The events have been pulled together by members of the Highland Tourism Partnership (HTP) and the Inverness Hotels Association.

Scottish Tourism Week is now in its seventh year, and was initiated by the Scottish Tourism Forum in 2006 to raise the profile of the industry’s importance to the Scottish economy, to encourage business networking and to bring together the public, private and elected sector towards a positive single agenda.

Some of the events taking place in the Highlands include the launch of Dark Skye Discovery. Nine sites on the Isle of Skye have been accredited with Dark Sky status, offering fantastic opportunities to view the wonders of the universe from sites with some of the least light pollution in Scotland. Professor John C Brown, – Astronomer Royal for Scotland, will lead the observations meeting and explain what to see on site.

Networking events and workshops will take place at various locations across the Highlands, including a “Springle” in Lairg where all businesses involved in tourism will be able to go along and learn more about other providers in the area. Other workshops taking place in Wick, Lochinver, Fortrose and Helmsdale will look at how businesses can learn to better understand their customers and go the extra
mile to exceed their expectations.

The Inverness Hotels Association (IHA) has created a competition with all the primary schools in the Inverness area, asking that the children create a starter, main course or desert, or all three and, using the theme of the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, create a menu, a picture of what the dish would look like and a brief description of what the dish represents about Scotland or could tell visitors about Scotland. The idea is that they use any ingredients and be a creative as they like.

The winners from the competition along with their teachers and key representatives from the tourism industry in the Highlands will be invited to a gala lunch on Monday 12^th March where their creations will be served to a range of business professionals and hopefully some famous celebs as well! The children will also have the opportunity to explain their dish description and what their creation represents during the lunch.
This event is being created and supported by the IHA, and every school taking part will receive a prize from the IHA members that they can use towards their next fundraising event.

As part of the Highland Tourism Partnership’s programme of events during Scottish Tourism Week, Forestry Commission Scotland is running three familiarisation events across the Highlands for representatives from the tourism industry.

Marina Huggett, Highlands and Islands representative for the Scottish Tourism Forum and a member of the HTP, said: “We are delighted that so many of the Highlands areas have embraced the potential of Scottish Tourism Week and organised localised events. The local events have all been designed to inspire and motivate the industry and to increase awareness of the importance of tourism within the wider community.”

Scott Armstrong, Regional Director for VisitScotland, said: “It is fantastic to see so many events in the Highlands as part of Scottish Tourism Week and members of the HTP and the IHA are to be commended on pulling them all together. Scottish Tourism Week is a great chance for everyone involved in the tourism industry to raise its profile, particularly now when there are so many opportunities for tourism businesses to take advantage of and use to grow over the next three years in the run up to the second Year of Homecoming, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup in 2014.”

Members of the HTP include representatives from the following groups & organisations: Destination Loch Ness; North Highland Tourism; Celtic Fringe; Moray Tourism Development; Cairngorm Business Partnership; Destination Skye & Lochalsh; Outdoor Capital of the UK; Scottish Tourism Forum; Federation of Small Businesses; Forestry Commission Scotland; Cairngorm National Park Authority; The Highland Council; the Moray Council; VisitScotland; Scottish Natural Heritage and Highlands & Islands Enterprise.

A list of all the events can be found on the Scottish Tourism Forum (STF) website at the following link – http://www.stforum.co.uk/scottishtourismweek/stw2012/htp.aspx

A target for a 50% boost in Scotland’s tourism industry by 2016 cannot be met, the Scottish Parliament’s economy committee has warned. The 10-year Scottish government growth plan was set in 2006, before the global economic crisis hit.

In a new report, the Holyrood committee cited industry concern the target was “not considered achievable”. Scotland’s multibillion-pound tourism industry is said to support more than 200,000 jobs.

In 2006, the previous Scottish government, under its tourism strategy for the decade ahead, outlined its ambition for a 50% real-terms boost in tourism revenue under a plan to “keep pace with global trends over the next 10 years”.

The target was carried forward when the SNP came to power, but the cross-party Holyrood committee, which has been investigating the issue and took evidence from a range of industry figures, raised concern.

Its report stated: “The committee welcomes the ambition of setting and trying to achieve a high tourism growth target, but notes the evidence from witnesses that the 50% target is not considered achievable.”

The committee also raised concern that there is currently no proper way to measure how well Scottish tourism is doing, and urged the government to consider setting up a new system for gathering statistics and other performance-related information.

It also asked tourism agency VisitScotland to provide annual updates on whether the 50% target will actually be met, as well as a plan to deal with any shortfall.

MSPs also urged ministers to look again at the level of training opportunities available to people wanting to pursue a career in the industry.

The committee also said events like the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup, in Gleneagles – both in 2014 – were a major opportunity to showcase Scotland as a major tourist destination.

A Scottish government spokesman, said official figures had shown an 8% rise in visitor numbers in the first nine months of last year.

“The committee has produced a wide-ranging report and we are pleased that they have highlighted some great examples of activity in the tourism industry and the agencies involved,” said the spokesman.

“Moving forward, we remain ambitious for Scottish tourism and what can be achieved.”

Scottish tourism is worth £4.2bn every year and employs about 215,000 people, according to trade association, the Scottish Tourism Forum.

Date: Wednesday 20th April 2011
Venue: Knockomie Hotel, Forres.
Time: 10:30am – 3.00pm

The event will include:

· Insights into Scotland and Moray’s key visitor markets and how you can align you’re marketing to     get maximum return.

· Background to the Moray Speyside brand and Moray’s target markets

· Recently gathered local intelligence

· Insights into some of Moray’s product niches: Food, Wildlife/Nature and Golf.

· A creative session to generate ideas for new products and collaborations

Book now to secure one of the last two remaining places by contacting Susan Catto, Highlands and Islands Enterprise,

t: 01463 244 450 or e: susan.catto@hient.co.uk

Full details available here: Intelligence and Innovation Workshop

Great opportunity for B&B owners to promote their business and the MoraySpeyside area:

Channel 4 is back to make a second series of Four In a Bed and you could be a part of it.

• Do you think you have a great B&B?
• Would you like to show the nation why they should book in?
• Do you think your business knowledge would make you a good judge of other peoples B&Bs?

They would like to talk to passionate and out-going Bed and Breakfast owners for the second series of Channel Four’s popular Four In a Bed.

They are looking for B&B owners who feel they have something special to offer their customers – and are willing to put their businesses to the test. They’re looking for a wide range of B&Bs, but they’ll all be run by proud B&B owners.

For more information please contact Studio Lambert ASAP on fourinabed@studiolambert.com Please state the name of the B&B that you run, your contact details and tell us why you are so proud of your business.

The theme of the workshops is how to use market intelligence to improve your bottom line. As well as three key-note presentations, the workshops will also include a Q&A session, creative innovation and a networking buffet lunch.

The workshops will be held on 8th February at Meldrum House Country Hotel, Aberdeenshire,10th February at Longniddry Golf Club, East Lothian,15th February at Panmure Golf Club, Tayside and 17th February at South Ayrshire Council County Buildings, Ayrshire, 22nd February Nairn Golf Club, Highlands.

Bookings can be made by contacting Elaine Townsend on 0131 225 5734 or admin@golftourismscotland.com.

Free of charge for GTS members or £25 + vat for non members

For further details please contact please visit www.golftourismscotland.com

Sponsored by Caterer.com, the Awards celebrate the very best of Scotland’s new talent, recognising young Scottish restaurant and hotel managers who are 30 or under, are achieving success for their business and have clearly demonstrated the key attributes of being a successful manager.

A once in a lifetime opportunity to learn from the very best professionals in the industry, judges of the competition are looking for individuals who have already helped to make a significant difference to their establishment, demonstrating strong, inspirational leadership skills and commitment to exceptional customer care.

To register see the links below:

ScotHot Young Scottish Restaurateur of the Year Award

ScotHot Young Scottish Hotelier of the Year Award

If this does not apply to you and you would like to nominate someone in MoraySpeyside please email Elise MacDonald or call her on 0131-557-5767.

We’ve loved receiving comments such as:

“I have just read the Food & Drink Experience in Scotland guide – it’s brilliant! There are some very simple and practical ideas inside”. “I am reeling from the fabulous content in the At Your Service guide – FANTASTIC AND THOUGHT PROVOKING!!”

Registered businesses can access all the guides in the series- including Adventure Travel, Golf, Scottish Tourism in the Future and Knowing our Markets – online now at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk

The latest edition of TIS’s Ear to the Ground newsletter, out this week, will provide you with all the information you need to make the most of the business opportunities around the 2012 Olympics and 2014 Commonwealth Games, plus the Scottish Government’s ‘Homecoming Legacy Years’.

The London 2012 Olympics are forecast to generate over £2.1 billion in tourism gains for the whole of the UK, with the ‘post-Games’ legacy alone worth some £1.27 billion for areas outside London. Ear to the Ground will signpost you to a range of resources to help you make the most of the commercial opportunities.

The Commonwealth Games in 2014 will showcase Glasgow and Scotland to a global audience. Find out about the practical steps which you can start to take now to maximise the benefits the Games will bring.

The Ear to the Ground newsletter and ‘Opportunities for Growth’ guides are ONLY available to businesses that have registered on the TIS website, so please register your details today at www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk

Tourism Intelligence Scotland is a joint venture developed by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and VisitScotland, in partnership with the tourism industry, to stimulate growth and innovation in tourism. Register now!

Local food producers, retailers, community organisations and activity businesses, from the Borders to the Highlands have been selected for detailed judges’ visits for the awards by the Scottish Countryside Alliance.

Mither Tongue, a Scots language speciality shop in Keith, is through to the finals of the Scottish Countryside Alliance Awards 2010 in the “Best Village Shop” category.

Another Moray business, MacBeth the butchers in Forres is shortlisted for the “Best rural enterprise” award.

Both businesses have been invited to the Awards Ceremony at the Holyrood Parliament on 26 January, and we wish them both well, good luck!

Tourism Intelligence Scotland’s latest guide, ‘Food and Drink Experience in Scotland’, outlines a host of practical ideas and suggestions which will help you improve your bottom line and could generate an additional £1 more per visitor simply by using quality, fresh, local produce.

The guide will provide you with facts and figures about the market, an understanding of what visitors want from our food, ideas for adding local flavour to menus, tips on sourcing locally and collaborating with Scottish food suppliers and lots more!

Download the guide here: E blast – launch of food guide

The Moray Firth Coast has been voted one of the most breathtaking coasts in the world in a survey by National Geographic Traveller magazine.

A panel at the international magazine made up of 340 experts in sustainable tourism, was asked to rate different locations using criteria such as environmental quality, social and cultural integrity, the condition of historic sites, aesthetic appeal and outlook for the future. “Outstanding cliff scenery” and “a strong community feeling.” impressed the judges and they cited the role of tourism in “helping keep pretty coastal villages afloat.”

The stunning stretch of seafront from Inverness to Peterhead was one of only two UK spots to secure the accolade, with Pembrokeshire in Wales also being credited.

On the day this accolade was announced VisitScotland Chairman, Dr Mike Cantlay was in Moray to discuss tourism opportunities with local representatives. He met with the Moray Tourism Development Group and Moray Task Force to hear their feedback at grassroots level, and discuss opportunities for continued collaboration and growth throughout the region.

The Chairman’s visit comes hot on the heels of VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead’s meeting with local stakeholder groups in Moray alongside representatives from the Scottish Government and others from across the Public Sector in the wake of the announcement to close the RAF Kinloss base and the possibility of the RAF Lossiemouth base closure. Here, Mr Roughead pledged VisitScotland’s ongoing commitment to supporting the Moray economy.

See the article in National Geographic Traveller Magazine here.