Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, has contacted VisitScotland directly on its decision to close all its iCentres in Scotland. Following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request by The Orkney News about the closure of the Kirkwall iCentre it revealed that the numbers of people using the centre in Orkney increased last year from the previous one.

Rhoda Grant said

The Orkney News revealed that no Islands Community Impact Assessment was done, as recommended in the guidance of the Islands Act. Instead VisitScotland conducted a screening assessment – The Orkney News argues that this goes against the very spirit and intent of The Islands Act hailed at the time of its passing as ground breaking legislation. The Islands Act built upon work done across the three islands Authorities and developed by them as ‘Our Islands, Our Future’.

Rhoda Grant continued:

“I believe what VisitScotland conducted in Kirkwall however was an Island Communities Screening Assessment which states that “ .. at a strategic level, management is confident that this strategic change does not significantly differently impact island communities.”

“I would argue that the loss of jobs in these centres, together with the loss of tacit knowledge of the area, will significantly impact on the areas concerned.

“Furthermore, given that VisitScotland is partially funded by the Scottish Government, I would suggest it would be prudent for them to follow the Government guidance in this situation and conduct Island Communities Impact Assessments for the islands affected.

“I don’t think anyone would disagree that the shift in booking holidays has moved online but these figures show that the centres are still very much needed not only for tourists who need help and advice while they are actually in Scotland but for use by local residents too.

“The tourism and hospitality sector has been one of the hardest hit from the pandemic and we need to be bolstering these businesses at this time, not cutting jobs and services to the millions of people who visit Scotland annually.”

The closure of all iCentres across Scotland also means that the nation’s own tourist organisation will have no public presence on the country’s high streets. A strange decision indeed given the importance of the tourism sector to the Scottish economy.

Rhoda Grant has also contacted the Minister in the Scottish Government with responsibility for tourism.

Fiona Grahame