New industry leadership group to champion Scottish tourism and hospitality

An industry leadership group will be set up to support Scotland’s tourism and hospitality sector, it has been announced.

The Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group (ILG), which will support work towards a sustainable and resilient recovery for the industry, will be co-chaired by minister for business, trade, tourism and enterprise, Ivan McKee, and, for an initial period of two years, Marc Crothall, chief executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance.

The group will build on the achievements of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG). The ILG will take a similar collaborative approach, with members from public sector organisations involved in STERG joining representatives from the private and third sector.

Those who wish to take part in the group can submit an expression of interest, applications for which close on Sunday 18 September.

Applications will be shortlisted by a panel made up of representatives from VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and the Scottish government. The first meeting of the ILG will take place in early November.

McKee said: “The establishment of this new Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group will ensure we can collaborate on solutions to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the sector. I look forward to discussing in detail with members how we can work together to deliver Scotland Outlook 2030 and more widely the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.”

Rob Dickson, director of industry and destination development at VisitScotland and chair of STERG, said: “STERG has clearly demonstrated the value of collaboration to get the right guidance and financial support to businesses during the pandemic. Our industry has a vital role to play as we work towards achieving our shared vision of a wellbeing economy that supports regional and local communities.

“The Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group will provide an important forum for representatives from across public agencies, sectors and community tourism to work together to help drive recovery and sustainable growth.”

Crothall added: “I am delighted to have been asked to co-chair this group, after previously chairing the steering group that brought Scotland Outlook 2030 to life in March 2020. I recognise there’s lots to do and I’m confident that the newly formed group once appointed will determine the actions which will deliver the ambition and priorities as set out in Scotland Outlook 2030.

“The formation of the group is the next step in the evolution of a valuable partnership and will see all partners working together to support a strong recovery for the sector and the growth of a sustainable tourism product for the future.”

Photo: Connor Mollison/Unsplash