Cairngorms

Meeting

Cairngorms Tourism Partnership

31st August, 2020

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference

Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group
31st August 2020, 11am.

1.Welcome and introductions

 

Present: Janet, Murray, Mark, Pete, Colin, Chris T, Chris F, Rhona, Alistair,

Apologies: Geva, Heather, Laurie (IT issue), Grant

2.Respond

 

CBP – exceptionally busy six weeks but clear that many tourism businesses still challenged. Work ongoing on autumn promotion looking at encouraging visitors into November and December

 

Visit Aberdeen – focus on reputation recovery; city bookings down 70% on 2019 for August. Positive promotion through Virtual Highland Games – due out 12th September

 

MoraySpeyside – Updating partners on the TBID – https://www.google.co.uk/search?source=hp&ei=iExOX6mPGYnoUc2XhegH&q=moray+speyside+tourism+bid&oq=moray+speyside+&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQARgBMgsILhDHARCvARCTAjICCAAyCAguEMcBEK8BMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgYIABAWEB4yBggAEBYQHjIGCAAQFhAeMgYIABAWEB46EQguELEDEIMBEMcBEKMCEJMCOggIABCxAxCDAToOCC4QsQMQgwEQxwEQowI6CwguELEDEMcBEKMCOgUIABCxAzoICC4QsQMQgwE6BQguELEDOg4ILhCxAxCDARDHARCvAToRCC4QsQMQgwEQxwEQrwEQkwI6AgguOgQIABAKULcIWNEoYOpIaABwAHgAgAFgiAGzCZIBAjE1mAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy-ab

 

HIE – awaiting feed from Scottish Gov on business case for repairing funicular. Feedback on CairnGorm Mt master plan extended to 14th Sept. Hotel Fund launched

 

THC – New, cross service, Tourism Committee to meet 1st October. Decision making to be determined. CNPA offered to provide update to meeting sharing what has work well and what needs to improve for 2021

 

Committee comprises:

Chair: Ms M Smith (SNP)

Vice Chair: Mr G Adam (Lib Dem)

Mr R Bremner (SNP)

Dr I Cockburn (SNP)

Mr C Fraser (SNP)

Mr J Gordon (Ind)

Mr A Henderson (Ind)

Mr A Jarvie (Con)

Mr B Lobban (Ind)

Mr S Mackie (Con)

Mr D Macpherson (Ind)

Mr H Morrison (ind)

Mrs M  Paterson (Ind)

Mr D Rixson (Lib Dem)

 

AC highlighted ongoing Business Recovery Fund

 

Visit Scotland: The Events Industry Support Fund will comprise of a grant of up to £10,000 ,per business, to support businesses in the events industry, particularly those in the supply chain that are facing hardship and will be awarded as they are received

 

UK research indicating more people more confident in a range of activities – eating out, visiting attractions and staying in hotels (more likely than self-catering in autumn) with 2-3 night stay popular.

3.Reset

– Hotel support funding – https://findbusinesssupport.gov.scot/service/funding/hotel-support-programme

– Overview of consumer insights and other research – Snap shot from seasonal ranger research (156 interviews)

 

  • Unsurprisingly, the biggest change is a collapse in the number of international visitors.  In August 2019, 38% of visitors interviewed were from overseas.  In 2020 only 4 of the 156 were from overseas, all from continental Europe.

 

  • Looking only at domestic UK visitors, there was a slight decrease in visitors from England, from 42% of domestic visitors in 2019 to 33% in 2020.

 

  • Looking at visitors from Scotland, 65% were on an overnight trip rather than a day visit, a slight increase from 60% in 2019.  

 

  • There was only a very modest increase in first-time visitors.  27% said that they had not visited the National Park before, compared with 23% of domestic visitors in August 2019.

 

  • There appears to be a slight shift towards a younger demographic, with an increase in visitors under the age of 35, and a decrease in those older compared with domestic visitors in August 2020.

 

Nature Scotland – cross Scotland repeat of 1000 May survey on attitudes to countryside to be undertaken again in August

4.Restart

Visitor Management Issues – busy at Muir of Dinnet and Glen Tanar, road open to Loch Muick & addition car park used at Mar Lodge. Glenmore busy but less than previous weeks. Graffiti on Ryvoan Bothy widely reported on social media.

 

Visitor Services & Communications CNPA board paper -11th September celebrating partnership work of this group and Land Managers (circulated when on line) followed by Plans for end-of-season review with Visitor Management Group

 

Business re-opening situation and issues – exceptionally challenging for many businesses coping with the same economic input of ‘three winters’. Easing of Furlough is likely to lead to further bankruptcy

 

Communications Framework phase 3/4 messages – CNPA  focus on responsible access, opportunities in and around communities (away from ‘big six’ outdoor hot spots). Virtual Wee Walks Week promoted 3rd week in September. CBP working with VS on messaging new audience about camping and campervans. BBC Social using new influences to promote responsible access.

 

– Feedback from community meetings 27th August – attendance lower than in ‘lockdown’ indicating concerns had not turned into as many problems as feared, and lots of positive feedback from the collective partnership working. Tensions between the need for visitors and having visitors still an issue in some communities.

5.Recover

– RTIF applications – CNPA looking at three applications car parks nr Blair Atholl, Loch Muich and campsite/car parks at Muir of Dinnet. Aberdeenshire and car park improvements in Braemar and Ballater.

 

– Autumn marketing plans – CBP developing late autumn marketing, updates to follow

6.Any Other Updates

VS & HIE, with Campa, considering ways how to improve and better promote campervan infrastructure. Involvement of Judith Young (Scot Gov lead) and SE not clear – more info needed as work develops

 

THC worked with Scottish Water and SEPA on campervan waste options in rural areas – paper to follow when agreed by partners.

7.Date of next meeting

14th September 11.00 – 12.00

Relevant papers will be available here shortly before the meeting.