MORAY TOURISM WILL be set back when the Elgin Tourism Information centre loses its council-funded staff at the end of this month – but assurance has been given that the centre is not closing.
In one of the lesser publicised cutbacks imposed by Moray Councillors during their hotly contested budget cuts last month, staffing at the information centre – which is housed in the Elgin Library – was withdrawn, sparking fears that it was to completely close on March 31.
However, there was an assurance last night from the chairman of the economic development and infrastructure services committee that visitors will still be able to obtain information on a self-service basis.
Councillor John Cowe told insideMoray: “Council funding of staffing for this facility will cease as of the end of this month, as agreed by full Council at its budget meeting on February 17.
“The facility itself will remain on a self-service basis within the Library and off course Moray Speyside Tourism is also an avenue for Tourism enquiries with their web site being constantly updated and improved.
“According to Google travel 74% of travellers source their travel arrangements through the internet.”
The staffing loss will be seen as a setback for tourism in Elgin and throughout Moray, in particular at a time when the region is seeing a significant rise in the number of visitors.