VisitScotland to axe Tarbert tourist centre
‘We do have time before some of the changes occur, and plan to work with the community to ensure that we can get something that works for the area’
A MOVE to close Tarbert’s tourist information office has been slammed by local residents and businesses – with many dubbing it as ‘terrible decision’.
VisitScotland announced the centre will close in 2019 due to a 58 per cent drop in footfall.
The tourism agency will also be closing visitor information centres in Campbeltown and Inveraray.
Tarbert residents reacted angrily to the news online, with one commenting: ‘How can our small businesses grow when they are not being promoted?’
Tarbert shop owner Ian MacIntyre agreed, saying the move ‘didn’t make a lot of sense’, adding: ‘I can’t understand why they’d close the centre in Tarbert. Tarbert is a hub for the ferries to Islay, Jura and Portavadie. Not to mention tourists wanting to head down to Campbeltown.’
With Tarbert viewed as a key information centre for people using nearby ferry crossings, Inveraray has also proved a popular tourist destination following
the town’s appearance on hit TV series Downton Abbey.
A VisitScotland spokesperson said that the change was the result of more tourists accessing information online.
The spokesperson said: ‘VisitScotland iCentres at Inveraray and Tarbert will cease trading by the end of March 2019 after a continued decline in visitor numbers over the last decade.
‘Inveraray and Tarbert iCentres have four and three members of staff respectively. It’s
our clear goal to minimise job losses in the changes we are making. As well as offering voluntary redundancy, we will offer the chance to learn new skills or move to another office where feasible.
‘What we have currently is not the right model for dealing with our visitors but we understand the alternatives are challenging at the minute.
‘We do have time before some of the changes occur and plan to work with the community to ensure that we can get something that works for the area.’
With four ferry terminals within 40 minutes of Tarbert, many locals wondered if visitors would be able to get access to ferry times and schedules if the visitor centre were to shut.
A representative for CalMac ferries said that ferry schedules were available online.
Graeme Macfarlan, commercial director for CalMac Ferries Limited said: ‘The way in which visitors and tourists seek out infor-working mation about destinations in advance and then buy tickets and book accommodation has changed dramatically in recent years.
‘As part of this drive we are committed to closely with VisitScotland to ensure that all information about our sailings are available across the range of new digital platforms that they are developing.’