MP urges government to step in and save iCentres from closure
Angus MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Inverness, Skye and West Ross shire is calling on Angus Robertson, the Minister for Culture to encourage Visit Scotland to reverse the decision to close iCentres.
Mr MacDonald is writing to ask for an urgent meeting to discuss this issue.
During a trip home last week Mr MacDonald visited iCentres in Fort William, Portree and Inverness and reported that they were absolutely full of visitors with queues waiting to seek advice from the staff.
"Having spoken to staff and visitors there is no doubt in my mind that there is very strong demand for these visitor centres and using the internet is not a good alternative to getting excellent independent advice from locals," he told us.
"I encourage Stephen Leckie, the new Chairman of Visit Scotland and Angus Robertson to actively visit these centres in this summer period and speak to staff and visitors.
"I guarantee they will hear loud and clear that the demand for them to remain open is strong.
"Stephen Leckie has decades of experience in the Highland hotel industry, the decision to close the iCentres was made prior to his appointment.
"The Highlands is a tourist based economy, we must cater for the millions who visit. It might be that the iCentres lose money but they stimulate revenue for many thousands of businesses across Scotland which in turn employ hundreds of thousands of people and pay substantial taxes."
In April, VisitScotland announced that it plans to phase out all its remaining physical tourist information centres, known as iCentres, as it moves to a "digital first" strategy.
This follows the organisation already downsizing its number of iCentres from 65 to 25 between 2017 and 2019.
The tourist organisation says no changes will be made until September, but from then gradual plans will be put in motion with the goal of having all the iCentres shut by 2026.
Louise MacLean, of the Scottish Hospitality Group, has described tourism as the country’s "golden goose" and expressed concern that the loss of iCentres would cut off those who were not digital savvy.
"Our number one priority must be to give our visitors a wonderful holiday," added Mr MacDonald.
"Visitor access to good independent local advice is key to this.
"As the MP for Inverness, Skye and West Ross shire, I will continue to press for measures to support tourism and help the Highland economy thrive."
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