11^th January 2021 RESPOND (March 2020 – May 2020) Immediate provision of information and support to businesses RESET (June 2020 – September 2020) Support, planning and preparation for restart RESTART (June 2020 – February 2021) Support and guidance for safe re-opening RECOVER (September 2020 – December 2022) Guidance and support for operating in a new post COVID-19 environment

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

23rd November, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 23rd November 2020, 11am.

1.Welcome and introductions

Present: Mark, Murray, Janet, Pete, Grant, Rhona, Chris F, Alistair, Chris T, Colin (joined halfway through) Apologies: Laurie, Geva

2.RESPOND

Business Support update

There was extensive discussion about the new Covid-19 business support grants for the different geographical restriction levels, being administrated by the local authorities.  There is an initial application process for eligible businesses, but thereafter grants will automatically be paid retrospectively at the appropriate rate for the restriction level.   As with previous grants scheme there is some ambiguity in the guidance.  There is particular challenge around the eligibility of hotels, especially in tier 1.  Highland Council have raised this as an issue with the Scottish government, and asked that hotels be included in the scheme.   Aberdeenshire Council are distributing town centre improvements grants with £153k allocated to Ballater Enhancement Group and £142k to Victoria & Albert Halls in Ballater.  Alistair will send details of those projects.   Nothing to update from HIE.  

Key issues from DMOs

CBP.  Mark raised the issue of business grants.  The lack of support for businesses in levels 1 & 2 is causing huge challenges to the many businesses who rely on visitors from areas in levels 3 or 4, or from elsewhere in the UK.  Mark asked if Highland Council would consider processing hotel grants in the expectation that the guidance would be clarified.  Colin advised that they were reluctant to take on that risk.   VisitAberdeenshire are revamping their ‘locals’ campaign in run up to Christmas and beyond, with a promo video in production.  They are also doing a survey for the local population to ask 1) about staycation experiences last summer, and 2) what are their hidden gems (if willing to share!). Their seminars on key issues for businesses are ongoing, and the 3^rd iteration of the Tourism Business Gamechanger will run from January to March and will be free for first time.  There will be spaces for 12 businesses.  

VisitScotland Update

The Scotland Reconnects online event starts at 12:00 today, with 250 buyers & 234 suppliers involved, and 4,000 appointments scheduled. Adventure tourism week ran last week with over 800 registered businesses involved. The latest STERG survey is now out and Chris thanked partners for sharing. The Event Recovery Fund has now launched with £1-5k or £5-35k grants.  There will be a webinar about the fund on Wednesday.  Chris to send details around. A high-level commitment has been made to the Tourism Declares initiative, along with Wild Scotland and Sail Scotland, and VS will be rolling out stakeholder engagement over the coming months.  It was agreed that this fits particularly well  with the Park’s status as  Europarc accredited sustainable tourism destination and with other ongoing work.  Chris offered to include  CNPA in further direct discussions about how to translate the TD initiative into practical action, and it was agreed that this would be on the agenda for the next Cairngorms Tourism Partnership meeting in February.

3.RESET

Communications messages around the tier system It was agreed that the restrictions for the 4-lvel system were well-understood, and there is clear information on the VisitCairngorms & CNPA websites.  There does appear to be a small amount of nervousness from visitors again about where people are travelling from, and this is leading to some comments on VS’ social media posts.

4.RESTART

Meetings Grant gave an update on a meeting with the new CEO of Keep Scotland Beautiful, Barry Fisher. KSB has a lead on litter messaging, and runs schemes for government on climate issues etc.  They have recently launched the Green Key scheme for businesses.   Mark & Heather fed back on the national Visitor Management Education & Marketing Group.  There is still work needed to agree national headline messages before a campaign can be developed and promoted. Mark felt that the group has grown, and purpose has slipped since initiated by DMOs and WildScotland.   There is a need to focus on the two main aims 1) agree messages and 2) communicate them in an inspiring way.   There are Deeside, Glenmore & Angus  visitor management meetings this week to agree visitor management plans, including what infrastructure could be put in place by the start of the Spring season.  There has been a delay to the Scottish Budget announcement until 28^th Jan so CNPA will need to plan ranger services before knowing if we have budget.   Grant is chairing the first national Visitor Management Infrastructure & Investment group meeting this afternoon. The group will establish priority area  for investments and look at targeting future funds like RTIF.   In early December there are plans for another series of open community meetings including community councils and Scottish Land & Estates.  The meetings will introduce the Heritage Horizons project as well as discussion of visitor management issues.   Colin has been attending ward business meetings as part of the consultation on a Highland Infrastructure Plan (and sub-area plans).  The plan includes an audit of public and community-owned visitor infrastructure, and looks to identify gaps in provision.  Both the Highland and Badenoch & Strathspey plans would be circulated to the group.  It was agreed that ideally there should be only one plan for Badenoch & Strathspey rather than CNPA also producing a visitor management plan for the area.

5.RECOVER

Marketing Updates Mark gave an update on the CBP winter campaign.  An outline storyboard for the TV advert is going to Clearcast for approval before filming. Facebook personas have been developed to identify target audiences.  In terms of promotion at this stage, there will be a limited number of dark social posts targeted to Aberdeenshire & Highland.

6.Any Other Updates

A new round of training for community tourism projects is being launched by the Social Enterprise Academy, open to Highland & Moray.  Murray to send details to the group.

7.Date of next meeting

14^th December

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

2nd November, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 2nd November 2020, 11am. 

 

1.Welcome and introductions

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

2.RESPOND

Business Support update, including Hospitality Hardship Fund issues

Highland Council had paid 260 Hospitality Hardship Fund grants by the end of last week, with more applications received this morning but that’s only approx. half of businesses who are eligible to apply. A press release has gone out to encourage applications.   Eligibility criteria are tightly tied to those businesses who had to close or change business practise due to the 9^th October restrictions.  Accommodation providers are not eligible but are still facing losses, especially as wider travel restrictions come into force.   Mark asked if the council could write to all eligible businesses in future.  Colin will consider that for future funds, but their database does not have enough information to be sure that all the businesses would be eligible.  At the moment, the onus is on businesses to apply for the funding.   Changes to the initial guidelines were frustrating with an initial 30% rejection rate in Highland) for the first few days, which dropped to 18% after clarification.  There has been high compliance with Covid guidelines across the Highlands, so no applications were rejected on that basis.   Murray flagged up that local authorities are also running a town centre regeneration fund, which needs to be committed by March.  There is an opportunity for small-scale tourism shovel-ready projects.   Aberdeenshire Council have also struggled with the lack of clarity of guidelines for the new scheme.  They have received 400 applications, and have processed half of them.  They have received lots of incomplete and ineligible applications.   HIE are continuing to work on their Hotel Support programme, with awards expected to be made towards end November or early December.  They are also speaking to Cairngorms Business Partnership and VisitMoraySpeyside about support through the Destination Management Fund.  

Key issues from DMOs

Cairngorms Business Partnership have updated their status site with tier info as the new structure comes into place today.  The announcement of the English lockdown is another devastating blow, as there are fewer and fewer potential visitor audiences to target.  The most recent accomodatio0n survey went live at 8am this morning, including English cancellation impacts.   Grant advised that the CNPA website now has a map showing local authority boundaries and tier info, and linking to ScotGov website.   Mark suggested that since lockdown eased, we’ve had around 1 million visitors (Heather to try to validate figure) but no visitor-related Covid issues. VisitMoraySpeyside’s Covid check and protect app has had 45 000 check-ins, 9000 users and no data requests to follow-up a Covid case.  CBP’s check & protect app has had 90 000 check-ins and also no data requests.   Janet asked if we should publicise this data to re-assure communities, but Mark pointed out that not all businesses use the app, and there are currently some cases associated with staff at the Boat Hotel.  The key message is that the occasional cases that pop up are currently being well-managed.   Visit Moray Speyside businesses also struggled with the midweek change on guidelines for the Hospitality Hardship Fund, and the potential threat of a full Scottish lockdown is also an issue.  Their marketing campaign worked very well for Sept but it is now very difficult to find suitable target audiences.  Moray Council seem to be slower than Highland Council at processing grants.   Geva gave an update from Aberdeenshire with key points from a report going to VisitAberdeenshire’s board:  

• Over the October holiday period, occupancy was generally high but turnover low due to hospitality restrictions.
• Car parking continued to be overstretched at some sites
• There were still many campervans around
• There were issues with footpaths being very muddy due to volume of walkers and bikers
• Many visitors had dogs with them.

 

VisitScotland Overview

Most VS marketing is now paused apart from committed content in magazines etc.  Social media content remains light touch & inspirational, similar to initial lockdown easing messages. VS are continuing consumer intentions tracking for domestic & overseas markets, but but the situation is changing rapidly. The Quality Assurance team are running virtual advice sessions for businesses, around building online brand and reputation.  This is a free service. Laurie asked for more information as he wasn’t aware of this. Scotland Re-connect is the name of the virtual expo which will run from Nov 23^rd – 25^th on the Event Air online platform.  It will include 15 minute 1-1 sessions with around 200 buyers from key markets, looking at bookings in 2021/22. EventScotland’s event fund has given out about 300 payments to the events supply chain.  

 3.RESET

- CBP & VA hospitality restriction survey results (attached) The results of recent surveys were circulated, but the situation has changed again and a new survey has been launched.  The key message from the surveys, which was picked up by Fergus Ewing, was that taking away one element of visitor experience upsets the other hospitality sectors that form part of the tourism ecosystem.  

4.RESTART

Feedback from recent meetings:

• The STA Destination Meeting on 27/10 was attended by Mark, Murray, Chris F and Laurie.
• The end of season CNP land manager’s visitor management meeting on 28/10 went well.  The next step will be 3 or 4 geographical meetings to discuss infrastructure etc before next season.  There was good feedback on the seasonal rangers.  Their contracts finished on Friday but 2 have been kept on for the winter, and a funding bid has been made to the Scottish Government for future ranger provision.  Looking forward there is a need to identify infrastructure improvements that can be carried out over the winter months for next season, and those that are longer term ambitions.
• At a national level, the Visitor Management group has 3 sub-groups - communications, enforcement and infrastructure, (the latter is led by Grant), and will look at how to make more strategic decision on investments / RTIF across Scotland. Invitations for the next meeting are going out today.  Heather will attend the communications subgroup now that Francoise has left CNPA, until the new Head of Communications, Oliver Davies, starts in January

 

• FLS held a meeting at Glenmore on 27/10 with Pete attended.  Note of meeting is attached.

 

• A full CTP meeting is scheduled for next week and will include the paper discussed by the visitor management group.

 

• Mark and Murray have been invited to give a presentation to the Highland Council tourism committee on 3^rd December about joint work  in  CNP.

 

CNPA digital communications report

The report detailing the results of CNPA’s digital communications over the last 6 moths or so is available at https://infogram.com/1tpy3ep8130pq4f6k7vmweze93s3eq3302y Working with social media influencers worked particularly well in targeting new younger audiences. We need to continue to collectively agree how we communicate visitor management issues.

5.RECOVER

Cairngorms Autumn / Winter marketing campaign plans Plans are currently limited by the travel restrictions, meaning that there are very few suitable target audiences. Vicki Miller from VS is sharing the facebook personas that they use to profile target audiences, and great care will be taken not to target geographical areas under travel restrictions.

6.Any Other Updates

Murray updated on the work to fix the funicular issues as there has been a lot of press coverage about the work starting shortly.  He confirmed that all planning conditions were discharged today.  Gavin Miles will be attending Thursday’s funicular response group meeting from CNPA.

7.Date of next meeting

There will be a full CTP meeting next Monday 9^th November from 10am – 12noon.  It will focus on higher level strategy rather than the usual CTERG updates.

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

26th October, 2020

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