Meetings

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

20th July, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 20th July 2020, 11am. 

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

1.Welcome and introductions

  Janet welcomed Audrey Michie who attended on behalf of Alistair Reid form Aberdeenshire Council

2.RESPOND

Brief updates on new key issues from DMOs, VisitScotland and Business Support agencies  VisitAberdeenshire - Plans re developing with Highland Games Association in Braemar, and indeed the wider Games’ network, to host a behind-closed-doors event at the Braemar arena at the end of August. Main outcome is to be promotion of the Cairngorms with VisitAberdeeshire – not green lighted yet – CF will send a brief summary round to the group of what it may turn in to. Moray Speyside Tourism – have had ongoing issues at Board level, things came to a head which led to 7 Directors resigning. The company now in a good place and have achieved more in 3 weeks than in they did in 5 months. VisitScotland – £3million campaign launched which has had good engagement ramping up the OTA moving from Scotland to the whole of the UK. VS is seeing much stronger interest from overseas, than thought would happen. iCentres – phased reopening programme, all opening up over next couple of weeks. Aviemore plus 4 others opening today, with another set to open next week. Calls for Deeside centres to open ASAP.

3.RESET

Overview of consumer insights and other research

 

• 3^rd wave of Scottish Tourism Index report shows that Scots very keen to stay in Scotland and that the rest of the UK keen to come to Scotland particular Highlands and rural Scotland - 56 degree presenting to CBP at 10am tomorrow – MT will send round Zoom link
• Visitor Survey final report and 2019 STEAM - 41% responded gave the National Park 10/10 – Should have new visitor data post covid by end of month which should give us an indication of what our visitors are looking for over the next 18 months.
• CBP occupancy survey– this survey gets repeated at beginning of each month, the main purpose is to ask accommodation businesses to let us know what forward bookings they have for the next three months. This will assist us with our winter campaign as it will begin to show occupancy into October – which we then feed in to tourist attractions to assess what the future demand is.

4.RESTART

Visitor Management Issues – CNPA

• CNPA still getting data in but it’s been a very chaotic weekend round Deeside and Cairngorm/Glenmore with majority of issues being round roads, camping behaviour, littering and human waste. There was a massive number of cars in in excess of car parks especially at sites like Muir of Dinnet, Glen Muick.
• What went on at Glenmore was entirely predictable and was predicted - prime responsibility needs to sit with the landowners – concerns about lack of action taken by FLS. This has been raised with them. More active onsite management is required. Paul Hibbard is on leave for 3 weeks, MF spoke to Graham Prest who is now committed to getting things fixed, and indicating tougher approach to parking enforcement. CNPA are meeting with FLS and others this afternoon to discuss what can been done. CNPA do have powers that they could use to step in and sort this but these are not things that can be done quickly.
• MF circulated the press release from Scottish Government about visitor behaviour and outdoor access rights. Fergus Ewing MSP is aware of all the issues going on. We need to use the power we have available
• Deeside had a huge deluge of people, main issues were not enough toilet facilities, bins etc. Geva to talk to Pete C further about what happened in Deeside.
• Geva has circulated the e-mail that she sent to the Chief Inspector for Aberdeenshire about problems with motor bikes. The Police have come back to say they are tasking patrols across Deeside.
• MF to send e-mail update to the group with report from visitor management group.

- provision of visitor facilities

• Angus Glens, Loch Muick, Crathie toilets are still shut and this is causing issues

- camping & campervans

• Our strategy is to make sure that we have really good information, promote the facilities that do exist. In meantime CNPA is in discussion with THC and other about improvements of facilities – priority is around public toilet and waste management.

Business re-opening situation and issues - DMOs

• Most places are now open in some form, just wanting for Strathspey Railway to see what they are doing. Braemar Games Centre still closed, Highland Folk Museum should open next week.
• Launched the Protect online App to collect customer contact - has had a good take up on that

  Communications Framework phase 3 messages – CNPA / CBP

• Access Video launched last week, very effective, really positive feedback.
• Edit of shorter version of that video will go out later this week

Outdoor retailer access communications project

• Chris Tiso meeting with CNPA and CBP – good positive meeting, lots of actions came out of it, working on various things like joint blogs and putting messages on their website about positive access behaviour
• Opportunity to do something local with Aviemore Tiso, and how working towards how do we do a similar thing nationally

5.RECOVER

CNPA Green Recovery Plan

• Criteria for that is getting approved – criteria coming out in August

HIE adventure tourism project

• Getting promoted - scheme is only eligibly in the HIE area – i.e. Highland and Moray and Mark will get onto promoting it to businesses

6.Any Other Updates

Nothing to report

7.Date of next meeting

Monday 3^rd August at 11am

Call-ins 

20th July, 2020

Outcome of Call In - 20 July 2020

Call-ins 

13th July, 2020

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

6th July, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 6th July 2020, 11am. 

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

1.Welcome and introductions

2.RESPOND

Brief updates on new key issues from DMOs, VisitScotland and Business Support agencies CBP launched status.visitcairngorms.com at the weekend and are updating it regularly as information comes in from businesses.  This section will be updated directly by businesses when the new website is up and running next month.  VisitAberdeenshire are also keeping listings regularly updated with business information. VisitScotland are continuing to push planning and re-assurance messages through marketing channels and have launched a visitor charter.  They are working on a range of marketing films that will be out from 15th July.  Over 2000 businesses are signed up to Good to Go and that will be searchable on vs.com from this week.  VICs are gearing up for re-opening but have no fixed date yet.  In the meantime, they are active answering online and telephone queries etc. CNPA are gathering opening data from LICs as well. HIE are working through appeals on funding schemes.  In total there were over 900 applications across HIE area. Local authorities are doing a final push top promote the grant schemes before they end this week, though there will then be a few weeks to process the applications and chase for follow-up information.  Highland Council flagged that, while initial schemes had an application success rate of around 95%, that has fallen to around 50% with the latest B&B scheme, with many applications from desperate self-catering providers who haven’t been able to access any other support. Aberdeenshire Council are continuing their series of webinar re-opening workshops, and have also fed into VisitAberdeenshire sectoral workshops.

3.RESET

Overview of consumer insights and other research The latest survey results are available at VS marketing intelligence 01/07 and VisitBritain tracker. Progressive Partnership, who did the visitor survey research, are now doing follow-up desk research to look at the data in light of 4 post-Covid bits of consumer sentiment research  - the Scottish Tourism Index, VisitBritain tourism sentiment tracker, CBP consumer survey and SNH recreation survey. CBP have started running a monthly accommodation occupancy survey to gauge what levels of bookings are coming in.  This will influence the plans for an ‘extended season’ marketing campaign in November / December.

4.RESTART

Visitor Management Issues

Initial feedback from the weekend suggest that there were not many visitor management issues, probably due to the poor weather, though also perhaps because of the return of more regular visitors who had been following the 5-mile guidance. Geva flagged up an issue with human waste in Braemar despite the toilets having now re-opened. In terms of visitor facilities, details of car parks and toilets are up to date on the CNPA website.  Variable signage is in place on A93, though there are technical issues with the existing signs at Muir of Dinnet and Glen Muick. All Invercauld car parks are now open and signs removed, but both Cairngorm Mountain car parks are still closed with tree trunks across them, leading to cars parked on the road instead. Rhona to chase and see if they can open this week despite facilities not opening until 15^th July. Camping in the Forest have been asked again to open their Glenmore campsite by 15^th and Grant will be approaching Julia Bradbury, chair of the Camping and Caravanning Club to discuss.  He has also asked FLS to look into setting up some sort of camping facility at Glenmore in the absence of Glenmore Campsite.  Fergus Ewing has also asked FLS to look into providing campervan overnight parking where appropriate.  Plans are underway for the pop-up campsite at Mar Lodge.  Initially this will be under the 28 days rule that doesn’t require planning permission, thereafter it will be discussed with Aberdeenshire Council. The message from the Scottish government at the moment is that visitors are asked to refrain from wild camping just now, but it is not illegal to do so.  There were some negative social media comments about the failure of seasonal rangers to stop camping over the weekend, however they can only advise on litter, fires etc., they cannot ask people to stop camping.

Business re-opening situation and issues

Some bars and cafes are re-opening outdoor space today, and most attractions are planning to open on 15^th July.

Communications Framework phase 2/3 messages

CBP messaging is now proactive and asking people to plan their visit in advance and behave responsibly.  A post this weekend showed an image of Loch Morlich with messaging around litter and toilet provision.  Paid promotion to those who don’t follow us.  Growth fund money will be used for promotion, perhaps to target new visitors with links to the re-opening information on CBP & CNPA websites.  This information was also included in a visitor facing newsletter. Grant has circulated the communications framework and video to the community council chairs as discussed.  Kirk Watson is filming the outdoor access video over the next week or two.  National Parks UK have also produced a video signposting to the 4 key messages on their website that formed the basis of the communications framework. Mark, Grant and Pete are meeting Chris Tiso on Friday to discuss a potential campaign around camping and responsible access.

5.RECOVER

Nothing to report.

6.Any Other Updates

Nothing to report.

Date of next meeting

Monday 13^th July at 11am.

Call-ins 

6th July, 2020