Meeting
Cairngorms Tourism Partnership
15th March, 2021
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group - Via Video-Conference
Cairngorms Tourism Emergency Response Group
15th March 2021, 11am.
1.Welcome & Apologies
Present: Mark, Laurie, Murray, Pete, Heather
Apologies: Janet, Grant, Alistair, Rhona, Chris F, Colin, Rhona, Chris T, Geva
2.RESPOND
Business Support update
Alistair sent an update on business support from Aberdeenshire Council. The 1st and 2nd wave of B&B fund applicants have been contacted and the 3rd wave applications for those not included in earlier rounds open tomorrow. They are still in discussion with government over some large B&B not on assessors’ list. A paper on the Discretionary Fund is being considered this week regarding distribution of additional funding. Applications are slowing for the Strategic Framework Fund which is likely to be extended to June.
Key issues from DMOs
Laurie and Mark confirmed that business support seemed to be running fairly smoothly. However clarity for re-opening is urgently needed from tomorrow’s government announcement.
CBP have an open meeting with Fergus Ewing tomorrow morning in advance of the government announcement, and have set up a series of sectoral re-opening meetings over the next few weeks.
MoraySpeyside are also having re-opening conversations with businesses. They have been invited to input to a new Northeast Resilience group. Chris F is also involved and has flagged up the key role of CNPA in Deeside. It was agreed that Murray would chat to Rhona Gunn to improve contact between CNPA and Moray Council staff. Pete advised that Moray Council had windfarm funding for a new Speyside Way website. CNPA preference would be for DMOs to lead on that.
3.RESET
CBP operational readiness survey results (attached)
There are few surprises in the survey results. Key issues were again identified as Covid restrictions, cash flow, staff availability and the time required to train new employees and furloughed staff.
The results have been circulated to Fergus Ewing, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Scottish Tourism Alliance.
4.RESTART
Visitor management issues in light of slight easing of restrictions 12/03
At the CNPA board meeting last week there was a discussion as part of a budget paper on the employment of full time rangers, which was approved. Eight seasonal rangers are already employed and started training today. They will be on the ground from end March. FLS, NTS and NatureScot will also have more staff on the ground.
In terms of ranger communications:
- Seasonal rangers welcomed the CBP campervan work, but were concerned that not all wider messaging was aligned.
- Two meetings have been held, with rangers from the East & West of the National Park, to discuss collective communication.
- Fortnightly managing for visitors meetings are now taking place again with land managers.
- Feedback from rangers will be fed into CTERG weekely or fortnightly.
- Rangers will be advised to check the CBP status website for up-to-date information for visitors.
- Core messages should also be made available for wider frontline staff.
Re-opening with Confidence – #cairngormstogether community meetings 01/03/21
Mark said that the meetings went well, but this needs wider PR to get the message out to local communities. CNPA already plan to put out a blog from Janet, and some tourism infographics, but some wider press would also be good. Heather and Pete to discuss with Olly. CBP will also do some PR around the sector meetings next week.
National and local visitor management groups
VS have organised a visitor management summit on the 19th March. Mark and Olly will be attending the Education and Marketing group on Thursday before that.
Laurie advised that FLS in Moray are planning to continue their campervan provision project into 2021.
Messaging for Easter and re-opening.
Mark and Olly will today be discussing final messaging.
5.RECOVER
N/a
6.Any Other Updates
N/a
7.Date of next meeting
Monday 29th March 2021 @ 11am
