Tourism network Scoto to host north-east community roadshows

A ROADSHOW encouraging communities to take a pro-active role in the tourism industry is set to come to Elgin and Banff.

Scoto, Scotland’s community tourism network, is hosting a series of roadshows across the country in a bid to raise awareness of the extent of community tourism across Scotland, promote networking and inspire more community led tourism enterprises. Its members include museums, outdoor experiences, information centres, glamping pods, cafes, trails and numerous other tourism attractions and services owned and operated by local communities.

The organisation, which launched last year and now has over 100 members across Scotland, was created to promote community owned tourism enterprises. Its membership has grown rapidly and the body is keen to engage communities that are delivering tourism products and others that may have an interest in developing local tourism facilities.

The roadshow is open to existing Scoto members, social enterprises and community organisations delivering community tourism, local tourism groups and community groups aspiring to set up a tourism offer.

As well as networking opportunities, the roadshow will offer practical support to local community groups looking to set up a community owned tourism enterprise.

The roadshows run until March and will take in 25 locations across Scotland, starting with the Highlands, Moray, Speyside and Aberdeen-shire. A series of virtual events are also planned.

Carron Tobin, a director and founding member of Scoto, said: “We are looking forward to engaging with potential new members across Scotland.

"The Scoto network is diverse and continues to expand as more and more community run tourism enterprises see the advantage of working together. We would encourage anyone who is passionate about supporting local tourism to join our roadshow and meet others in the sector who are working hard to promote community owned tourism.”

“At this time of year, many people are thinking about booking short breaks. We want more people to think about touring Scotland and enjoying the many wonderful attractions we have that are owned and run by local communities.

"Every pound spent in a local tourism facility is a pound that benefits that local community, and everything that’s spent is reinvested back into the local community, ensuring that some of our remote and rural facilities remain sustainable for the long term. These amazing places also give visitors the chance to experience being a ‘temporary local’ and get to the heart of individual communities across Scotland.”

The roadshow is supported through Inspiring Scotland by the Scottish Government Rural and Island Communities Idea into Action Fund and leads up to a two day conference and learning exchange at the Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie from March 2-3.

Both the Elgin and Banff roadshows take place on Wednesday, January 25, the former taking place at Elgin Museum from 9.30am-1.30pm while the latter is at Banff Castle between 1.30pm and 5.30pm.

To book a place on the roadshow, visit www.scoto.co.uk/b2b