Proposal to help save tourism post-lockdown
Development trusts meet online to find way forward
Plans have been put forward with a view to regenerating tourism in east Perthshire.
The proposals have been put forward by Bill Taylor, a trustee of the Blairgowrie and Rattray Development Trust (BRDT).
The move comes as businesses and accommodation providers re-open following the gradual easing of some restrictions imposed as part of efforts to tackle the global coronavirus pandemic.
Representatives from the four development trusts in the area were invited to attend an online meeting last week to discuss the idea of using the trusts as a “catalyst for rebooting tourism and to try to provide a voice for tourism in east Perthshire”.
In a paper put to BRDT, Mr Taylor says: “It is widely accepted that tourism and hospitality will be two of the sectors of the economy that will be slowest to come out of the current lockdown.
“The likely impact of the pandemic on these sectors will be significant and it is anticipated that many businesses will never re-open.
“However, those businesses that are adaptable and flexible will survive and have the potential to flourish.
“The longer term impacts of the pandemic are hard to predict but there are some statements we can say with some certainty, specifically that the value of tourism to the local economy has been highlighted as never before, foreign travel will be greatly reduced and the focus on more domestic travel will be enhanced.
“Visitors will seek a sense of safety and wellbeing above most other parameters and although the attitude of local communities to outsiders and tourists will be complex, rural areas will have a competitive advantage over many busy urban destinations.”
Mr Taylor added that visitors will seek out new experiences where a connection with nature and culture will be a prime driver and that those areas that focus on quality rather than quantity will have a greater chance of success.
He said: “Taking account of these issues will require a joined-up approach where communities, as hosts, and businesses work together to deliver a coherent approach to the regeneration of the tourism industry.
“Many non-traditional tourism businesses need to be involved as they will now realise how important visitors are to their survival.
“As we begin the slow move towards opening up society again we need to begin to address the regeneration of the tourism and hospitality sectors.
“There is a clear need to generate a stronger voice for the area in relation to tourism and hospitality and this approach has been agreed by the chairs of the four trusts and we now need to begin work to build on this support.
“We want to identify key players in these sectors who can be approached to assist with building a common approach to this regeneration and to hold a meeting, possibly online depending on the restrictions on gatherings at the time, probably at the end of the summer.
“This meeting would seek to deliver a common sense of purpose for the coming season of 2021 and set this in the context of a post-Covid world. If the meeting agrees then some attendees could come together to provide a steering group and a voice for the area in this sector.”
Mr Taylor concluded by saying: “Traditionally the industry has been led by those within the industry with limited involvement of the host communities.
“If the pandemic has taught us one thing then it is that we need to work better together.”