|
Karen Hanna From
Park Hotel, Thurso Heads For The Rockies
24 March 03
12 Highland Tourism Operators Head For Canada
 Representatives from 12 Highland-based tourism businesses departed for the
Canadian Rockies at the weekend for a five-day intensive programme, where
they will meet with industry peers and explore practical approaches and
best practice models for delivering tourism products and services.
The trip is part of an eight-month practical-based International Learning
Journey programme aimed at improving the competitiveness of both the
Highlands and Islands region and its individual tourism operators.
The programme has been led
by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is being managed by the
Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development based at Glasgow
Caledonian University.
Among the participants is Donald MacDonald of the Isle of Skye's Aros
Visitor Centre, which attracts over 240,000 visitors a year. Commenting on
the programme, he said: "This is a unique opportunity for us to develop
our individual skills and as a group to work together to bring back new
and exciting initiatives. The on-going discussions and programme
throughout the coming months will help to stimulate new thought and
increase awareness of what is possible for tourism in the Highlands of
Scotland."
Victoria Russell of the Moffat Centre, who is accompanying the delegates
on the trip added: "Benchmarking and best practice are now established in
many industries as crucial techniques in developing real competitive
advantage. The Canadian Rockies offer many lessons in tourism products and
services which can assist in driving innovation in the tourism industry."
The group has been working on a series of distance learning assignments
since the programme started last month. On return from Canada they will
continue with these assignments before becoming ambassadors to disseminate
their acquired knowledge and ideas to the wider tourism industry across
the Highlands and Islands.
Audrey MacLennan, HIE's development manager with responsibility for
tourism skills, said: "Tourism is a major player in the economy of the
Highlands and Islands, and it is essential that operators are given the
necessary support to enable them to meet the growing expectations of
visitors to the area. It is also important that the experience gained by
participants in the programme is shared with others in the tourism sector,
to spread the benefits as widely as possible."
The Canadian Rockies, home
of Canada's oldest National Park, welcomes over 4m visitors a year as a
successful four-season destination. Scotland has already taken up
initiatives such as Welcome Host which was first launched here.
The Participants
Aigas Field Centre - Yvonne Brown
www.aigas.co.uk telephone 01463-782443
Aros (Isle of Skye) Ltd - Donald MacDonald
www.aros.co.uk telephone 01478-613649
Eshcol Guest House - Neil Macarthur
www.eshcol.com telephone 01851-621357
Glenmachrie Country Guest House - Rachel Whyte
www.glenmachrie.com
telephone 01496-302560
Heatherlea (Scotland) Ltd - Amanda Craik
www.heatherlea.co.uk
telephone 01479-821248
Lodge at Daviot Mains - Margaret Hutcheson
www.thelodgeatdaviotmains.co.uk telephone 01463-772215
Gael Connexions - Colin Maclean
www.gaelconnexions.co.uk telephone 01855-841 219
Orasay Inn - Isobel Graham
www.witb.co.uk/links/orasayinn.htm telephone 01870-610298
Park Hotel - Karen Hanna
www.parkhotelthurso.co.uk telephone 01847-893251
Scottish Clans and Castles - Alastair Cunningham
www.clansandcastles.com
telephone 01667-456942
Stag Hotel and Restaurant - Carl Sayonas
www.staghotel.com telephone
01546-602496
Scottish Tourism Innovation Group - Laurence Young
www.stforum.co.uk telephone
07860-558005
Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development, Glasgow
Caledonian University
www.moffatcentre.com
telephone 07976-566315 |