A full-time post is being created to look after the tourism interests on Skye, the second-most popular visitor destination in Scotland after Edinburgh.
Business owners on the island have admitted the place is being overwhelmed by its booming popularity, particularly during the peak summer months.
SkyeConnect, the new Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for Skye and Raasay, brings together the business and tourism industry in the islands, working with stakeholders including Highland Council.
The body has secured funding for a project officer from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).
The organisation elected members, Visit Scotland, the Scottish Government, Business Gateway and HIE together with community bodies and residents.
In the next few weeks an extensive recruitment process will commence to seek a high-calibre candidate to join SkyeConnect and its interim board to establish the company as an effective tourism and business hub representing the communities of Skye and Raasay.
Shirley Spear, interim chairwoman of SkyeConnect said: “SkyeConnect has been working hard with many partner organisations and community groups to create an organisation that aims to ensure a sustainable future for tourism in Skye and Raasay, in a continuing climate where tourism is everyone’s business.
“We are grateful to HIE for their financial support and to Faye MacLeod of Campbell, Stewart and Maclennan and Co for her great work recently supporting SkyeConnect achieve this key milestone in its first year.”
Kate Forbes, MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch added: “I commend HIE for the funding of a project manager and SkyeConnect for pulling together a plan of action.
“There is huge potential here and I will be supporting the new project officer and the SkyeConnect team.
“I’ve long said that what is lacking on Skye is a strategic plan for the future, and I have high hopes that this new project officer will be just the person to do it.”
