Our big news is Alistair Danter our project manager for the last five and a half years is reducing his hours but stays with the organisation. Our Chair, Gary Curley is stepping in to an Executive Chair position and will be taking a more operational, hands-on role in the coming months. Gary is clearly looking forward to the new role.
“I am thrilled to be embarking on a new journey as Executive Chair for SkyeConnect. Over the past five years, it’s been a privilege serving as Director and Chairperson, collaborating with a remarkable team of volunteer directors, staff, and local/national partner organisations to support and represent the tourism industry, our members and our local communities on Skye. As Scotland’s second most popular tourist destination, the Isle of Skye visitor economy generates over £260 million of economic output. However, with success comes challenges. Skye needs a strong DMO to lobby and advocate for the changes needed to protect, preserve, and improve our landscapes, communities, business environment, local livelihoods, culture, and infrastructure. I look forward to collaborating with the team and partners on the many innovative initiatives we are developing to deliver a forward-looking sustainable tourism strategy for Skye and surrounding areas and dedicating more time to delivering improved benefits for our members.”
Initially, Gary’s work will involve the development of the Foundation concept agreed at the Spring conference. In addition he will be having face to face meetings with individual businesses, looking at the commercialisation of key SkyeConnect Digital assets – The MySkyeTime Visitor Management Tool and websites – along with representing SkyeConnect in a range of industry forums.
SkyeConnect AGM – The AGM and Autumn conference will be held at An Crùbh on the 14th of November. More details on the programme will be released soon.
Our hard working Social media guru, Affy Thomson is pulling together promotional material for the winter season on Skye. This includes content for the website: www.myskyetime.com, social media content on the MySkyeTime Instagram and Facebook pages and flyers for the iCentre in Portree.
It is very important that we promote the area during the slower season and showcase what is open on Skye during the winter months. If you are happy to offer a discount for your services, let Affy know and a discount code and small advertisement will be created on the flyer. This has achieved excellent results in past campaigns!
The current Scottish Tourism Alliance STA quarterly business barometer survey is now out. It is designed to gather feedback on the recent summer season for tourism and hospitality businesses so that comparisons can be drawn with previous years and expectations set for next year and beyond. This research is vital to ensure the STA can accurately and effectively represent the industry at the highest level.
Please can we ask as many businesses as possible to respond to the survey. The survey closes at midnight on Friday 20th October 2023.
Closer to home Clan Donald Lands Trust (CDLT) are keen to work with the local community to create more social, economic and environmental opportunities on Sleat and have commissioned Indigo Project Solutions to undertake an initial community survey. Local individuals and businesses are invited to contribute to the survey which can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CDLT001
Dunvegan Castle will be supporting a MacMillan Coffee morning in MacLeod Tables Café on the 19th of October. The event will include a raffle an auction and the gardens will be open for the duration of the event (10.30 to 14.00). For more details see Dunvegan Castle Facebook Posts.
The Energy Performance Certification (EPC) system is currently under review by the Scottish Govt and business opinion is sought via the EPC Reform Consultation Pages . We believe that much of the development required to move towards net zero will be achieved by the small incremental steps we make as individuals and small businesses. Contributing to the consultation is one of many valued small steps. There is increasing market interest in green destinations and we are keen that Skye can become a genuinely net zero destination in the coming years. If you as a business want to know more about government support that is available to reduce your business’s carbon footprint visit Find Business Support.
Radio Skye is hosting a Q+A on the Breakish Wind Farm proposal on Thursday 19th October from 08.30-09.00AM. Steve Macken of Lomond Energy – the agent for Sewdish developer, ARISE – will be answering listener questions on the proposal for 20, 180 metre turbines on the hill above Breakish. To submit a question email adam@radioskye.com or send a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 01478 611234, starting the message with, “Breakish Wind Farm”. Please submit questions before 12noon on Wednesday 18th October.
Skye is Scotland’s second most popular destination. The data shows that visitor numbers continue to grow each year and now exceed pre-covid levels. It is alarming that a destination like Skye faces the real possibility of not having a body tasked with managing the visitor economy.
SkyeConnect is leading the calls for a transformative initiative to develop a 10-year sustainable tourism strategy for Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh. The aim is to position us as leaders in 21st-century tourism.
SkyeConnect leading the calls for a transformative initiative to develop a comprehensive 10-year sustainable tourism strategy for Skye, Raasay, and Lochalsh.
Your participation in our surveys has allowed us to represent your voice locally, regionally, and nationally on many crucial issues. Now the Scottish Government cutbacks are poised to end the core operational funding essential for SkyeConnect and other DMOs across the Highlands.
