Destination Management & Long Term Strategy for Skye

Our survey work provides robust, accurate data for decision-makers. Last year’s visitor levy survey revealed that our business community would strongly prefer visitor levy funds raised locally from the proposed visitor levy, to be spent, and managed locally, rather than by the Highland Council in Inverness, which is one of the current possibilities. This helped inform our submission to the Visitor Levy Consultation leading to representation at Government Committee meetings. Your participation in our surveys has also allowed us to represent your voice locally, regionally, and nationally on key issues such as Short Term Lets Licensing Legislation, Business Rates, Infrastructure needs and Sustainable Tourism amongst many other crucial issues.

Scottish Government cutbacks are poised to end the core operational funding essential for SkyeConnect and other DMOs across the Highlands. This comes amid growing visitor numbers, as per recent bridge data, heightening pressure on our infrastructure and environment. We have emphatically informed the Government that withdrawing funding from DMOs at this juncture could severely impact our industry and island. Founded six years ago, SkyeConnect has been pivotal in reshaping Skye’s image as a tourist destination and managing the industry’s impact on the island, its residents, and environment. We’ve been actively involved in key issues and initiatives affecting our tourism industry and communities, including:

• Spearheading over 40 projects, with initial funding from HIE.
• Advocating for essential support to prevent business closures during the COVID crisis.
• Enhancing IT infrastructure to monitor and manage visitor flow at key sites.
• Developing active travel schemes and advancing an integrated transport system.
• Leading lobbying efforts on business rates, short-term let licensing legislation, sustainable tourism, and the visitor levy.
• Initiatives like the Trans Skye cycle route, support for the North Skye Iconic Sites group, and ARUP’s scoping study for the Integrated Transport group.
• Our 2022 business housing needs survey also informed regional housing investment needs to the Scottish Government.

We now seek your input as we draft a long-term tourism strategy for Skye. This survey is the first step in defining SkyeConnect’s future role. We value your participation and look forward to engaging with you in consultation events throughout 2024.

With thanks,
The Team at SkyeConnect