What we do

We’re the tourism sector’s greatest advocate. We promote the Outer Hebrides as a visitor destination on a national and international stage and, through our website, we provide the Outer Hebrides shop window to the world. But we're more than a destination marketing organisation, we also champion and support tourism businesses.

             Mark Beaumont, Long Distance Cyclist at the launch of the Hebridean Way Cycling Route 

Here's an insight into what we do to both attract visitors and support the industry.

We promote the Outer Hebrides as a tourism destination:

• through the www.visitouterhebrides.co.uk website (now mobile friendly) featuring around 500 pages of editorial information about the islands and 5000 records of businesses and attractions.
• through the Outer Hebrides App which can be downloaded so even if there isn’t good mobile coverage the info is there on the visitor’s phone or pad.
• through leaflets and promotional materials
• through social media. We have a Facebook page with 8000+ likes and Twitter with 5500 + followers
• through journalist visits who are writing for magazines, guide-books, newspapers, bloggers (recent example: http://enduro-mtb.com/en/journey-harris-scotlands-forgotten-island/    
• through competitions with other partners such as Cal Mac, An Lanntair, Harris Tweed Authority
• Attend VisitScotland Expo each year

We develop additional ways for tourists to appreciate the islands

We have developed and are developing a number of projects

We provide information to the tourist industry

The Tourism conferences held each year bring speakers from home and away to inspire and inform our tourism businesses

We answer queries about tourism – through our own resources or by signposting enquiries to other sources of knowledge.

We create opportunities for businesses

• to improve digital skills through the Digital Tourism Scotland project
• to train staff  - Our Hebridean Welcome
• to create mutual benefit by meeting and understanding what other businesses are doing 

We measure how well we are performing as an industry

Data measurement is an important aspect our work. We need to measure how well we are performing as a tourism industry against our TOH 2020 tourism strategy , so we undertake regular research - which is available free of charge to members – this includes information such as occupancy data and accommodation audits.

We lobby and make representation

When decisions are being made or consultations being done for instance by CnES about planning or Calmac about ferry sailings we canvas the membership for their views and express them to the agencies making those decisions.  Because we represent so much of the industry these views are taken seriously, although that does not, of course, mean that we always get what we want!

We work in partnership with public agencies to promote tourism

Both CnES and HIE have a remit that includes promotion of tourism, largely because of it’s economic benefits for the area.  There are also spin offs for the local population that are not purely economic - for instance the walking trails benefit the health of anyone who walks them. Having a healthy tourist industry boosts local services which might not be viable without the summer tourist numbers.  

Since 2014 OHT has led the partnership with HIE, CnES and VS to develop our local plans for the future  – Tourism Outer Hebrides 2020 – and continues to lead in its implementation.