Caithness and Sutherland attained £293k specialist fund

Monday, April 12, 2021

In the far north, an organization that endorses tourism has received £293k from a specialist fund as a “route to recovery” for the ailing industry across Caithness and Sutherland in the after effects of COVID.

From Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Venture North has effectively secured a three-year funding package. This would increase its capacity as a Destination Management Organisation (DMO) for the tourism in Caithness and Sutherland.

To quote Catherine Macleod, chair of Venture North, “We are delighted to have secured £293k of the project fund from the HIE Strategic Recovery Fund and are excited to start the recruitment of a destination development manager and supporting team followed by working with our stakeholders to develop the recovery plan.”

Additional funding will allow Venture North to support in rebuilding the tourism across Caithness and Sutherland in the aftermath of the pandemic. Very soon, it will be taking in skilled people to attain collaboration between local development trusts and other tourism-related stakeholders to co-produce a Tourism Destination Recovery Strategy.

As the primary DMO for Caithness and Sutherland, Venture North was capable to meet the funding criteria of HIE. The fund helps strategically significant DMOs in recognition of the crucial role they play in aiding the sector, their widespread reach into local businesses as well as communities and their influence on a sustainable green tourism recovery next to responsible visitor management.

In 2013 from the far north, Venture North was created by a core group of 12 entrepreneurs with a mission to raise tourism footfall and support Caithness and Sutherland tourism businesses to make more of resources and assets through collaboration.

As a DMO, it has achieved much of its initial strategy like setting up a website, growth of membership, attendance at events related to tourism, creating and placing a highly successful food event on the annual calendar, and an acclaimed series of videos about the area.

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