Communities invest in readiness to welcome back visitors

More than 50 community-led tourism venues across the Highlands and Islands have tapped into a £1.59m capital fund to help them prepare to welcome visitors again.

Cafes, heritage centres, visitor attractions, and community accommodation operators are among those carrying out community building upgrades, adaptations for kitchens and takeaway points, and introducing outdoor seating and public walkways.

The HIE Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Fund has also supported capital projects to address local environmental challenges. Community organisations are protecting natural capital with campervan waste disposal and enhancing safe toilet provision. They are also improving car and campervan parking, providing electric vehicle (EV) charging points and introducing e-bikes as a more sustainable way for people to explore destinations. Neil Ross, HIE’s head of community growth, says:

“All through the pandemic community organisations have been vital in ensuring emergency funds have reached those most impacted. We’ve seen demand grow for help as organisations prepare to restart normal activities. Our short-term COVID-19 investment funding has helped kickstart local supply chains and prepare community buildings and social enterprises for a safer re-opening.”

LOCH NESS HUB

One of the projects investing is the Loch Ness Hub. This new community benefit company is revitalising the former tourist information centre in Drumnadrochit. The hub has an ambitious business plan to deliver wide-ranging services, including a shuttlebus and baggage service, and green initiatives for local residents and visitors. Russell Fraser, manager of Loch Ness Hub, comments: “We’ve been carrying out a complete refurbishment programme of the existing Hub building, new toilet renovations, paintwork throughout, a motorhome service point and a digital booking system for our services. We want to provide a one stop shop for visitors and locals to discover and enjoy our history, heritage, landscape, local products and services.” Developed following a very successful community shareholders buy-in, the Hub’s aim is to generate profits that will be put back into the community. The Community-Led Tourism Infrastructure Fund has supported their renovation work, EV charging point and motorhome hook up points with £86,000. Find out more about them at www.hie.co.uk/lochnesshub These capital investments have come from HIE’s own funds. They aim to support community organisations, local infrastructure, and the restart and recovery of a key sector as an economic driver for the region. See another feature on the importance of community-led tourism at the UK’s most northerly location at www.hie.co.uk/unsttourism

INNSE GALL A’ FAIGHINN BUANNACHD ÀS AN TASGADH

Tha tasgaidhean Bun-structar Turasachd nan Coimhearsnachdan a’ cur taic ri pròiseactan calpa tarsainn na roinne gus cuideachadh le ullachadh airson tilleadh sàbhailte do luchd-turasachd.

Tha deich buidhnean coimhearsnachd ann an Innse Gall ag obair a dh’ionnsaigh soirbheas nas fheàrr a choileanadh às dèidh a’ ghlasaidh-sluaigh, le taic maoineachaidh air a riarachadh le Iomairt na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean (HIE). Tha tasgaidhean ann an Innse Gall air taic a chur ri coimhearsnachdan gus bun-structar a thogail a tha a’ dèiligeadh ri dùbhlain àrainneachdail ionadail sna h-eileanan. Tha iad sin a’ gabhail a-steach goireasan cuidhteis sgudal bhanaichean campachaidh, meudachadh solar sàbhailte de thaighean-beaga, cruthachadh ghoireasan ithe a-muigh agus toirt a-steach e-rothairean mar dhòigh nas seasmhaiche do luchd-tadhail air na h-eileanan a rannsachadh.

Chaidh taic a thoirt gu Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn (UOG) airson bunstructar turasachd air a’ bhlàr a-muigh air feadh Oighreachd Ghabhsainn. Thuirt Lisa NicIllEathain, Àrd-Oifigear UOG:

“Tha an tasgadh air ar cuideachadh le aonad cuidhteis sgudal campachaidh a shuidheachadh, taighean-beaga a thogail, agus àiteachan nas fhasgaiche a-muigh a chruthachadh a thuilleadh air àiteachan suidhe air feadh na h-oighreachd. Dh’fhoillsich sinn làrachlìn ùr o chionn ghoirid, www. visitgalsonestate.com gus ceann a tuath Leòdhais a chur air adhart mar cheann-uidhe agus sgaoil sinn pasgain turasachd le fiosrachadh ionadail gu solaraichean àite-fuirich uile.

“Mar thoradh air ar cultar agus ar n-eachdraidh shaidhbhir, ar costa iongantach agus ar pàirce-cluiche a bhuannaich duaisean, tha mòran aig an sgìre ri thabhann do na h-uile. Tha an taic bho HIE a’ toirt comas dhuinn a bhith nas deiseile a thaobh bun-structar còmhla ris an obair a tha sinn air a ghabhail os làimh mar-thà le adhartachadh agus làimhseachadh chinn-uidhe. Tha sinn airson a dhèanamh cinnteach gu bheil an suidheachadh deimhinneach don dà chuid iadsan a tha a’ tadhal, ach cuideachd don choimhearsnachd a tha an làthair.”

IMPROVED TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTH LEWIS

Ten community groups in the Outer Hebrides have been supported by the tourism capital fund for projects that help prepare for the safe return of visitors.

One of these is Galson Estate Trust, which has been working hard to provide infrastructure to address local environment challenges in the islands, including building outdoor eating facilities, introducing e-bikes and providing campervan waste disposal.

Lisa Maclean, chief executive at Galson Estate Trust, says:

“The investment enables us to be better prepared for visitors and complements the work we’ve already been doing by way of promotion and destination management. We want to ensure the experience is positive for both those visiting, but also for the community who live here.”

Lisa Maclean