LOCH Lomond tourism businesses have been awarded £50,000 to help bring visitors to the area through a new campaign.

The  ‘Rediscover Loch Lomond’ initiative from Love Loch Lomond will also see the introduction of a new online booking system for member tourist businesses to help save them cash on high commissions charged by international booking apps.

The group, which is run by a co-operative of local tourism businesses with the aim of raising awareness of the area to potential visitors, and covers Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the Clyde sea lochs, has been awarded a £50,000 grant from VisitScotland’s competitive tourism marketing recovery programme focusing on wellness and reconnecting.

The grant will be used for a high-profile campaign targeting potential visitors to the area from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee and Newcastle and encouraging them to take short breaks and staycations.

Andy Roger, chair of Love Loch Lomond and resort director at Cameron House Hotel, said: “We are delighted that we have been successful in receiving this funding as it offers vital support to a tourism industry hit hard by Covid. 

"We would like as many local tourism businesses as possible to benefit from the funding and would encourage those who aren’t currently members to get in touch so we can discuss how they can get involved."

Karen Donnelly, destination manager at Love Loch Lomond, added: "Tourism businesses have been subjected to ever-increasing commission charges from online booking agents to sell their products, which has had a huge impact on their bottom line at an already challenging time. 

"We were keen to address this and have invested in developing this system with Simpleview to provide our members with a new online booking facility that will allow them to have a new online booking presence and reduce their costs to online apps significantly. 

"We are in the final development stages and looking to launch this soon. We are hopeful that this new development will encourage other local tourism businesses to join Love Loch Lomond so they can benefit from it."

If you own or manage a local tourism business within Loch Lomond, The Trossachs and Clyde Sea Lochs, you can contact Karen Donnelly at manager@lovelochlomond.com for more information or visit the website at www.lovelochlomond.com.