Cross-service group assist delivery of Highland Visitor Management Plan
Members of The Highland Council’s Tourism Committee met today, Wednesday 16 June 2021 and noted the information provided by each service on the progress and delivery of the Visitor Management Plan.
Highland Council will continue to work and engage with partners, national agencies and local communities to meet the challenges and opportunities that exist for delivering the Visitor Management Plan.
The Visitor Management Plan approved by committee on 21 April 2021 was created to recognise and start to address the issues that were anticipated to occur due to the increased numbers of visitors to the Highlands and their activities. The relaxation of many COVID-19 restrictions from 26 April has seen visitors returning to the Highlands, monitoring has begun which should help adapt planned activities if required.
Chair of the Tourism Committee, Cllr Gordon Adam said: “The Highland Council and community partnerships have worked diligently throughout the pandemic to make significant improvements as set out in the Visitor Management Plan. Increased staffing levels, frequency of waste collections, seasonal access rangers, motorhome guidance for landowners, public toilets and comfort schemes and improved signage and parking facilities will all contribute to allowing the Highlands to be enjoyed in a responsible and sustainable way.”
He added: “People must remember to play their part in keeping the area beautiful and safe for all to enjoy. This year will be particularly busy, and the public must keep in mind the upturn in visitor numbers will have an impact on services.
“The #RespectProtectEnjoy campaign will go some way to ensuring we can enjoy the great outdoors. If a place is too busy and parking is a problem, then please accept the capacity restraints and adapt plans. Book and plan ahead to avoid disappointment and be considerate of others and COVID-19 restrictions.”
The activities detailed in the plan are delivered by teams from across the Council most notably those dealing with roads, parking, public transport, countryside, waste, public conveniences and tourism. To help plan and co-ordinate delivery the cross-service officer group continues to meet and engage frequently with other groups and public sector partners to assist in the delivery of planned activities.
Key areas of planned activity include the following:
- roads maintenance and improvements - £280,000
- parking management - £250,000
- Seasonal Access Rangers - £300,000
- public toilets - £60,000
- waste management - £180,000
- motorhomes - £200,000
- public transport - £60,000
- Cairngorms Initiative – £125,000
- Partner engagement – no additional budget committed – costs covered through existing service budgets.
Many projects are under way, others will be delivered either continually or at different times across the summer season.
In order to keep Members and the public informed of progress a traffic light reporting system has been established which allows each service to contribute updates on activities as-and-when they take place. This will allow clear and transparent progress reporting.
The first version of this report presented to the Tourism Committee is available on the Council’s website at this link.