A Highland businesswoman is calling for support from organisations in setting up a dedicated tourist group to boost visitor numbers to the Black Isle.
Lizbeth Collie, of Black Isle Bicycles, has enlisted the help of North Highlands Initiative (NHI) to get the idea off the ground and develop the area as a tourist destination in its own right.
She is concerned that, although the Black Isle has many attractions in its own right, it can get overlooked in the rush for visitors to travel to Inverness, Nairn, as well as other parts of the Highlands.
She said: “There are beautiful areas like Rosemarkie Beach, and Chanonry Point, where people can go and see dolphins on a regular basis.
“But Black Isle can sometimes get a bit lost when the Highlands are being promoted and we are exploring the possibility of establishing a tourism group, specifically for the area, through the NHI.
“It would be free to join and open to all businesses and organisations who have an interest in tourism, and in developing the concept.
“The Black Isle Tourism Group’s remit would be to work together on the marketing of the area and to improve the visitor experience, with ideas and priorities very much coming from the local folk involved.”
A meeting has been arranged for all those interested, hosted by Wynne Bentley of Holiday Houses Limited, based in Inverness.
Among the invited speakers is Eilidh Todd, NHI’s tourism project manager, who will outline how a local group might operate, as well as the benefits that businesses, and other organisations, would enjoy.
Ms Collie added: “We hope, in particular, to let tourism businesses know what kind of support is available to them, and have arranged informal presentations to also take place.
“Colin Simpson, tourist coordinator from Highland Council, and Kenny Mackay, regional development officer from Business Gateway, as well as representative of VisitScotland will be speaking.”
The meeting takes place on November 25, between 4pm and 6pm, at Quarryfield, Munlochy.