Eye Candy sees Thurso tourism potential
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A TOWN centre business owner has answered community calls for an interim solution to the tourist information void in Thurso.
Laura Freeman of precinct gift shop Eye Candy, with support from Thurso Community Development Trust (TCDT), is looking to amass leaflets, maps and other necessary resources to bridge the gap between visitors and local tourism providers just in time for the peak tourist season.
Eye Candy’s location adjacent to the old information point at Caithness Horizons is a bonus for a town busily strengthening its tourism offering.
Joan Lawrie, from TCDT, has praised Laura’s support of recent tourism development efforts as evidence that community spirit is alive and well in the town.
Joan said: “Since the closure of Caithness Horizons we had been speaking to various organisations throughout Thurso on how we solve the issue of tourism information provision either as an interim or long-term measure. Laura has fortunately stepped forward to give that provision in the interim while long-term solutions are sought.
"We are fully supporting her to have all the necessary resources in place. Community development depends on the energy of people like Laura. We’d ask people to support her efforts by spreading word that we now have an information point, and by bringing any relevant leaflets needing shared to Eye Candy.
“There will be busier days, for example when cruise ships come in, so it’s extremely generous of Laura, but we’ve had others express a willingness to pitch in over the past few months and it’d be great if anyone willing to help out could get in touch.”
The development comes in a busy month for Thurso tourism that has seen the launch of branded social media accounts for the town, as well as the start of a series of workshops – with the next taking place this Friday evening – as part of a year-long tourism development project funded by Highland Leader and Caithness and North Sutherland Fund.
The trust’s tourism development officer, Scott McLean, is running the free workshop sessions featuring the North Shore Surf Club, Caithness Broch Project, Inspired by Caithness, High Life Highland countryside rangers, Wolfburn Distillery and the Caithness Astronomy Group presenting information about Thurso and Caithness to anyone with an interest in local tourism.
The first session "successfully roused local pride" and instilled useful knowledge in attendees, the organisers said.
Fiona Carlisle of the Messy Nessy Play Centre in Thurso took part in the first session and urged anyone needing a reminder of the county’s unique tourism offering to attend the second.
She said: “I was genuinely inspired by the workshop speakers. Their passion and enthusiasm for our community, tourism and how we can support each other was brilliant and certainly made me proud.
“I am looking forward to the next session. I really feel that people in the community are ready for change and it’s brilliant to be involved with it.”
The next TCDT tourism workshop takes place on April 26 and attendees are asked to be at the Thurso Harbour Fish Shop for 6.50pm to start off with a talk about the local surf scene.
