Keep Tourist Centre open all year

Dozens of Inverurie businesses have written to the Inverurie Business Association expressing concern at the seasonal closure of the town’s Tourist Information Centre on High Street.  The local business comments support Gordon MSP and Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond who has called Visit Scotland to task for closing the Inverurie centre without consultation and without discussing possible alternatives.

Both the Gordon MSP and MP Malcolm Bruce have criticised the action by Visit Scotland.   Mr Salmond has called for an urgent meeting with Visit Scotland.  “Inverurie Business Association, with support from Aberdeenshire Council, has put a large amount of resource into developing tourism services for Inverurie and the absence of a full-time Tourist Information Centre will be a huge blow,” said Ranald Allan, a member of the IBA committee.  “The IBA launched the Visit Inverurie internet site which has recorded more than 176,000 visitors and the association has produced tourism leaflets to promote the town,” explained Ranald.

The business association also published an Inverurie Tourism Strategy earlier this year which raised a number of proposals including the need for a caravan and camping site for the town, zoning of land for tourist attractions and identifying a site for a mid-range family hotel.  “The IBA hopes that, through discussion with Mr Salmond and Visit Scotland, a positive solution can be found to enable a year round Tourist Information Centre,” said Ranald.