The drive to improve Thurso’s appeal as a holiday hub continues next week with the launch of an initiative to create a cadre of tourism ambassadors.
Those involved in the hospitality sector are being invited to attend a series of six workshops to become better informed about various aspects of life in the Caithness town.
Thurso Community Development Trust is looking to replicate similar schemes run in Dornoch and Oban to help make its town more welcoming to holidaymakers.
The first Thurso workshop on Wednesday will focus on the town’s world-class surfing reef at Thurso East with a talk from office-bearers of the North Shore Surf Club.
The others will be led by digital art company Inspired by Caithness; Caithness Astronomy Group; local jeweller and artist Lindsey Gallacher; Wolfburn Distillery; and the Caithness Broch Project.
The workshops are the second phase of a year-long project spearheaded by tourism development officer Scott McLean.
He said yesterday: “Much of this project, such as website to be launched at the end of April, is pretty long-term in its vision, but these workshops sessions can change the feel of the town for visitors immediately.
“VisitScotland places a lot of stock in the value of members of the community as destination ambassadors – destinations all over Scotland like Oban and Dornoch capitalise on this, so it’s important that we follow suit, especially given the uncertainty around tourist information provision in the town.
“It’s a brilliant line-up of speakers. I feel energised about the town’s potential as a destination after conversations with them all, so I know people will leave these sessions with a lot of positive energy to pass onto our visitors this season.”