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Vote under way on future of tourism in Moray


By Alistair Whitfield

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BALLOT papers have been issued to 420 eligible companies in Moray asking whether a Tourism Business Improvement District (Tourism BID) should be created in Moray.

If the majority agree, they would pay an annual levy in a common fund, then have a say on how it should be spent to improve and promote Moray as a visitor destination.

The thinking is that a local Tourism BID would step into the breach left when Moray Speyside Tourism's funding ends at the close of December.

Moray Speyside Tourism's operations manager Laurie Piper is a strong supporter of forming a Tourism BID similar to Visit Inverness Loch Ness which has existed since March, 2014.

He said: "Moray has seen record tourism growth year upon year since 2014. We are now one of the fastest-growing destinations in the UK and in 2018 we saw Moray’s highest ever visitor numbers.

"This progress has to be maintained.

"Without the Tourism BID, Moray Speyside’s tourism industry faces an uncertain future. I urge everyone who has received a ballot paper to cast their vote and have their say this festive period.

"A ‘yes’ result will guarantee a significant increase in the work carried out by Moray Speyside Tourism, deliver financial security and see Moray’s tourism industry level up for the future."

Supporters of creating a Tourism Bid organisation claim it is preferable to imposing a 'tourist tax', which they state would discourage visitors.

Gill Reid from Speyide Cooperage
Gill Reid from Speyide Cooperage

Gill Reid is the visitor centre manager at Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie.

She said: "Moray Speyside Tourism is currently our only means of representation – nationally and internationally.

"If the Tourism BID is not created we will have nothing at all.

"We cannot allow all the tremendous hard work that Laurie Piper and his team at Moray Speyside Tourism have done since 2014 to have been in vain."

Moray Speyside Tourism has been marketing the region and supporting its tourism industry since 2014.

During this time the annual value of tourism has grown by more than £30million while annual visitor numbers have increased by 100,000.

Last year it was worth £130 million to the Moray economy, with the region welcoming almost 800,000 visitors who supported more than 2,800 local jobs.


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