Council supports Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism Business Improvement District

Proposals to create a Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) to develop tourism in the Inverness and Loch Ness area have been welcomed by members of The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee.

At Inverness Town House today (9 December 201) members were informed that the Council’s Inverness City Ward management team, and Tourism Co-ordinator, have been advising local tourism business leaders on the development of a tourism sector BID for the city and landward area with assistance from Inverness BID.

Leader of the City of Inverness Area Committee Councillor Ian Brown said: “We recognise the vital importance of tourism to the local economy and endorse the Tourism BID Business Plan. We are recommending to The Highland Council that support is given for the creation of an Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism Business Improvement District.”

A Business Improvement District is a partnership between a local authority and the local business community to develop projects and services that will benefit the trading environment within the boundary of a clearly defined commercial area, where businesses have voted to invest collectively in local improvements which will benefit the local economy.

A report will be taken to the next meeting of The Highland Council on 19 December 2013 seeking support for the creation of an Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism Business Improvement District.
 
On approval by Council a postal ballot would then be issued to all businesses who would become levy payers and members of the Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism BID on 30 January 2014 with the final day of the ballot being on 13 March 2014.
 
If the ballot returns a Yes vote an Inverness and Loch Ness Tourism BID company could start trading from 1 April 2014. A further report will be taken to City of Inverness Area committee after that date regarding the implementation of a Tourism BID Business Plan.