Argyll and the Isles Tourism Cooperative

03/11/2026

Congratulations Loch Fyne Hotel & Spa a great win 👏👏👏

03/11/2026

October was another strong month for showcasing Argyll & the Isles to potential visitors far and wide!

Here's a look at the combined marketing impact across our Wild About Argyll and Love Oban consumer platforms this past month:

👥 404,000+ Potential visitors reached across the region
📲 234,000+ Page Media Views driving engagement
📈 956 New Followers Gained across our channels
📣 61 Member Mentions spotlighting local tourism businesses

Every campaign, share, and feature is designed to drive collective visibility and direct footfall to our members and local operators across Argyll and the Isles.

👉 Want to get your business featured? Tag us in your content, share your upcoming seasonal offers, or get in touch with the AITC team to make the most of your membership.

📩 [email protected]

29/10/2026

The Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers (ASSC) is heading to Fort William next week, on Wednesday 4th November, for its final Regional Gathering of 2026.

Meeting the Challenges, Seizing the Opportunities will bring together self-catering operators, tourism businesses, industry partners and stakeholders from across the Highlands and beyond.

With a fantastic line-up of speakers, panellists and exhibitors, the event offers a valuable opportunity to gain industry insights, hear different perspectives, make connections and explore the challenges and opportunities ahead for Scottish tourism.

The programme will cover key issues affecting businesses, including Short-Term Let Licensing, Planning Control Areas, the Visitor Levy and Non-Domestic Rates, alongside the latest market insights and discussions on the value tourism brings to local communities and economies.

📅 Wednesday 4th November 2026

📍 Highland Cinema, Fort William

🕙 10am–3pm

View the programme and book your tickets now: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/assc-regional-gathering-fort-william/

A free Highland Industry Visitor Levy Forum will also take place at the venue from 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Separate registration is required: https://www.assc.co.uk/event/visitor-levy-consultation-with-industry-series-highland-industry-forum/

27/10/2026

Member Spotlight: Lochs, Bens & Glens Ltd. 🚲

Based in Dunoon, Lochs, Bens and Glens specialise in unforgettable cycling and off-road adventures. We recently caught up with them to learn more about their favourite hidden gems, their ideal day off and the power of our local tourism community. Here’s what they had to share:

🗣️ What hidden gem in Argyll do you love to share with your guests?

"We love showing our guests places in and around Dunoon that they wouldn't be able to access by car. The area around Benmore Botanic Garden and Loch Eck has gorgeous hidden gems - my favourites being the Glen Massan waterfalls, the west side of Loch Eck, and the viewpoint from Inverchapel overlooking Loch Eck."

🗣️ On a typical day off, what do you like to do/explore in Argyll & the Isles?

"My husband and I are avid cyclists (no surprise) so we use our days off to explore the area by bike, seeking big mountain climbs like the Bealach Maim or offroad adventures on forestry tracks. I'm also an open water swimmer so you'll probably find me swimming in a loch on a nice day. Next year I'm planning a relay swim of the length of Loch Eck, and I'd like to swim across the Holy Loch as well."

🗣️ What have you benefitted from most being a member of AITC?

"I appreciate the opportunity to learn about other Argyll tourism businesses and collaborate with them. Lochs, Bens & Glens is only one part of a visitor's time in Scotland. I want their entire trip to Scotland to be wonderful so collaborating with trusted accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, and other activities and attractions in Argyll & the Isles is valuable in creating the best visitor experience."

This shared passion for supporting one another is at the heart of what makes AITC so special. 🤝

Discover more about Lochs, Bens and Glens. 👇
https://lochsbensglens.co.uk/

27/10/2026

Congratulations Tony!
Luss Distillery

Delighted to have been shortlisted for the Commercial Excellence Award at the 2026 Scottish Attractions Inspiring People Awards! Developing the offering at Luss Distillery has been one of the most rewarding challenges of my career, so it's fantastic to see that work recognised alongside some of Scot...

27/10/2026

📢 Short-Term Let Control Areas: AITC’s position

Argyll & Isles Tourism Cooperative (AITC) has prepared its response to Argyll & Bute Council’s proposals to introduce Short-Term Let Control Areas across parts of Argyll & the Isles.

Our position is clear:

✅ We support proportionate, evidence-based planning controls for new short-term let businesses where there is demonstrable housing need.

❌ We strongly oppose retrospective measures that would threaten established, lawfully operating tourism businesses.

❌ We cannot support the proposed designations in their current form without stronger evidence of housing benefits, clear safeguards for existing operators and a full assessment of the economic consequences.

Research by BiGGAR Economics estimates that short-term lets generated £33.5 million in annual gross value added (GVA) and supported 1,136 jobs across Argyll & Bute in 2023.

We recognise the genuine housing challenges facing our communities. Housing and tourism should not be treated as competing priorities. Sustainable communities need both affordable homes and viable local businesses.

📣 Have your say

We encourage tourism businesses and residents, particularly those in the proposed control areas, to respond. Explain how the proposals could affect your business and community.

📅 Deadline: 15 November 2026

👉 https://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-building/planning-policy/proposed-short-term-lets-control-area-statement-reasons

25/10/2026

Calling tourism businesses across Kintyre 📣

Join AITC and VisitScotland for a free, informal Tourism Business Development workshop in Campbeltown.

Connect with other local businesses and explore how to:
• Reach different visitor markets through online and offline sales channels
• Create bookable tourism experiences
• Develop opportunities to increase revenue during quieter months

Open to accommodation providers, attractions, food and drink businesses, activity providers, transport services and other visitor-focused businesses.

📅 Wednesday 18 November 2026
🕙 10am–1pm
📍 Campbeltown Town Hall, 54 Main Street, Campbeltown, PA28 6AB

There is no charge to attend. Book your place:
https://visitscotland.eventsair.com/2026-2027-business-development-programme/registration-kintyre/Site/Register

Photo “Boats at the Old Quay, Campbeltown” by sylvia duckworth / Geograph.

25/10/2026

AITC Director speaks out against business rates increases. Have you been impacted?👇👇

The co-owner of a luxury hotel in Argyll has questioned what the hospitality industry gets in return from business rates after seeing the property's tax bill ramp up again 👇

22/10/2026

Stronger together: How collaboration powers Argyll & the Isles 🤝

From island hubs like Bute Yard to award-winning businesses like Fyne Ales, our tourism community thrives when we connect the dots for visitors.

When businesses share knowledge, cross-promote neighbours, and frame their stories within the wider Argyll & the Isles journey, everyone wins - especially visitors looking for authentic local experiences.

As our members put it: “Wherever we can promote another small business through what we do, we will.”

Are you a local business ready to link into the network? Join AITC today and help us showcase the very best of our region.
🔗 https://bit.ly/AITC-Become-A-Member