Council Leader Welcomes Fiona Hyslop’s Visit to Skye

The Leader of The Highland Council Councillor Margaret Davidson welcomed the news that Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs will be visiting Skye on Friday to meet with residents and businesses to discuss how the Island’s infrastructure can cope with the rising number of visitors coming to the Isle Skye.

She said: “I am pleased that the Cabinet Secretary will have the opportunity to hear first-hand of the challenges that have been experienced in coping with the influx of visitors. This has been a real issue of concern that I and the local members on Skye have been actively highlighting.

“The Tourism sector is of vital importance to our economy and there is a pressing need for improvements in tourism infrastructure right across the Highlands as this is causing the area reputational damage. We need a very real focus on action.

“While I have welcomed the First Minister’s recent announcement of a Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund and the efforts of Fergus Ewing to bring this about, I honestly do not believe that £6m over two years for the whole of rural Scotland will be enough to address these issues.

“We need to work with the Scottish Government, Highland and Islands Enterprise, Visit Scotland and the appropriate business organisations, and other partners to lever in further resources if we are to ensure the Highlands remains a hugely popular destination for visitors.”