West Coast Waters – Scotland 2020
2020 will be Scotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters, and six ambitious collaborative projects have been developed to celebrate Scotland’s outstanding West Coast Waters.
These projects have been developed by The West Coast Marine Tourism Collaboration which came together late in 2017. All eighteen Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) across the west coast formed the collaboration to undertake a major Scoping Initiative which concluded in Autumn 2018.
The scoping initiative, funded by HIE, covered the entire west coast from Arran and Kintyre to Wester Ross and the Outer Hebrides. The scoping involved locally appointed agents asset mapping where visitors can readily get on and off the water and what experiences were available at these individual locations. Experiences included wildlife watching, seafood restaurants, distilleries, heritage attractions, outdoor activities and also identified where people can experience the west coast for themselves and where providers are available.
In the region of 300 different sites were identified and extensive inventories prepared for each hub. The hubs were specifically assessed in terms of being fit for purpose for activity in 2020
Collectively the inventory and supporting business engagement activity highlighted that the scale of opportunity to develop the west coast’s marine tourism offer is considerable. There is significant product already in existence which is not widely known and until now not understood from a critical mass perspective at a pan west coast scale.
Much of this opportunity can be realised at a local level and by individuals, but the scoping has demonstrated the power of collaboration and also provided two clear reasons why the DMO partners need to continue to collaborate and work with businesses and agency partners to develop new products and campaign activity;
- Marine Tourism focuses on the waterbodies which connect our current land-based DMOs – the DMOs need to work across these water bodies
- By collaborating the individual DMOs will achieve much greater profile and traffic than they could individually.
A summit event with 70 attendees took place in January 2019 in Oban to set out the main findings and opportunities, explore project ideas, seek commitment to delivery and to nail down a shared 2-year work plan based on the proposed themes and mechanisms. Twelve ideas were scoped out and six have since been developed.
- ‘WEST COAST WATERS 2020’ PROMOTIONAL CAMPAIGN – Make 2020 the year you experience the west coast and get on if not in the water! This is a joint high profile campaign over 12 months to raise awareness of the wealth and geographic distribution of the marine tourism offer on the West Coast Waters specifically for 2020 – seeking financial support from each DMO to demonstrate industry buy in, support from Calmac, Scotrail, WildScotland, CAPITEN, Argyll & Bute Council and VisitScotland Growth Fund grant and others.
- ‘THE COAST THAT SHAPED THE WORLD’ MARITIME CULTURE – An ambitious and highly innovative digital project to bring to life 20 stories from each of the 20 destinations across the west coast which encourage people to travel on the roads less travelled to experience these stories on a personal level and appreciate the West Coast’s rich cultural heritage which is directly linked to our outstanding marine environment and natural heritage.
- WEST COAST WATERS HOPSCOTCH TRAIL – development of an epic pan west coast island hopping and cruising route creating a journey which joins up classic Calmac ferry routes in a figure of eight and being the UK’s first island hopping long distance trail.
- THE WEST COAST WATERS BATON RELAY – A pan west coast baton style event linking each of the 20 different areas of the west coast to their neighbours over 20 weekends from May to September with the baton being hosted by and passed between individual west coast communities during the weekdays and featured at key local events.
- ‘TT2020’ TARBERT TO TARBERT SCAVENGER HUNT – A fun challenge event for participants to travel between Tarbert on Loch Fyne and Tarbert on the Isle of Harris by various modes of transport and scavenge 20 different artefacts on the way.
- WEST COAST WATERS ‘TRAILS OF DISCOVERY’ – Development and better promotion of existing and new themed trails and products/experiences – West Highland, Harris and Lochaber Snorkel Trails, Argyll Sea Kayak Trail, the newly launched Hebridean Whale Trail, local food and drink trails, and the celebratory Sunset Trail
These projects are now becoming reality with significant buy in from across the West Coast and from communities, nusinesses and agency partners and decisions due soon. Each of the DMOs have made financial contributions and various funding bids, sponsorship and other proposals are being progressed. UHI via the CAPITEN Atlantic Arc initiative is progressing snorkel trail development in Lochaber and into Argyll, and are planning a joint event with WCW in 2020. The Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust have now launched the Hebridean Whale Trail. Calmac have sponsored the Lists Guide to Scotland’s Islands on the West Coast and are leading on the West Coast Waters Hopscotch Trail tourist route development.
Governance is provided through the West Coast Waters Steering Group which includes representatives of the DMOs, HIE, VS, UHI, Calmac, Sail Scotland, RYA and local authority representation. All activity is currently being coordinated by Argyll & The Isles Tourism Cooperative who also represent the WCMTC on VisitScotland’s 2020 Year of Coasts and Waters Working Group.
To find out more contact Carron Tobin on carron.tobin@ruraldimensions.com 07715 773660
