The Harris branch of the Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association (OHTIA) have launched their latest marketing campaign ‘Winter Harris’ at a reception on board  the MV Hebrides in Tarbert, Harris.

The ‘Winter Harris’ campaign has been developed to encourage visitors to Harris outwith the height of the tourist season, to try and spread the economic benefit throughout the year.

The campaign is aimed at key Scottish markets, with easy access to the Outer Hebrides, specifically with direct flights into Stornoway including Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Winter Harris will use a variety of communication channels including a dedicated website, travel articles, mail shots and e-blasts.

The Harris branch of OHTIA is a group of 56 businesses in Harris, who have come together to pool their marketing resources and carry out this joint campaign. The group have secured VisitScotland Challenge Funding of £2,800 toward the total cost of delivering the £7,000 campaign.

Harris Marketing Group Chairman Neil Campbell commented:

‘The Harris branch of the OHTIA are delighted with the progress that has been made, for 56 businesses to come together to promote out of season holidays in Harris shows the importance of this initiative to the members.

‘Tourism has been growing rapidly in Harris over the last 5 years with the result that the 700 plus tourist beds are largely fully occupied over the summer months. Tourism is now the main economic driver in Harris and this campaign aims to attract additional visitors over the period from October to March to enable hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, galleries etc who wish to remain open all year to do so on a profitable basis and to provdide employees with a year-round career choice not a seasonal job'. 

VisitScotland Outer Hebrides Area Director, Angus Macmillan said:

‘I’m delighted that VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund has been able to support key marketing initiatives such as Winter Harris, and the group are to be congratulated on the progress they have made to date.

‘It is only by showing visitors how much there is to see and do throughout our area, even outwith the summer months, will they stay longer and spend more money, benefiting the whole economy. Marketing campaigns like Winter Harris, which complement the ongoing marketing carried out by VisitScotland Outer Hebrides, will help the industry to achieve our shared goal of increasing tourism revenue in Scotland by 50% by 2015.”

Further information: www.winterharris.com

Source: www.visitscotland.org