Meetings

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

29th June, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 29th June 2020, 11am.

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

1.Welcome and introductions

2.RESPOND

Brief updates on new key issues from DMOs, VisitScotland and Business Support agencies In advance of the closure of grant schemes on the 10^th July, there will be a final burst of promotion to encourage businesses to apply.

3.RESET

Overview of consumer insights and other research Latest research is available at VS marketing intelligence 24/06 & VisitBritain tracker   Communications plan for 2019/20 tourism data There was a brief discussion on the tourism data communications plan.  It was agreed that, given the revised opening date of 3^rd July, the press release from CNPA/CBP should go out around the weekend.  Hopefully the final report would be available on CNPA website at that point, but the infographic and dashboards on the website would have to follow at a later date.  It should also be possible to include the annual Business Barometer report.   HIE are working on an economic paper on Covid impact, it will provide a regional picture but will also do more granular analysis.   Cambridge University. Cambridge University did not get the funding to progress the ESRC project that we had been asked to get involved in. We now have the interim report for the Fidelio Project (looking at social impacts of protected areas) but have asked the researchers not to undertake further work in 2020 and to approach us again in 2021.

4.RESTART

Visitor Management Issues

- Initial weekend feedback Seasonal rangers have been out over the weekend, working in pairs and submitting daily reports and photos.  As in previous weekends, there were issues with littering and toileting, and clearly people travelling more than 5 miles for recreation.   -  Provision of visitor facilities Public toilets have re-opened in Carrbridge, Nethy Bridge and Aviemore.  CNPA have requested information from other partners about toilets and car parks by Wednesday, to ensure that accurate data is on the website by Friday. CNPA are looking at ways to get images and messaging out ASAP when car parks are full.  The funding, supplier & locations for road signs on A93 are agreed, but need to agree wording for the signs.   - Camping & campervans There are no details yet on the extent to which camping is permitted from Friday, but Grant has asked for clarification ASAP.  There is concern that if campsites are not permitted to re-open, there will still be an influx of wild campers and campervans as ‘self-contained’ accommodation.  There remains particular concern about the closure of the campsite at Glenmore.  

Communications Framework phase 2/3 messages

The CBP welcome back video went live on social media on Sunday evening and has been well-received, with 9k views so far.  VisitScotland will also share it on Monday morning.  CBP will that up this week with calls to action around the communications framework, including a strong message asking visitors to plan and book in advance.  The status website will be up by Thursday and will include details of campsite provision, as well as attractions, activities, F&B businesses etc.   Mark has been made aware of a letter from Nethy Bridge community council to self-catering visitors.  He will discuss with businesses about the possibility of incorporating messages from the communications framework.  Grant will send the final #CairngormsTogether document, along with the welcome back video, to all community council chairs as a follow-up to their meeting.   CNPA have commissioned Kirk Watson to deliver a responsible access video.  There were concerns that the video would be too late with the revised re-opening timescale.  It should be delivered ASAP, and quick ranger videos should also be ready by Friday.

5.RECOVER

CNPA Green Recovery Plan

CNPA are looking for recovery fund projects.  There is also additional funding for the NMU route at Glenmore.

6.Any Other Updates

Grant to set-up a meeting for Mark and Grant with Mairi Gougeon for sometime in August.   Murray gave details of a proposed Internet of Things project in Cairngorms & Glenmore about tracking digital data.  Discussions are taking place with partners now, but the project would be fully funded and could happen fairly quickly.   Cairngorms Mountain are planning to open the café, shop and toilets in day lodge from July 15^th, but will not initially offer tubing. The Highland Wildlife Park opens today for local visitors.

7.Date of next meeting

Next Monday 6^th July at 11am.

Call-ins 

29th June, 2020

Planning Committee 

26th June, 2020

Location: Via Video-Conference - See Notice of Meeting for Link

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership 

22nd June, 2020

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

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group 22nd June 2020, 11am. 

  Present: Grant Moir, Pete Crane, Mark Tate, Chris Taylor, Janet Hunter, Heather Trench, Rhona Taylor, Alistair Reid, Murray Ferguson, Colin Simpson, Geva Blackett. Apologies: Laurie Piper

1.Welcome and introductions

2.RESPOND

Key issues from DMOs

Cairngorms Business Partnership are raising the issue of staff availability when schools open on only a part time basis.  Community Planning Partnerships are looking at the issue. Sectoral calls are taking place this week with 80 people signed up for the self-catering sector.  Other sector groups have around 20-30 signed up. Mark has been asked to represent Chambers of Commerce on the new Tourism Recovery Task Force, chaired by Fergus Ewing.  The group will look at longer term economic recovery, rather than STERG which is a smaller short-term emergency group. The Higgins report on economic recovery is expected to be published at 11:30 today. VisitMoraySpeyside are starting their community conversations today. Visit Aberdeenshire’s consumer survey results will be circulated to the group today.  The organisation is looking at re-opening and timing of marketing plans, businesses opening etc. They will initially be targeting local people within the area, and marketing will not go live until 15^th July.   VisitScotland Overview Vs are looking at timeline for marketing activity from the 15^th July, with careful social media content in the meantime.  There is likely to be an announcement on the Good-to-Go scheme tomorrow. The community engagement case study on #CairngormsTogether will go live from VisitScotland later today.   Business Support update HIE advised that the CML team are now working to open part of the business from 15^th July, rather than waiting until the winter season as originally planned.  They are working on an appropriate business model, but toilets will be open. There will be a Business Gateway seminar on 24^th June on re-opening the tourism sector.   Both Aberdeenshire and Highland Council’s B&B hardship schemes have had very few applications, with many being unsuccessful, and the complexity of the scheme means that few applications contain all the necessary information. Highland Council should get the first few payments out today, though.   Aberdeenshire Council are running webinars on lockdown easing for businesses.  They will pull together key council contacts across departments such as licensing, planning and environmental health to streamline advice for businesses, and have been well received by participants to date. Highland Council have issued local guidance on re-opening, which will be circulated to the group.

3.RESET

Overview of consumer insights and other research. CNPA Visitor Survey 2019/20. There was a meeting last week with consultants to agree changes to the final report. Heather is working on a draft communications plan to get the overwhelmingly positive messages from the survey, along with 2019 STEAM data, to businesses in an appropriate and useful way.  The plan will be circulated to the CTERG this week for discussion next week.   Recent visitor sentiment data is available at VS marketing intelligence 17/06 and VB tracker.   There is not yet a funding decision on the Cambridge University FIDELIO project that we’ve been asked to be involved with.

4.RESTART

- Sectoral guidance on re-opening.  The guidance is fairly comprehensive, but as yet contains no information on safe re-opening of toilets. There are concerns that toilet guidance will be too strict to make opening practical. There is also a review of the 2m vs 1m social distance guidance, with changes in England widely expected to be announced tomorrow.  CBP flagged up anger from F&B businesses who had prepared for likely re-opening at the beginning of Phase 2, only to find a decision delayed for 2 weeks.   Visitor Management Issues Initial weekend feedback from land managers suggests that the weekend was relatively quiet in most areas, with some issues at Loch Morlich, Dinnet and Mar Lodge. Variable signage plans are progressing with Aberdeenshire Council, and seasonal rangers will be on the ground from Saturday.  FLS will have rangers back from Thursday at Loch Morlich, and are looking at re-opening beach toilets as soon as possible.   CBP flagged up anger from local businesses and communities about the lack of site management at Glenmore to date and it was agreed that the 3 DMOs (subject to agreement from Laurie) would write to FLS stressing importance of having visitor-facing staff on site ASAP.   Communications Framework phase 2 messages It was agreed that we need particular clarity of messaging on camping and campervanning.  Irresponsible camping is likely to increase over the coming weeks, and especially when overnight stays are permitted, particularly if not all campsites are able to open.  It may be necessary to provide some facilities at key sites such as Linn of Dee.  There is some anecdotal evidence that many of the campers are not used to wild camping, and there is a real need to provide clear access messages, particularly around fires.  Car parks at this stage should be encouraged to open, but not widely promoted.   CBP, with funding from CNPA, have commissioned a short consumer-facing video delivering #CairngormsTogether messages. Mark is also trying to encourage businesses to open as soon as possible to provide the visitor facilities necessary as visitor start to return.

5.RECOVER

CNPA Green Recovery Plan The criteria for applications to the recovery fund are being drafted for agreement ASAP, so that good projects can come through this financial year.  CNPA have been talking to SDS about a potential skills development training project, perhaps with CBP.

6.Any Other Updates

7.Date of next meeting

Monday 29^th June, 11:00 – 12:00

Call-ins 

22nd June, 2020