Scottish Parliament
26 September 2018
Rhoda :
To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support tourism on Skye.
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop):
The Scottish Government remains committed to ensuring that tourism on Skye—a vital part of the island’s economy—remains sustainable. In November, at a tourism summit on the island, I announced the establishment of a Skye tourism task force. Work is being led by Highlands and Islands Enterprise, which is assisting the local industry group, SkyeConnect, to develop a strategy and prioritise projects that will benefit tourism on the island.
As I mentioned in my previous answer, I am about to make announcements about the £6 million rural tourism infrastructure fund. Two of the initial three pilots are on Skye. The car park at Neist Point has already delivered much needed benefits to visitors and the local community alike, and work on developing facilities at the fairy pools is progressing.
Rhoda :
Is the cabinet secretary aware of visitors’ behaviour around the fairy pools?
We have seen photos of cairns that have been built in fields all round the fairy pools.
Stones have been displaced and small cairns built.
Locals have tried to rectify that situation, but what information are visitors given when they visit the area about how to behave to protect the environment?
Fiona Hyslop:
What Rhoda Grant has said raises concern about how people behave at important outdoor sites. People engage with locations to visit through digital media, and I encourage all those who advertise the fairy pools to indicate what is and is not acceptable, to make sure that there is protection for a very precious and beautiful place
Regional Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands