The tourist information office in the centre of Inverness is preparing for a relocation from its current home.
VisitScotland is hoping to increase footfall by moving from their present location on Castle Wynd to another location within the city centre.
Inverness Bid said it had been a long-held aspiration to make the service more visible – with tourists struggling to find the facility from the main arrival points into the city.
The agency said it is currently exploring its options – but said it would hope to relocate closer to transport hubs.
At present the tourist information “iCentre” is housed in the complex of buildings above Bridge Street which also houses the city’s museum and art gallery.
The move would also help free up the building – with the museum due to move to a new home in Inverness Castle at some point.
A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: “As our lease is to expire shortly, we are exploring options to relocate both the Inverness VisitScotland iCentre and local office from their current joint location in Castle Wynd to improved locations within the city centre, ideally closer to transport hubs.
“We anticipate the move of the iCentre to a more prominent location will see a higher footfall, a greater ability to inspire and inform visitors about what to see and do in Inverness and the surrounding area and reduced operational costs.”
Mike Smith, manager of city centre organisation Inverness Bid, said he was not aware of the talks – but said it was a long held aspiration to improve tourist information in the city centre.
He said: “I think it would be a very positive move.
“They (VisitScotland) are in a very difficult position physically being on the first floor.
“It has always been something that the Bid board has been very keen to see is the tourist information in a better location in the city centre nearer the main transport hubs.”
Mr Smith said an “ideal” location would be on Academy Street close to the city’s railway station and also handy for the bus station and main city centre car parks.
He also suggested that it could free up the current building for development, although that would be dependent on the current owners.
He added: “If a knock-on effect was releasing the area around Castle Wynd then that would be fabulous.”
City centre councillor Bet McAllister said: “Every year you see tourists wandering about, they can never find the place.
“I’d be happy to see it move. It can only be a good idea.”
