WATCH: Are you a West Coaster? Wester Ross campaign launches series of films in bid to attract others passionate about stunning area which also boasts UNESCO biosphere designation
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
WEST Coasters around the world are to hear the call of home as part of an innovative campaign to attract visitors with an affinity to the area.
Visit Wester Ross, a voluntary tourism association based in Wester Ross, today launches the first in a series of films under the campaign heading: Are you a West Coaster?
It will feature people who run businesses in Wester Ross and are looking to develop sustainable tourism to the area, also designated a Biosphere by world heritage group UNESCO.
Douglas Gibson, co-ordinator at Visit Wester Ross, said: “People living in Wester Ross share the same mindset. We are passionate about where we live, we treat our stunning natural environment and each other with respect and we are proud to welcome visitors from all over the world and share our home.
"But a key difference is that we take ‘Highland time’ – this landscape and our culture has developed over a long period of time and is not something that needs to be rushed.
“We think there are fellow West Coasters all over the UK and indeed the world. People who want something different, people who want an authentic experience in a place where people, place and land are inextricably linked, people who want to stay and spend quality time, not just pass through for a selfie. So, we are asking people to identify as a West Coaster and come and spend some quality, Highland time with us.”
In the next six weeks, films featuring West Coasters in their places of work, talking about what it’s like to live there and the impression the area makes on visitors will be shared. They include a mountaineer and people keen in nature, water sports, culture and food.
Natasha Hutchison, general manager of the Wester Ross UNESCO Biosphere, highlights the significance of the designation: “UNESCO Biospheres are often located in breath-taking landscapes and Wester Ross is no exception. This makes them wonderful places to visit. But living in a UNESCO Biosphere is about actively working towards a sustainable future and finding that delicate balance between development and conservation to ensure the wellbeing of our people and place for generations to come.
"We hope that this campaign strikes a chord with people and encourages visitors who are as passionate about Wester Ross as we are.”
Find out more at www.visitwester-ross.com
