Moves to protect Dunkeld’s architectural heritage have been welcomed by councillors.
Councillor John Flynn described Dunkeld as the “jewel in the crown” of local tourist destinations and said its preservation should be a priority.
“We have this on our doorstep and we take it for granted,” he told the enterprise and infrastructure committee.
He and other committee members supported setting up a working group to promote and protect Dunkeld conservation area.
The idea, made as part of the redesignation of the town’s protected centre, will now be submitted to ministers for approval.
It will see the council, National Trust for Scotland, community council, businesses and the tourist body coming together for the common good of the town.
The new conservation area also tightens the boundary around the centre of Dunkeld.
Concerns were expressed about the ongoing restoration work on a local historic property, Sundial House.
“We are worried that no work has taken place over the last few months,” conservation officer Richard Welch told the committee. “We intend to contact the applicant’s agents to see if matters can be progressed.”
On tourism matters, the committee agreed to support a new partnership agreement with VisitScotland for the next year.
Committee convener Councillor John Kellas said tourism was a key element of the local economy.
He said some areas had decided not to give support of this kind to VisitScotland but he thought this assistance would help maximise visitor numbers and provide local employment.
Members of the committee approved £165,000 of funding to support the organisation’s information services to visitors over the next year.
This money will be used to support local visitor information centres (VICs) in Aberfeldy, Blairgowrie, Crieff, Dunkeld, Perth and Pitlochry, and the management of tourist information points at Kinross, Kenmore and Blackford.
Mr Kellas said these information points were an important point of contact with visitors travelling through Perth and Kinross and pointed out that £1.7 million in visitor expenditure was estimated to be generated as a result of their use.
Councillor Murray Lyall said a lack of broadband speed in some areas was a problem for corporate events and Mr Kellas agreed they should use every means possible to have this rectified.