In response to VisitScotland’s announcement regarding the closure of all remaining VICs by 2026, SCOTO has initiated summer of online ‘CHATs’

These sessions were designed to explore how some of our communities have already adapted to provide visitor information, offering valuable tips to those affected by the closures—or to anyone looking to enhance visitor information services in their local area.

The SCOTO Network has many community-run hubs and information points across Scotland that have tailored their services to meet the needs of both locals and visitors, and we showcased four organisations, (Bùth Bharraigh, Callander Visitor Information Centre, Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Cullen Tourist Office), to inspire and inform. Each one provided very different learning aspects.

Setting up a community-run Visitor Information Centre (VIC) is a fantastic way to enhance the tourist experience and boost local engagement. Here are some key considerations:

1. Location: Choose an accessible, visible spot, ideally near popular attractions or transport hubs is very important

2. Staffing: VIC's can be run by volunteers, paid staff, or a mix. Volunteers bring passion, while paid staff provide consistency.

3. Budgets: Consider all your possible costs including, rent, heating & lighting, insurance and staffing.

4. Services: For some of the organisations the VIC element is the primary service but for many it's a secondary one. Many offer other services along side selling gifts like booking tours, hiring bikes and holiday accomodation. Offer free Wi-Fi or charging points (which you could charge for).

5. Merchandise: VICs that sold gifts were careful not to offer items already available locally, ensuring they didn’t compete with nearby businesses. Visitors often sought unique, locally made products, but the best sellers were maps and books.

6. Technology: Having contactless payments are a must these days. Check our our resource page for more info on this. A till which uses bar codes will be useful when you sales increase.

7. Community Involvement: Engage  and promote local businesses attractions and services. Foster a sense of ownership through volunteerism and feedback.

8. Promotion: Maintain a digital presence espcially for visitors outside of your opening hours/ season. Social media is a must these days but maybe concentrate your efforts to one or two platforms. Make sure to have your VIC listed on Visit Scotland.

9. Compliance: Make sure you have all the correct health and safety standards, and policies and obtain insurance.

10. Evaluation: Regularly gather feedback from visitors, staff and volunteers and monitor performance to keep improving.

With careful planning, your community-run VIC can become a valuable asset for both visitors and locals. If you would like more information read our community run VIC Case Studies and our VIC resource page.