Arran to lead island tourism initiative

THE challenge tourism businesses face in attracting visitors to so-called cold water islands will be the subject of a three-day conference on the Isle of Arran next month.

The inaugural Cold Water Island Tourism Conference, which will take place at Arran High School in Lamlash from March 17 to 19, is expected to draw more than 150 delegates from the UK and overseas.

Organisers VisitArran and Taste of Arran say attendees will share their experience and expertise of building tourism strategies for cold water islands, particularly those in the North Atlantic.

Attention at the event will focus on how to sustain island communities where tourism is the main industry.

VisitArran director Alastair Dobson said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to meet with like-minded business people and policy makers to share ideas practices and find common ground that can help us all move forward.

“Cold water island tourism is vitally important to the economy for the island communities but, importantly, cold water islands offer tourists a wonderful opportunity to get close to nature and to experience authentic island life.

“For northern European markets there is scope to jointly develop events and festivals across a wide geographic area that can develop tourism visits.”

Willie Gibson, leader of conference sponsor North Ayrshire Council, said: “We are really proud to back this innovative event.

“A prosperous and successful Arran is not only good for the island itself but North Ayrshire as a whole.”