Working collaboratively as part of AADA

The pandemic has had a huge impact on our operations. Having been closed for the best part of a year, we have lost a lot of revenue from across our commercial operations. When we were open, there was a lack of international tourists and coach groups which we normally welcome throughout the year, but especially during the summer months.

Rebuilding this summer is going to take time but tourism is a vital part of Ayrshire & Arran’s economy and plays a key role in ensuring the region recovers from the current COVID-19 pandemic. Collaboration across our industry is going to be really important. By coming together, tourism businesses can play their own part in ensuring the future of tourism across the region.

It is really positive that the Ayrshire Visitor Economy Strategy Group, as part of the wider Ayrshire Economic Partnership, has been bringing together representatives from the tourism industry in Ayrshire & Arran.

Bringing organisations like North, South and East Ayrshire Councils, Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce, The Coig, VisitArran and the Scottish Tourism Alliance together sends out a really strong message to industry that we are all part of one destination and I hope as many businesses and operators as possible get involved in the newly formed Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance.

The new social media campaign called 'Make It Yours' in partnership with VisitScotland, East, South, and North Ayrshire Council and The Coig is already underway, initially targeting local people and visitors from across central Scotland and is a great example of how combining resources is of greater benefit. Over 100 businesses and industry organisations attended the first Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance virtual event so the initial response is looking positive.

By working together, we can offer a complete package to visitors who are thinking of coming to the area. We can more effectively promote everything that the region has to offer – people don’t look at things in isolation, they want to know about places to stay, where they can eat and the things to see and do. By working collaboratively, we can present this in a much more user-friendly way to entice visitors to come to Ayrshire & Arran. The competition is really tough, so we need to ensure that we are attractive to potential visitors.

In return, tourism businesses are working with communities to ensure that both visitors and communities feel supported – we are asking visitors, as part of our visitor promise, to enjoy everything our region has to offer and treat it with the same care as they would their own community and look after our places, our people and our environment. In practice this means leaving no trace behind, following national safety guidelines and Scottish Outdoor Access Code while respecting residents and shopping local to support local businesses.

We are extremely well placed for people looking to explore the coast and outdoor activities with the beautiful scenery that we have. However, there is so much to offer for enthusiasts of walking, cycling and water sports. That is why collaboration is so important. We need to highlight all of the great attractions and places to stay, so people make Ayrshire & Arran a destination of choice, for visitors from Scotland and the UK.