Meeting
Cairngorms Tourism Partnership
25th May, 2020
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group
25th May 2020, 11am.
1.Welcome and introductions
Present: Janet Hunter, Heather Trench, Murray Ferguson, Pete Crane, Francoise van Buuren, Grant Moir, Chris Taylor, Mark Tate, Alistair Reid, Geva Blackett, Laurie Piper
Apologies – Colin Simpson, Chris Foy, Rhona Fraser, Colin Knight
2.RESPOND
Scottish Government roadmap announcement and industry response.
The roadmap has been published but no changes have yet been made with the key message still to stay at home. Phase one of lockdown easing is likely to commence on Thursday 28th, but there is no firm timetable for any of the 4 phases and changes need to be evidence based. The STA response to the roadmap has asked for 4 things: some sectors to open earlier; urgent short-term support; longer term support; and a ministerial taskforce to consider STERG recommendations.
In phase 1 the guidance allows travel for a short distance with a guideline figure of travel up to 5 miles for exercise. Communications at that stage will focus on a Stay Local message.
Key issues from DMOs
VisitMoraySpeyside last week met with HIE around the Pivotal & Hardship funds as very few Moray businesses seem to have been successful. Laurie is writing letters of support for rejected businesses. The DMO itself is also falling between gaps in support, and likely to lose business BID contributions of an estimated £40k through business failure.
Discussion are going on with communities, some of who are still reluctant to welcome visitors back.
2019 STEAM figures show an increase of £5million in the local visitor economy.
VisitScotland Overview
The tourism industry many questions about the roadmap and re-opening speeds. Some sector groups are pushing for their sectors to open more quickly, while generally destination organisations are being more cautious and interested in a co-ordinated approach of sectors opening at the same time to provide a wider visitor experience.
Applications have been received for the destination support fund and decisions will be made shortly. The Year of Coast and Waters will likely be rolled into 2021 and discussion is ongoing with event organisers. The Year of Scotland’s Stories may still be in 2022.
STERG guidance on sector re-opening will be available shortly. It’s currently with government to consider and they are aware of the lead times necessary for re-opening.
Business Support update
Aberdeenshire Council are still dealing with small business grants, which are quickly being turned around. The newly self-employed hardship fund is seeing a high level of applications being turned down, at around 40%. Some applications are from limited companies, or self-employed trading earlier than cut-off date. Cash businesses are also applying but are struggling to provide the bank statements needed. Numbers applying are also low, at about 200 applications so far when around 900 were anticipated, so communications about the scheme are being increased.
The Environmental Health team are looking at business re-opening issues.
The Aberdeenshire Town Centres Phoenix fund has been approved to support village /small town centres. Braemar & Ballater area able to apply for funding of £5k and £10k respectively.
A business resilience and sustainability scheme has also been approved, and is not restricted to key sectors. A job creation scheme also being considered.
Rangers & access officers are working on similar messages to CNPA.
3.RESET
Overview of consumer insights and other research
The latest VS marketing intelligence 20/05 is now available and echoes much of the Scottish Tourism Index report discussed last week. A CBP workshop with 56 Degree Insights, who carried out the research for the index is scheduled for Thurs 28th May.
A second wave of the ALVA tracker has also been published, showing a decrease in the number of people looking to attend an attraction in the near future.
Pete Crane will circulate plans for SNH outdoor access research.
The CBP visitor survey has been drafted and will be circulated to potential visitors later this week. It will be open for 7-10 days.
An initial discussion has taken place with Cambridge University on the proposal for Socio-Economic Pathways to Recovery research, which was circulated after the last meeting. If successful, funding should be agreed in the next week or so.
4.RESTART
Follow up communications discussion
CNPA, VA, VMS, and CBP met to agree draft messages for residents, employees and visitors (in order of precedence). The key message remain ‘stay home’ until Friday.
It was agreed that the priority was to pick up the four key messages as discussed:
– Follow government guidance –‘Stay Local’ (at Phase 1)
– Plan Ahead – advice on visits and facilities available
– Adapt – guidance on 2-metre distance. If it feels too crowded, it is too crowded.
– Be Kind – show consideration & respect for one another
These messages were also the focus of discussion at CBP’s ‘Code of conduct’ subgroup, and there was agreement with them, but a struggle to find an appropriate name for the campaign that avoided the idea of a firm pledge or code.
The communications plan, and ‘code of conduct’ details will be included as annexes to the revised Visitor Management Plan along with two sub-area management plans for Deeside and Glenmore. It will be discussed and hopefully agreed on Friday by a meeting of DMOs, councils and land managers.
The ENFOR group will also discuss it on Wednesday, and discussions with the 5 access authorities on the Park boundary will also take place.
SportScotland are working with outdoor sector groups on plans for recovery and there were concerns that this wasn’t joined up well enough. Grant has asked them to join the STERG countryside sub-group.
To encourage community involvement with the messaging, Mark has suggested arranging two community open meetings on Zoom, jointly hosted by Janet, Grant and Mark, with the capacity for up to 30 people to get involved in each. Grant will also send the revised Visitor Management Plan to community councils and will mention the meetings in the letter. The letter will go out early next week, and the meetings will be scheduled for towards the end of the week or the start of week after. Murray will discuss wider promotion of the meetings with the Community Development Officers at a meeting on Wednesday. Mark & Murray to confirm meeting arrangements.
Francoise noted a letter in the Strathy accusing B&B and hotels of continuing to accept visitors, which the Grantown Initiative are planning to respond to.
Visitor Management Planning and SOAC
The seasonal ranger post have now been advertised, and a good number of applications have already been received. The post will be managed by Mike Woolvin and Lucy Ford. The interviews will take place on 9th June and the team should be on the ground in early July.
Cairngorm Mountain have said they are closed for the summer, but that raises issues around toilet provision and Grant is going to follow up with Douglas Cowan of HIE. Janet will ask Glenshee Ski Centres about toilet provision there, though it was noted that at both centres staff have been furloughed.
Business Sector plans for re-opening
Mark said that while in phase 2, F&B businesses can open outside facilities, it was unlikely that many would be in a position to open.
Laurie is speaking to FSB and Moray Chamber of Commerce about re-opening issues, and is closely following discussions within CBP.
5.RECOVER
CNPA Green Recovery Plan
A new draft of the plan will be available shortly but there are no major changes apart from re-prioritising budget into recovery fund, seasonal rangers and a business plan for the potential dark skies observatory development in Tomintoul. CNPA board will discuss it on 12th June and it will be in the public domain from 5th June. In addition, shovel ready money of around £150m may be available for Glenmore NMU route. Grant will circulate the plan when finished.
A further stage will look at integrating with future plans from partner organisations. Highland Council have a recovery board set-up, working closely with HIE.
6.Any Other Updates
7.Date of next meeting
Monday 1st June.
Relevant papers will be available here shortly before the meeting.