Doorstep discoveries: Highland businesses highlight ‘Choose Local’ calls

Visitor attractions across the Highlands are calling on people to discover more of what’s on their doorstep this summer – boosting business and safeguarding jobs.

Businesses throughout the region are also joining forces in efforts to support each other by sourcing more things locally – as well as keeping visitors local for longer and trailblazing sustainable tourism.

Venues and the firms supporting them are gearing up for what they hope will be a busy summer season, including the latest bank holiday this weekend.

And members of Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) are urging locals – many of whom may be planning on spending more time closer to home to manage the cost of living crisis – enjoy the region’s attractions too.

They are supporting the Scotland Loves Local campaign, calling on people across the country to make their communities stronger and choose local, whether for shopping, days out or breaks.

VILN is the Tourism Business Improvement District which covers 1,200 miles around Inverness and Loch Ness.

Chief Executive Michael Golding said: “What I love here is that, outside of Inverness, everyone else is from small communities, most of them have only a few hundred people living there. 

“The small and micro-business owners there are a key part of those communities. They’re completely ingrained in them – and they’ve all bought into the Scotland Loves Local message.

“We need to support local, we need to send people to each other’s businesses and keep them in the area. That’s something that we help to do – bringing people together, creating collaborations and helping make sure that we keep people in the area longer, increasing their spend and making the area more sustainable while we do that. 

“Having people stay local, be local, shop local, and enjoy authentic products and  authentic food experiences, is a core theme for us.”

Visit Inverness Loch Ness Chief Executive Michael Golding, left, and Business Development Manager Alan Rawlinson with BID members and supporters as they show their support for the Scotland Loves Local campaign

Scotland Loves Local is spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP)  – the organisation which champions the nation’s towns and places – with support from the Scottish Government.

By encouraging people to support businesses of all kinds in their community – whether shops, cafes, restaurants, visitor attractions or other services – it is hoped that communities can become stronger and better places in which to live, work and visit.

VILN Membership Manager Sharon Mackay added: “The Love Local lamppost banners are on display for a 3rd year, by the river in Inverness on Bank Street.  This busy route through the city gives greater visibility to our many hidden gems, attractions and activity providers, showcased on 30 beautiful banners. 

“A further 42 Love Local banners are now also on lampposts leading into six villages, as well as the main traffic route into the city centre from the A9. 

“The year round campaign not only beautifully illustrates the many wonderful things to see and do in our area, the banners also encourage tourists and locals to explore and experience more, which is further supporting the local economy”.

Among the attractions keen to work with others locally is the team at The Highlanders Museum at Fort George.

Caz Young, from the museum, said: “It’s brilliant to get more people in to share our culture and history, but also to share some economic value so that we can keep doing what we love.”

Across the Highlands, islands and throughout northern Scotland, STP says it’s vital for the future of communities that residents show their support for the people around them by backing local enterprises.

Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Interim Chief Officer, said: “We need to begin a permanent shift in thinking local first this summer, whether for shopping, days out or simply local businesses trading with each other. Doing so will support our ongoing recovery from Covid-19, help with the cost of living crisis and in our response to the climate emergency – creating a stronger, more sustainable economy.”

Scotland’s multi-billion pound tourism industry is directly responsible for about 5% of Scotland’s GDP and in the region of 7% of national employment.