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...
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Mini Bite – from Alistair Danter – 21st August – 2023
In Alistair's Mini Bite below you'll find information on Alistair Danter's work as Project Manager for SkyeConnect.
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An article in the WHFP on the challenges faced by Broadford and Strath CC managing their new toilet block and a SkyeConnect meeting with Portree & Braes Community Council serve to remind us of the important role of community institutions and organisations in making Skye a great place to live. If it is a good place to live it will also be a good place to visit. SkyeConnect’s constitution allows for 2 Directors – elected or co-opted – to be on the Board representing community interests, we are keen to hear from any Community representative on a local Community Council or Trust / Company etc who would like to consider joining the Board – enquiries should be sent to info@skye-connect.com
It’s been a busy couple of weeks since the last mini bite so quite a few details to report:
Visitor Levy Bill
Recent meetings with Minister for Small Businesses, Innovation Tourism and Trade, Richard Lochhead, and Civil Servants responsible for the development of the proposed Visitor Levy Bill, enabled us to discuss a range of issues and concerns of local business.
Survey
The SkyeConnect survey for local operators to express their views on the Visitor levy is still open for a few more days and can be found here. Interim results from the survey were passed on to our elected representatives who spoke at the recent Highland Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee meeting – a recording of the event can be found here.
Short Term Lets
An update from Highland Council indicates that approximately 2,500 applications for short term let licences have been received. This is below the number of estimated STL premises currently operating in the Highland area, but a much larger number of applications than other local authorities. Post 1 October ‘23, anyone operating a STL without having submitted an application will be committing a criminal offence. THC have a strong working relationship with the police and regularly pass information onto them. Ultimately it will be for the Police as the Competent Authority to take action against unlicensed premises.
Samaritans West Highland and Skye Webinars
Samaritans West Highland and Skye project is hosting a programme of information webinars over September and October. The online sessions seek to build knowledge and awareness on a range of topics and include:
Emotional health and wellbeing – 13th September 1-2pm
Challenging myths about suicide – 20th September 1-2pm
Self-harm – 27th September 1-2pm
Staying resilient – 4th October 1-2pm
How to listen – 11th October 1-2pm
For more information and to sign up to the webinars, follow this link.
Also available is a one-day ‘Conversations with Vulnerable People’ course that can be delivered digitally over two half-days at a time convenient to organisations and businesses. Further information on the work of the Samaritans in the Highlands can be found at www.samaritans.org/highlands-training or email highlands@samaritans.org.uk
Kooble
A new co-owned online booking platform, Kooble, will be launched next month, transforming the booking landscape for both businesses and consumers in the tourism and hospitality industry. The Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA) is partnering with Kooble to host a free, online webinar on Wednesday 30th August at 11am giving businesses in the sector the opportunity to meet the team and find out more about the platform, including its vision, business model and membership opportunities. Register here.
MySkyeTime App
“Download the App”!! Please can we ask all accommodation businesses to encourage guests to download the MySkyeTime App from our website. It will make planning their time here a lot easier!
Things Are Hotting Up…
And lastly, congratulations to the crew of Dunvegan Fire station for their recording and online performance “Things are hotting up” which also features on a fundraiser CD for Altzheimer Scotland
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