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GAELIC TOURISM GETS WEB BOOST
A new website portal promoting Gaelic tourism was launched by Mike Watson, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport at the Gaelic Congress in Nairn.
The site, www.gaelic-scotland.co.uk , is a joint initiative by The Highland Council and The Highlands of Scotland Tourist Board. It aims to encourage tourism to Scotland with a focus on Gaelic language and culture. The portal provides a quick route to useful planning information for people intending to visit Scotland and find out more about Gaelic. Both HOST and The Highland Council believe that Gaelic and its associated culture have the potential to make a real contribution to the distinctiveness and quality of tourism in the Highlands and Islands.

Donnie Mackinnon and his wife run Braigh Uige, a B & B in Skye, featured on the site. Donnie said: "We are really pleased to see a site dedicated to Gaelic tourism as we know from experience that there is worldwide interest in the culture and genealogy. In fact at the moment we have a retired teacher from Yorkshire who is staying with us and studying at Sabhal Mor Ostaig."

Highland Councillor, Allan Beaton, Chairman of the Gaelic Working Group, said: "This new Gaelic tourism portal, is an innovative linguistic and cultural development. Its timing is particularly apt as the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic has recently published a report A Fresh Start for Gaelic which highlights the potential of Gaelic tourism.

"The site comprehensively describes the Gaelic language from historical beginnings up to the present day and displays details of places to visit, places to stay, and activities which take place relating to our language and culture. Many European countries promote their linguistic and cultural diversity as national assets, and we in the Highlands are now undertaking similar promotional marketing initiatives."

David Noble, Chief Executive of HOST, said: "We are delighted to be co-operating with The Highland Council on this important new initiative. We recognise that the Gaelic language and culture do give the Highlands of Scotland a distinct edge in marketing and we would like to exploit this more."