Meeting

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership

22nd June, 2020

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