Broad Street Kirkwall with St Magnus Cathedral

VisitScotland Information Centres to Close

VisitScotland is to close its network of information centres over the next two years. Instead it will shift to a digital-first strategy. All VisitScotland information centres – known as iCentres – will operate as usual until the end of September as part of phased two-year closure programme. VisitScotland is currently engaging with stakeholders to discuss…

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VisitScotland is to close its network of information centres over the next two years. Instead it will shift to a digital-first strategy.

All VisitScotland information centres – known as iCentres – will operate as usual until the end of September as part of phased two-year closure programme. VisitScotland is currently engaging with stakeholders to discuss local arrangements. 

Lord Thurso, VisitScotland Chair, said:

“The tourism landscape has changed significantly in recent years. The demand for iCentres has reduced while the demand for online information and booking has continued to grow. In order to continue building demand and growing the value of tourism and events, it is vitally important that we target channels we know visitors use to influence them to visit Scotland.

“Our research shows that as an organisation, we have a greater and more impactful role to play in providing information before visitors travel. Prioritising a digital-first model of information provision allows us to reach potential visitors at those early planning stages when we can shape their future travel decisions.

“Together with businesses and our partners, we want to build on success and ensure that across all areas of our work – marketing, destination development, business advice, insights and events – we prioritise the activities that will deliver for our industry and for Scotland.

“By evolving our work in this way, we will be able to invest in the activities that will accelerate sustainable growth in the visitor economy, helping create jobs, sustain communities and attract investment for the future.” 

For more information visit www.visitscotland.org

Broad Street Kirkwall with St Magnus Cathedral

10 responses to “VisitScotland Information Centres to Close”

  1. berniebell1955 Avatar
    berniebell1955

    !!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  2. Mr Peter Breingan Avatar
    Mr Peter Breingan

    To completely shut down these centres seems a step too far.
    To totally remove any human contact with holiday visitors might be a mistake.
    It is understood that the expansive Kirkwall facility maybe expensive to occupy and run so why not set up a small office elsewhere with an experienced human with local knowledge. Travelling in Europe one finds such local and small visitor offices in most
    visitor hot spots.

    Reply
    1. Elisabeth Sidler Avatar
      Elisabeth Sidler

      Dear Mr Breinigan! With the best of my abilities I just can’t find out how to write a comment on my own, so please forgive me for using your comment as a way to express my thoughts!
      I am Swiss and have been a regular visitor to Orkney for 34 years and am now spending the 6 months per year I am permitted to stay in the UK in Kirkwall. Personally, I am shocked by this announcement. As you point out, the information centre need not be as large as it is now, although during the summer season there seem to be a lot of people asking for and getting help and local information most of the time I pass the centre.
      But to have no human contact at all strips the Orkney tourist organisation of the human touch – and that is what those visitors who spend more than a day or a few hours in Orkney need and enjoy. Of course it is sensible to offer all the digital information in the first place, so people planning their stay can do so easily and based on all the available information. But what about when they are actuall there? I made a point of going to the Centre every time I visited, browsing among the various leaflets, delighting in the high quality postcards no other shop had on offer, browsing among the informative books about various aspets of Orkney life, sometimes asking for directions to someplace, asking about something I didn’t have enough information about, getting the foldable road maps ON PAPER to pore over, asking about specific local matters, maybe even asking for advice where to go to or whom to contact in an emergency – and enjoying the contact with a real person.
      Cutting off the contact between visitors seeking information or ideas, local tips and background information, just takes the soul out of tourist management, and based on my own experience, a lot of interesting questions and fascinating background knowledge would be lost.
      The Tourist Office always was a welcoming doorway into the place I wanted to get to know better. A computerised voice and a computer screen have no heartwarming appeal at all, do not give the visitor a feeling of being welcome. They feed the brain with knowledge, which of course is the main job for an information centre, but they leave the heart untouched and do not leave behind the pleasant glow of having gotten in touch with somebody knowledgeable about and steeped in the Orcadian highlights and ways of life. Totally cutting back tourist contact down to digital media would definitely take the special sparkle about the welcome for th truly interested visitors – at least that’s my opinion.

      Reply
      1. Sandra Campbell Avatar
        Sandra Campbell

        You are absolutely correct but it will make no difference- the decision was made a long time ago and they have been closing offices all over for some time. The internet is king and the rest of us who wish human contact no longer matter.

      2. Elisabeth Sidler Avatar
        Elisabeth Sidler

        A great loss – at least to those people who still value human connections. But, of course, totally in sync with the ubiquitious process of reducing human communication to clicks and taps on keyboards. A pity Orkney is not able to withstand the trend.

    2. berniebell1955 Avatar
      berniebell1955

      Re. your comment – what comes to mind is what used to be the Tourist Information place next to St. Magnus’, which then became The Reel, and which is now, still, standing empty.

      My first response to this news was incredulity – hence the row of exclaim marks. The whole idea is such non-sense it beggars belief.

      And – how many jobs nationwide will be axed?

      By the way – I’ve noticed Mr Sharp’s comments and sometimes been tempted to respond – but decided that he’s one of those people who just likes to do that. No point in taking any notice of them at all as it just feeds their ire.

      Reply
  3. Tom Sharp Avatar
    Tom Sharp

    Vote SNP and this is what you get, a bit like ferries, four times the cost and years overdue.

    Reply
    1. Mr Peter Breingan Avatar
      Mr Peter Breingan

      I think you need to explain your comment.
      It seems just a foundation less rant against the SNP.
      Tell us what you think about VisitScotlands decision.

      Reply
  4. berniebell1955 Avatar
    berniebell1955

    And…not everyone is computer savvy.

    I thought it was a bad move closing the information hub in the Stromness Ferry Terminal – but have to admit to adopting more and more of an attitude of acceptance about these things as there doesn’t appear to be much that we, the public, can do about them.

    That huge place was built in Kirkwall – and now – it’s central function is to be closed. What will become of it?

    I have just written the following to a friend who is coming to visit Orkney from America this summer and asked for info. and recommendations….

    “For reasons known only to themselves Orkney Islands Council haven’t re-opened Corrigall Farm Museum. The ways of OIC are a mystery – possibly even to many in OIC!”

    Considering how important tourism is to Orkney, the organization associated with it is a mess.

    And all must give way to the Cruise Liners.

    I’ll stop now.

    Reply
  5. A complete lack of accountability from the Scottish Government over VisitScotland’s closure of 25 iCentres. – The Orkney News

    […] Orkney News first covered the closure of iCentres in March 2024 and has since investigated the issue including sending in a Freedom of Information request (FOI). […]

    Reply

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