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.
The MSP, 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.
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.”
She continued “VisitScotland pushed forward and closed the Centre in Stornoway last month totally disregarding the concerns of users of the Centre who bought Citylink bus tickets from there for onward travel from the ferry and without considering the impact the closure will have on local tourism related businesses.
“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.”
The picture shows Mrs Grant outside the centre in Inverness which is one of the 25 centres throughout Scotland facing closure, 12 of which are within the Highlands and Islands Region that Mrs Grant represents.