Businesses in Cairngorms eager to provide warm and safe welcome to visitors
Businesses leaders and operators are keen to instal confidence into local communities in the lead up to what is expected to be a very busy tourism season in the strath.
They are assuring residents that strenuous efforts are being made to ensure the local population will remain safe from Covid following their arrival when lockdown restrictions end.
Incredibly well over one million visitors visited the Cairngorms National Park in mid July to the end of September with the popularity of stay-cations soaring after the end of the first lockdown.
Tourism chiefs have also highlighted that no outbreaks of coronavirus have been traced to this and that this was also prior to the nationwide roll-out of the vaccination programme which continues apace in the UK.
Mark Tate, Cairngorms Business Partnership chief executive, said: “Last summer businesses worked really hard to welcome visitors and locals with confidence.
"More than one million visitors were welcomed and they enjoyed a safe experience while there were no reported cases of Covid.
"Our Test and Protect app was used by more than 100 businesses were using to capture details from customers to our hospitality venues including cafes, restaurants, pubs, etc.
"We had over 98,000 check-ins from mid July to the start of the second lockdown on Boxing Day and there was not a single call for the data for contact tracing.
"All local businesses know how important it is to get this right as our communities are an integral part of the visitor experience and our visitors so important to the sustainability of our communities.”
Mr Tate also said the sooner businesses opened, in line with the Scottish Government's timeline, the better as it provided activities for visitors and away from community centres in big numbers.
The first outdoor-based businesses in the strath have already started to reopen.
Some 800,000 people who are already allowed to visit areas of the national park within their own local authority area for leisure and exercise.
Mr Tate admits that last year was not perfect and there were challenges for some communities particularly at the most popular spots in the national park including Glenmore.
He said: "Last year was a success and we did open with confidence. However, in some areas there were significant challenges and we worked – and continue to work – with our public sector partners to mitigate those challenges.
"But we know that for communities in the few areas impacted, last year did not feel like a success."
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre in Kincraig reopened a week ago with a host of activities on offer and takeaway food for local residents.
Their neighbours at the Highland Wildlife Park reopened yesterday with many more outdoor attractions expected to follow when the stay home restrictions lift this Friday (April 2).
Duncan Freshwater, managing director of Loch Insh Outdoor Centre said: “We are really excited to be welcoming our customers back for activities and takeaways.
"We know how difficult this lockdown has been for many and we can’t wait to safely welcome those who are allowed to visit us as we gear up to welcome those from across Scotland from April 26.
"Booking in advance will be essential for now.”
Daska Mackintosh, head of operations and visitor services at the Highland Wildlife Park by Kincraig, said: “It is amazing to be able to welcome our wonderful visitors back.
"We know so many people have missed being able to visit and enjoy our wide-open spaces and amazing animals.
“Safety comes first and there are a wide range of measures in place to protect our guests, staff and animals.
"These include limiting our visitor numbers with advanced online booking required, introducing one way routes in some areas so different households can stay two metres apart and postponing all keepers talks until it is safe to start them again.
"There are also lots of handwashing and hand sanitising stations around the park and we are asking everyone to follow the government guidance on travel and meeting other households."
Keith Ballam, managing director of Craggan Outdoors by Grantown, said that indications were very good for a busy time ahead.
He said “We’re looking forward to seeing Highland residents take the opportunity over the Easter holidays to discover a lot more of the wonderful things that there are to do on their ‘doorstep’ – including ourselves of course.
"Then come April 26 when the travel restrictions go completely, I’ve no doubt will be an incredibly busy year of staycation breaks for Scots and other UK residents.”
The CBP and the Cairngorms National Park Authority have been working with VisitScotland on the national campaign #RespectProtectEnjoy aimed at helping visitors enjoy rural Scotland responsibly that was launched on Monday.
The business group – under #CairngormsTogether – is also asking the public to "know the guidelines, plan ahead, be flexible and be kind".
To enable them to do that they will soon be launching a website status.visitcairngorms.com to enable visitors and locals to see what local businesses are open.
According to latest tourism figures for the region the visitor economy in the Cairngorms National Park is worth £308m and employs more than 5000 people.
