A year-round Highlands that people want to live in – not just visit

Growing up in Ross-shire, now living in Inverness, and representing the Highlands and Islands in the Scottish Parliament, this region is more than just my workplace; it’s my home.  And because of that, I care passionately about its future, and the future of the people who live here year-round – and I’m very familiar with the impacts when coach tours park all along the river, a cruise ship arrives in Invergordon, or single-track roads become crowded with motorhomes.

We all know the picture-postcard image of the Highlands: majestic landscapes, rugged beauty, and a warm welcome. And rightly so. It’s a truly special place.  Whether running to try find Pogo in the woods in Alness when I was wee, or enjoying some peace at Loch Ness between parliamentary sittings, I can see why people travel the world to see it, and I want to welcome them.

Tourism plays a role in our economy, and when it’s at a manageable level and done responsibly, it can indeed be beneficial.  It brings people to our incredible region, allowing them to experience its magic, and lets our locals practice their Highland hospitality.

However, we also need to be honest about the flip side. The levels of tourism we’ve experienced in recent years, particularly over the summer months and particularly in certain hotspots, be it Skye or anywhere along the Caledonian Canal, are unsustainable.  While many visitors are respectful, the sheer volume can lead to significant problems.  We’ve all seen the motorhomes parked in passing places, blocking vital routes for locals and emergency services – or even just preventing a trip to the shops.  We’ve witnessed the miserable sight of waste left in people’s gardens and on farms, polluting our beautiful environment and costing local authorities and individual residents a great deal to clean up.  This kind of high-volume, often irresponsible, tourism puts immense pressure on our infrastructure and, crucially, can put people off staying here.

And that’s the crux of it: we need people to live in the region more than we need tourists. We need vibrant, thriving communities, with families, young people, and skilled workers choosing to make the Highlands their long-term home.  For too long, our economy has leaned heavily on the tourism sector, creating a boom-and-bust cycle that leaves many local businesses and individuals struggling outside of the peak season.

We need people to live in the region more than we need tourists.  We need vibrant, thriving communities, with families, young people, and skilled workers choosing to make the Highlands their long-term home.

I often hear folk say, “we need tourism” whenever the potential to limit it comes up, but this over-reliance on tourism is a choice, not a given.  It’s a path we’ve inadvertently taken, often thanks to private interests based elsewhere directing our journey, but it’s not the only one available to us.  We have the potential to foster diverse businesses, economies, and sectors that can boom across the region, providing stability and opportunities year-round.  This diversity is crucial for our young people growing up here, giving them a real choice in what they want to do, rather than feeling like their only options are seasonal work or moving away.

Imagine a Highlands where jobs are plentiful and helpful year-round – not just during the summer rush.  Where places to eat, enjoy leisure activities, and meet others are open and accessible for locals in the depths of winter, as well as the height of tourist season.  This isn’t just about economic stability; it’s about building strong, resilient communities where people feel supported and have access to the things that make life fulfilling.

The SNP is committed to supporting this vision. We are actively investing in various sectors across the Highlands to diversify our economy.  From funding work at our ports that harness our natural resources to digital infrastructure that connects all of our communities, to supporting sustainable agriculture and fostering innovative technology businesses, we are working to create a broader range of opportunities.  These investments are designed to create high-quality, year-round employment, attracting and retaining talent.

By nurturing these diverse sectors, we can build a stronger, more resilient economy that serves the needs of those who call the Highlands home, first and foremost.  It’s about shifting our focus from simply attracting visitors to cultivating a sustainable future for our residents – a future where the Highlands offers not just a beautiful place to visit, but an incredible place to live, work, and thrive, all year round.