Highland Council Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030
12th November 2024
On Thursday 14 November 2024, Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a new Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 and asked to note and agree recommendations which include adopting the new Sustainable Tourism Strategy. Also an agreement to amend the strategy to accommodate consultation feedback on the Visitor Levy Scheme.
Economy and Infrastructure Committee Chair, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "The vision of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2024-2030 is to maintain and grow a thriving visitor economy which is responsibly managed and delivers positive impacts for our communities and environment.
"The Highland Council has set out priority outcomes to achieve this and will continue to work closely with a wide range of industry partners to make Highland the destination of choice - regionally, nationally and globally.
"As Chair of the Council's E&I Committee, I look forward to presenting the Council's new Sustainable Tourism Strategy at Thursday's meeting."
The priority outcomes the Council wants to help achieve include:
Communities - tourism must be a force for good for all Highland communities and a means to improve our quality of life, enhance our culture and heritage, provide high quality job opportunities and careers for Highland people and address demographic challenges.
Environment - Highland to be a leading example of a climate-resilient tourism destination, which has taken responsibility for and the necessary actions to ensure tourism enhances the natural environment while, addressing the risks and impacts of climate change.
Economy – a vibrant, dynamic and resilient industry that develops attractive careers and job opportunities, has year-round appeal, is spread evenly across the region and contributes towards a greener future.
Visitors – visitors embracing a more relaxed pace of travel, are conscious of and act responsibly towards our local heritage, communities and the environment, have exceptional and authentic experiences across Highland and are met with a warm Highland welcome generating high levels of visitor satisfaction, repeat visits and positive advocacy for the region.
These outcomes are interconnected, and each one need to be met to achieve the vision. It is not only vital for the sector but also for its contribution to wider objectives, including reversing the demographic challenges facing the region and tackling climate change.
Although this strategy has a central focus on the role of the Council, success demands a positive and effective relationship between communities, visitors, businesses and the environment, and co-investment from across the sector. This ensures we maximise the energy and resources available.
The link to the agenda and reports can be found here (Item 6)
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The Vice Chair of the Caithness Committee, Councillor Struan Mackie has expressed his delight at the number of worthwhile local projects that have benefitted from Ward Discretionary Funding in this financial year. All Council Wards receive a discretionary budget, and it is for Ward Councillors to consider what they wish to commit funds to, in line with Highland Council objectives and outcomes.
The Caithness Committee have agreed to adopt the modified Core Path Plans for Caithness. At their meeting yesterday members had the opportunity to discuss a report that summarised the review of The Highland Council Core Paths Plan in Caithness.
On Thursday (14 November) the Economy & Infrastructure Committee will consider a report on a potential Visitor Levy for Highland. This report sets out a proposed outline of how the scheme would operate and seeks members approval to undertake a public statutory consultation.
The Housing and Property Committee met on Wednesday 6 November 2024 and approved the Tenant Participation & Engagement Strategy 2024-2029. Members heard from both tenant representatives and Officers about the ongoing engagement and collaborative work within communities across Highland.
The Chief Statistician has released statistics on the reliefs and exemptions from non-domestic rates that were in place on 1 June 2024. These figures were produced by independent statistical staff, free from any political influence, in accordance with professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics.
A report by the police to the Caithness area committee on 11 November will allow councillors to discuss a range of issues. Chief Inspector Calum Smith - Area Commander (North Highland Area Command) sets out the crime related figures up to June 2024.
On 11 November 2024 the Caithness Area Committee will discuss several papers. Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications approved 1 April 2024 - 30 September 2024 The Committee is asked to note that the following Thurso and Northwest Caithness Ward Discretionary Budget applications have been approved for the period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024:.
Highland Council's Trading Standards team is reporting worrying findings from the age restricted product test purchase programme it carried out over the last six months. During the most recent exercise, premises in Skye, Easter Ross, Inverness, Badenoch and Strathspey were test purchased for cigarettes and vapes using volunteers under 18 years of age.
The Highland Council is developing a new Local Transport Strategy (LTS) for the next 10-year period. This Strategy will underpin the future direction and policy focus for transport in Highland.
A revised financial forecast for the Highland Council, taking account of already agreed savings and other measures, suggests a remaining budget gap of £38m-£54m over the coming three years, 2025/26 to 2027/28. As part of the Council's Medium-Term Financial Plan, agreed in February 2024, Council agreed a package of £54.6m of budget savings, and the use of a range of financial flexibilities and use of reserves, to address the projected £113m gap over a 3-year period 2024/25 - 2026/27.