A Mearns tourism initiative that aims to shine a light on the best the region has to offer has been launched.
It is hoped the Visit Mearns website will draw people to an area that locals feel is under-represented in tourism literature.
Developed by the Our Mearns Tourism Association, it will focus on 14 themes including built and natural heritage, accommodation, food, the Highland Games calendar, golf, whiskey and the region’s famous people.
Aberdeenshire Provost Bill Howatson was the keynote speaker for the launch at the Grassic Gibbon Centre in Arbuthnott, along with Claire Bruce of Visit Aberdeenshire and Jo Robinson of VisitScotland.
The project was launched by Kincardine Development Partnership (KDP), which is continuing to provide support.
Dave Ramsay, director and chairman of Visit Mearns, said: “Thanks to the ground work of Jacky Niven, development worker with Kincardine Development Partnership, we are now in a great position to take this initiative forward and to assist new members in positioning themselves in the Visit Mearns tourism portfolio.
“Kincardineshire has a rich and unique variety of tourism opportunities, and our job is to bring this to the Scottish, international, and world stage.
“We are immensely grateful to Dave Martindale, head teacher of Mearns Academy, who generously gave staff and pupil time to research and develop the background information for the main themes of the website, and the partnership between Visit Mearns and Mearns Academy is now in place for future joint working and development.”
The launch of the website also marks the start of a campaign to recruit members who wish to promote their attraction and business on the site by having their listing added.
Ross Shand, a director of Our Mearns Tourism Association, gave a presentation on the site which was described as a “work in progress”, with hopes that local attractions and businesses will submit their events as partners.
Mr Ramsay added: “There are so many different things on offer in the area from castles to bed and breakfasts, but for anybody who becomes a member it allows them the opportunity to write about their attraction or service in the way that they want.”
Visit www.visitmearns.com for more information.
