The Loch Ness Partnership has moved a step closer to realising the organisation's vision of achieving World Heritage Site status by recruiting two members of staff to work towards the ambitious goals of the organisation.

For the first time since the organisation was set up in April last year, there are two permanent and dedicated employees in place, tasked with working alongside local businesses and community groups to develop and promote Loch Ness as a premier world tourism destination, and showing there is more to the area than the Loch's famous monster.

Lorna Maclennan, partnership manager, and Gillian Turner, part-time partnership administrator, have been in post since the start of the year. They have started work on a number of projects including the investigation of the proposed Loch Ness Interpretive Trail, further development of the portal website www.visitlochness.net and preparing for Expo, the tourism trade exhibition in Aberdeen in April.

Lorna said: "I'm looking forward to working with all the business and community groups around Loch Ness to help maximise the economic and social benefits for the local communities.

"There is so much more to Loch Ness than its legendary monster, and it is the aim of the partnership to help increase the value of tourism through effective promotion and development, as well as protecting and promoting the natural beauty, environment and heritage of the area, as its prime tourism assets."

Other plans for developing the tourism infrastructure and broadening the awareness of what the area has to offer visitors include improved berthing facilities, better signage and visitor facilities and developing more events for the area. The ultimate aim is to achieve World Heritage Site status.

The posts have been made possible through a start-up funding package, covering the first two years of operation, including £49,500 from the EU Community Economic Development programme, £22,000 from Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE), £22,000 from Highland Council and £6,000 from private sources.

Loch Ness Partnership has already attracted membership from 180 businesses from the private and public sectors and several community groups.  The community councils and public agencies are all represented and all are committed to working together to promote the area. 

INE's head of skills and community development, Audrey MacIver said: "INE, along with the Highland Council, the CED programme and HOST, have provided advisory and financial support towards the establishment of the Loch Ness Partnership, and are now delighted that the two new members of staff have been appointed,  dedicated to working towards the ambitious goals the organisation has set itself. 

"Loch Ness is already one of the top travel destinations for visitors to Scotland. We believe, however, that with more proactive, joint business and community involvement supported by a strong team there is a lot more opportunity to develop the area and to turn it into a world-class destination, which will in turn benefit all those living and working in this unique and stunning part of the Highlands."