Tourism group cashing in
A tourism group which received more than
£6,000 from VisitScotland has come up with a novel way of
attracting visitors - its very own currency.
The brainchild of Scotland’s Heartland, which
comprises several businesses in the Linlithgow and Falkirk areas,
the ‘money’ is given to couples as part of a special holiday
deal.
Included in a £250 short break for two, the
£75 worth of vouchers can be used in exchange for a number of
pursuits in the area, including trips on the Falkirk Wheel, hiring
bikes and canal boats, pampering sessions in the hotel spa and even
a few rounds of golf.
A proportion of any unused vouchers will be
transformed into cash and given to The Waterways Trust Scotland, a
charity which helps disadvantaged children, and the Strathcarron
Hospice, near Falkirk.
To help get the project and its accompanying
website up and running, Scotland’s Heartland was awarded £6,250
from VisitScotland’s Growth Fund, a sum which matched the cash from
the project’s partners.
The national tourism organisation’s Growth
Fund is specifically designed to support tourism groups throughout
Scotland in marketing their product to its maximum potential.
Sinead Feltoe, Regional Director at
VisitScotland, said: “We were delighted to help Scotland’s
Heartland with this highly innovative venture. Tourism growth is
critical to the future of Scotland and, since 2008, the Growth Fund
has awarded more than £177,000 in Edinburgh and the Lothians,
directly benefiting 100 tourism businesses. There is much for
visitors to the Linlithgow and Falkirk area to enjoy and I wish
Scotland’s Heartland every success.”
The Scotland’s Heartland partnership, one of
44 groups throughout the country to have benefited from the Growth
Fund, includes Macdonald Inchyra Grange Hotel in Polmont, Macdonald
Houston House in Uphall, Grange Manor Hotel, British Waterways
Scotland, Kingsfield Golf Centre, Linlithgow Union Canal Society
and voluntary organisation Pride & Passion Linlithgow.
Ronnie Bamberry, Chairman of Scotland’s
Heartland, said: “Falkirk and Linlithgow have huge potential and we
want to encourage as many people as possible to come here to enjoy
the very best the area has to offer. VisitScotland’s Growth Fund
has been absolutely essential. Without it, this marvellous project
would never have happened.”
The initiative has been commended by Tourism
Minister Jim Mather, who will visit members of the partnership at
the launch of its official website on Thursday, 8 July.
Mr Mather said: “This is a fantastic project
that I am sure will help attract tourists to the area to discover
all the attractions it has to offer. Tourism has a key role to play
in ensuring Scotland continues its recent return to economic
growth. By working together and developing innovative ideas like
this, tourism businesses can flourish and bring real economic
benefits to their local area and the whole of Scotland. I am
delighted VisitScotland is supporting Scotland’s Heartland and I am
sure it will deliver real success over the course of the summer and
beyond.”
For more information, visit http://www.scotlandsheartland.com/
