The aim of the project is to make Thurso a better place to live, work and visit.
FUNDING of nearly £40,000 has been secured to help provide a tourism blueprint for Thurso.
The money – £33,500 from the EU Highland Leader programme and £5000 from the Caithness and North Sutherland Fund – has been awarded to Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT).
It plans to run a project called Destination Thurso and employ a tourism development officer for a year to get the scheme up and running. The trust hopes to have a person in post by the end of November.
Destination Thurso will include an information website and social media and will set up a series of workshops for people in the tourism industry.
Around six workshops will be held in March and April next year and will be aimed at people involved in all aspects of tourism, including those who work in hotels, B&Bs. The trust will also consult with the community on future plans for the town.
Joan Lawrie, voluntary project officer for TCDT, said: “We’re really excited to make this our first confirmed project.
“A key issue raised in our community consultation in March was the need to develop tourism in the town. We’ve listened to the community and gone out to secure the funding to make this happen.
“With our tourism development officer in post we’ll be looking at everything from supporting our existing tourism, traders and attractions via a VisitThurso-style website and social media to looking to the future in consulting the community and service providers to form a tourism blueprint.
“The process of forming the tourism development plan will look at everything from signage for tourists and making more of our already amazing attractions to what activities such as festivals or further attractions could be developed in the town.”
Tracey Taylor, chairperson of TCDT, said: “The overall aim of the project is the same as our aim for Thurso through TCDT – working together as a community we can make Thurso a better place to live, work and visit.
“The community will be consulted throughout the project and have a chance to give their thoughts and ideas.
“We also urge anyone who is interested to get involved, whether interested community member, tourism business or town centre trader, to join our focus groups looking in more detail at the project.”
Meanwhile, a meeting is to take place in Caithness Horizons tonight for anyone who is interested in getting involved.
Anyone unable to attend but would like to participate in the project should contact the trust on info@thursocdt.co.uk
Tags:Destination Thurso
