Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, Rhoda Grant, has contacted Scottish Ministers again calling for a freeze on any more closures of VisitScotland’s iCentres until the concerns of users, staff and union officials are properly considered.

Kirkwall is set to welcome 189 cruise liners in 2025 on top of the day visitors, and independent travellers. The iCentre is situated at the travel centre, drop off point for the cruise liner shuttle buses and the day tour coaches. It provides up to date advice, information, and booking options from its experienced staff to visitors and locals.

From 12th to 18th July 2025 Orkney is hosting the Islands Games when competitors and their supporters from 24 islands from around the world will be taking part in the sporting event.

No Island Impact Assessment was conducted by VisitScotland before it made its decision to pull the plug on the Kirkwall and the other iCentres it is closing.

The Islands Act

An Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) is required under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 (the Act). Guidance is provided by the Scottish Government as follows:

“This guidance stresses the importance of consultation and robust community engagement so that islanders are given a platform to voice their opinions, concerns and suggestions. It also addresses the need to consult island communities in order for a Relevant Authority to comply with the Section 7 duty.“

There is a seven step process which is required. Importantly ” a Relevant Authority must have regard to island communities in carrying out its functions.”

And the guidance stresses “ it’s really important to remember that effective and meaningful consultation throughout the process with island communities will be vital.“

VisitScotland did not do this, instead it conducted something called an Island Communities Screening Assessment, making a mockery of the founding principles of The Islands Act.  The starting point for VisitScotland’s assessment was  the iCentres will be closed, and that decision VisitScotland told The Orkney News is ‘Final’. 

Closures Go Ahead

Rhoda Grant, who met with Scottish Ministers earlier this year in a bid to stop the closures said she is “deeply disappointed” that VisitScotland pushed forward and closed the iCentre in Stornoway last month (October 2024) while concerns over the impact of the closures on local communities remained outstanding. The reason for the closures is being cited as reduced footfall to the Centres throughout Scotland as visitors move online to source information ahead of their visit. Data which included the years when Covid-19 seriously limited visitor numbers anywhere.

Rhoda Grant said:

“I raised the matter with VisitScotland and the Scottish Government earlier this year after I was contacted by media outlets and constituents voicing fierce opposition to the proposed closures. She said at the time “This is a deeply worrying announcement from an organisation that is partially funded by the Scottish Government.”

“With depopulation being one of the biggest challenges facing Highland and Island areas it makes absolutely no sense to remove jobs and services from these areas. It is vital therefore that the Scottish Government freezes any more closures until the concerns that continue to be raised with me are properly addressed.”

Kirkwall iCentre is used by both locals and visitors to Orkney because of the reliability of up to date information the experienced staff can provide. It also stocks a range of local books, crafts and gifts from small producers. It is the view of VisitScotland that when the centre closes people can just pop into any local shop and ask the same questions they would of the skilled staff in the iCentre. Not only is that a ridiculous statement to make with no appreciation of how busy the local shops are in the peak tourist season, it is an insult to the staff of the iCentre and their professionalism.

Yet again the Islands Act has failed. The closures are going ahead.

1.37million visitors used Scotland’s iCentres last year as VisitScotland goes ahead with closures

Fiona Grahame