Councillors will today decide whether to progress plans to future-proof Moray’s tourist offering.
A tourism business improvement district (TBid) strategy has been drafted up, which would involve all Moray Speyside firms in the sector paying a levy to help cover the costs.
The scheme would move funding away from reliance on the public sector and put it into the hands of the companies who stand to benefit from attracting more visitors.
Today, members of Moray Council’s policy and resources committee will review the proposal and decide if it should go to the next stage of a ballot.
Graham Leadbitter, chairman of the authority’s economic development and infrastructure committee, said: “I believe the business case for the Bid is compelling and is the result of significant efforts by everyone involved. It has the potential to take Moray’s tourism offer to the next level and grow our reputation as a high quality destination of choice.”
If approved, Moray Speyside would become one of only two TBids in Scotland.
More than 100 tourism businesses in Moray are understood to be supportive of the plans.
Last year alone, Moray was visited by 800,000 tourists and the sector was worth £130 million, which supported more than 2,800 jobs in the community.