A new programme has been launched aimed at improving the visitor experience for tourists visiting the Inverness and Nairn area.

The initiative, entitled 'Set the Heather on Fire',will focus on improving the services delivered by tourism businesses in the area by providing tailor-made training in specific areas such as customer service, quality assurance, staff management and product demonstration.

Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE), part of the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) network, has developed the programme under its ongoing support for the tourism industry and to help local operators meet visitor expectations.

Ian Fraser, head of INE's skills development team, said:  "Tourism is a major player in the local economy and it is vital that local tourism providers are given the support they need in order to meet the rising expectations of visitors from around the world.  We have consulted widely with the industry and its customers to determine what the greatest needs are and have developed this initiative to help local operators develop their own management and staff according to those needs."

Representatives from more than 80 tourism related businesses in the area turned up at the Culloden Battlefield visitor centre last Thursday (23rd January) for the launch.

Among them was caterer Willie Cameron, director of the Highland Food Festival, who said:  "I very much welcome this initiative.  It is important for us to keep up with demand so the area doesn't lose out to others in future.  But the nature of the business means we can't afford for staff to be taking off on long trips to attend training courses in the central belt and further south, so it is particularly encouraging that most of the training available through this initiative can be accessed locally and at off-peak times."

Role model examples for the industry will be featured in a series of masterclasses at Gleneagles Hotel in Perthshire and businesses from the Inverness and Nairn area will be given the opportunity to attend during the year.