Funding boost from community partnership programme

An innovative industry and community partnership linking Scotland, Belgium and Romania has been awarded £85,595 from the Angus Leader programme.

The Flourishing Destinations project will feature a series of community workshops, learning exchanges and activities around the themes of craft skills, food and drink and welcoming visitors.

A number of Angus businesses and organisations are joining forces with their counterparts in Belgium and Romania to share best practice and develop ways of boosting their visitor economies, while keeping communities at the heart of their plans.

Participants include the Angus Tourism Cooperative, which was established in 2017 by local groups to promote collaborative working and identify new opportunities to attract tourists to the area.

Others are Flourish 9, currently providing practical coordination and business support to the Glenesk Retreat and Folk Museum; Murton Trust, a thriving nature reserve, visitor farm and tearoom near Forfar which also provides a range of educational opportunities, and Angus Council.

Dougie Pond, chairman of the Angus Leader local action group, said: “Tourism is vitally important to Angus, and the one million plus tourists who visit every year contribute over £230 million to the local economy.

“We are delighted to support this community-led tourism project that will give businesses, community leaders and volunteers an opportunity to learn from other destinations.”

The overall project is funded by the European development programme.