Council must up game on Moray tourism – MSP
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IT'S time Moray Council played a role in maximising the area's huge tourism potential, an MSP has said.
Highlands and Islands Conservative MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston praised the passion of Moray’s private tourism operators – but said the council’s administration must not allow its service cuts to hold back the sector locally.
Long grass and toilet closures do not help visitors to see Moray at its best, he said.
Mr Halcro Johnston spoke out after touring one of Speyside’s newest distilleries, meeting Ballindalloch’s Oliver Russell to discuss how the business was developing and wider efforts to attract more visitors to the area.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: "It was fantastic to see the remarkable progress made since the distillery was set up in 2014.
"I know waiting for the whisky takes patience, but I’m looking forward to that first dram when it’s ready. It will clearly be a high-quality and much sought-after product.
"It just shows what can be done when focus is given to quality and on local sourcing."
The MSP discussed the North East 250, the tourist route championed by Guy Macpherson-Grant, of Ballindalloch, which since its inception in 2017 has generated increased custom for tourism businesses in Speyside and the wider north-east. The loop takes in the Cairngorms National Park, Deeside, the Buchan and Moray coastlines, Speyside and Aberdeen.
He said: "The North East 250 has been established by people with a real passion for, and an understanding of, the local area and what it has to offer.
"The private tourism sector has played a major role in driving this forward. However, we also need to ensure that, when visitors do come to Moray, their expectations of the county are met.
"That’s why cuts to local services by Moray Council – which have led to the closure of some public toilets and a reduction in the amount spent on maintaining public spaces – risks holding Moray back in maximising the enormous tourism potential it has.
"Like local people, Moray’s tourism operators have great pride in the county and what it has to offer. As well having the infrastructure in place to make visitors feel they are welcome, they want visitors to see Moray at it’s very best. Limited toilets and long grass doesn’t help achieve that.
"Moray has huge potential to grow its tourism sector. Local private tourist businesses are already playing their part in helping achieve that. It’s time Moray Council did too."
After his distillery visit, Mr Halcro Johnston held street surgeries in Aberlour, Dufftown, Rothes and Keith where he discussed local issues with residents.
