11th March 2020
A SERIES of tourism information workshops will be delivered in Thurso during March.
The events are being run by Thurso Community Development Trust with subject areas ranging from slow tourism to information sharing.
Last year, under the Discover Thurso project, more than 100 tourism providers attended successful workshops aimed at improving tourism knowledge, increasing partnership working and helping to turn Thurso into a visitor destination.
Prior to the start of the 2020 tourist season a series of four workshops will take place.
Joan Lawrie, development manager for the trust, said: “These workshops last year received really good feedback. The aim is to increase the knowledge of those working in tourism with a series of key speakers and of course to provide networking and build on new and existing partnerships.
“It is demonstrated clearly throughout successful visitor destinations that partnership working is the key to success.”
Each of the events has a theme. The first, on Monday, March 9, at Thurso Youth Club, is on the theme of Activities: Night Skies, Walking and Water, and will have guest speakers from Caithness Astronomy Group and North Coast Watersports as well as Caithness and Sutherland countryside rangers.
In addition to this, as one of the first cohort of community leaders in tourism – a course delivered by the Social Enterprise Academy and devised by Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Scottish Tourism Alliance – Joan will be taking these skills and knowledge back to those who attend and discussing key tourism trends and sharing of information.
Further events are planned on the themes of Slow Tourism, Heritage and Culture and finally Tourism Promotion and Information Sharing.
In addition to these events, throughout March the trust is also offering mentoring sessions to local businesses and organisations in social media and promotion, with training to hotel staff in tourism information also on offer.
Joan added: “We’re really excited to be able to offer these sessions as we build the Discover Thurso project to benefit all working in tourism, from the shops and accommodation providers through to our local community organisations who play a role in the visitor experience.
“The more we can work together and support each other, the stronger Thurso becomes.”
Future workshops:
- Slow Tourism – March 17
- Heritage and Culture – March 24
- Tourism Promotion and Information Sharing – March 31
To contact Thurso Community Development Trust regarding workshops, mentoring or training opportunities, email Joan on joan@thursocdt.co.uk or call 01847 867050.
Source: John O’Groat Journal
