[Iain MacIlleathain - Preseantair] Feasgar math. Tha coltas gu bheil daoine sìor-fhàs measail air na h-Eileanan Siar. Sheall rannsachadh a rinn a’ chomhairle, HIE agus VisitScotland gun do thadhal còrr air dà cheud mìle duine air na h-Eileanan eadar dà mhìle ‘s a dhà-dheug agus dà mhìle ‘s a trì-deug. Tha sin suas dà fhichead ‘s a sia mìle bho dhà mhìle ‘s a sia. ‘S e daoine a tha a’ tilleadh a th’ ann am mòran dhiubh agus bidh iad cuideachd a’ moladh na sgìre do chàch. Seo Aonghas Dòmhnallach.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Tha àireamh na tha a’ tighinn de luchd-turais dha na h-eileanan air èirigh faisg air leth-cheud mìle sa bhliadhna anns na sia bliadhna a chaidh seachad. Agus fhad ‘s a tha iad anns na h-eileanan, tha iad a’ cur mòran airgid dhan eaconomaidh.
[Alasdair MacLeòid] Tha sinn a’ tàladh a-steach timcheall air còrr air dà cheud mìle duine anns a’ bhliadhna agus tha iad a’ cosg còrr air leth-cheud millean, leth-cheud millean ‘s a trì. Nis, 's e cnap mòr airgid dha eaconomaidh beag a tha sin. Agus rud a tha math gu bheil seo a’ fàs bliadhna air bhliadhna. Ach feumaidh sinn cumail a’ strì ri margaidheachd cheart airson chmail a’ tàladh daoine dha na h-eileanan an Iar.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Tha luchd-turais air an dòigh le na seirbheisean 's na goireasan a tha iad a’ faighinn. Ach dè cho mòr ‘s a ghabhas an gnìomhachas a’ leudachadh gun tòisich sin a’ dìoladh air na goireasan agus air an àite san fharsaingeachd.
[Ailean MacCoinnich] Chan eil duilgheadas sam bith againn a thaobh a bhith a’ cur daoine ann an leapannan is bracaist sna taighean-òsta is mar sin air adhart. Agus tha sinn a’ faicinn leis ged a tha àrdachadh a’ tighinn tha na h-àiteachan ann dhaibh ‘s a tha daoine ag iarraidh tuilleadh agus diofar rudan agus tha na diofar rudan sin ann airson a bhith an-sàs airson na h-iarrtasan aca.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Ged ‘s e naidheachd mhath a th’ ann, tha feum cuideachd air a bhith a’ coimhead air adhart le atharrachadh a’ tighinn air ais thugainn agus farpais làidir bho àiteachan eile.
[Alasdair MacLeòid] Tha fàraidhean a’ phlèana gu math àrd, tha a h-uile duine a’ gearain mu thràth mu dheidhinn a’ bhàt’-aiseig, Loch Seaforth. Nach eil sinn a’ cluinntinn bho CalMac mu dheidhinn a’ chlàir-ama agus feumaidh sinn a bhith faiceallach ged a tha uiread a’ tighinn, dh’fhaodadh gu bheil leth uiread eile nach fhaigh a-nall aig amannan tron t-samhradh nuair a bha na bàtaichean-aiseig làn.
[Ailean MacCoinnich] Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil atharrachaidhean ann, an an inntinn dhaoine bliadhna seach bhliadhna co-dhiù ach chan eil mi iomagaineach mu dheidhinn a thaobh sin. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil daoine gu bhith tighinn dha na h-Eileanan nach eil an teas a’ tighinn, ach mar a tha sinne a’ faicinn anns an rannsachadh a tha seo, a’ chuid as motha a tha a’ tighinn, ‘s e daoine a tha a’ tighinn bliadhna às dèidh bliadhna, as dèidh bliadhna. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil am fasan sin a’ dol a chumail riutha airson a tha iad a’ faighinn rudan a tha a’ còrdadh riutha agus cumaidh iad orra a’ sireadh nan rudan sin a-mach.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Mar sin, dòchas math do thurasachd nan Eilean. Aonghas Dòmhnallach, BBC An Là, ann an Steòrnabhagh.
[Iain MacLean - Presenter] Good evening. It would appear that people have grown very fond of the Western Isles. Research that was commissioned by the council, HIE and VisitScotland showed that two hundred thousand people visited the islands between 2012 and 2013. That is up 46,000. It’s people who are returning that make up the majority and they also recommend the area to others. Here's Angus MacDonald.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] The number of tourists who come to the islands has risen by nearly fifty thousand last year. And as long as they are in the islands, they add a lot of money to the economy.
[Alasdair MacLeod] We attracted about more than 200,000 people through the year and they have spent around more than £50,000,000. Now that’s a big chunk of change to a small economy. And it’s a good thing that this grows year on year. But we must keep battling with good marketing to keep attracting people to the Western Isles.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] Tourists are pleased with the services and facilities that they get. But how much will the business expand before it starts to impact on the facilities and on the area in general.
[Allan MacKenzie] We don’t have any trouble in putting people in bed and breakfast in the hotels etc. And we see that although there is an increase in the places for them and people want more and different things and the different things are there to meet their needs.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] Although, it’s good news. There is a need to look forward with a change coming back to us and strong competition from other places.
[Alasdair MacLeod] The fares for the planes are really high. Everyone is already moaning about the ferry, Loch Seaforth. We don’t hear from CalMac about their timetable and we must be careful although a number are coming, maybe there is another half of that number who cannot come across at times through the summer when the ferries are full.
[Allan MacKenzie] I think there are changes, in the minds of people year on year; anyway I am not too worried about that. I think they are coming to the islands that are not in the middle of things, but as we see in this research, most of those who come, it’s people that come year after year after year. And I think they’ll keep with that fashion as they get things that they like and they keep seeking out those things.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] As such there is hope for tourism in the islands. Angus MacDonald, BBC An Là, in Stornoway.
[Iain MacIlleathain - Preseantair] Feasgar math. Tha coltas gu bheil daoine sìor-fhàs measail air na h-Eileanan Siar. Sheall rannsachadh a rinn a’ chomhairle, HIE agus VisitScotland gun do thadhal còrr air dà cheud mìle duine air na h-Eileanan eadar dà mhìle ‘s a dhà-dheug agus dà mhìle ‘s a trì-deug. Tha sin suas dà fhichead ‘s a sia mìle bho dhà mhìle ‘s a sia. ‘S e daoine a tha a’ tilleadh a th’ ann am mòran dhiubh agus bidh iad cuideachd a’ moladh na sgìre do chàch. Seo Aonghas Dòmhnallach.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Tha àireamh na tha a’ tighinn de luchd-turais dha na h-eileanan air èirigh faisg air leth-cheud mìle sa bhliadhna anns na sia bliadhna a chaidh seachad. Agus fhad ‘s a tha iad anns na h-eileanan, tha iad a’ cur mòran airgid dhan eaconomaidh.
[Alasdair MacLeòid] Tha sinn a’ tàladh a-steach timcheall air còrr air dà cheud mìle duine anns a’ bhliadhna agus tha iad a’ cosg còrr air leth-cheud millean, leth-cheud millean ‘s a trì. Nis, 's e cnap mòr airgid dha eaconomaidh beag a tha sin. Agus rud a tha math gu bheil seo a’ fàs bliadhna air bhliadhna. Ach feumaidh sinn cumail a’ strì ri margaidheachd cheart airson chmail a’ tàladh daoine dha na h-eileanan an Iar.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Tha luchd-turais air an dòigh le na seirbheisean 's na goireasan a tha iad a’ faighinn. Ach dè cho mòr ‘s a ghabhas an gnìomhachas a’ leudachadh gun tòisich sin a’ dìoladh air na goireasan agus air an àite san fharsaingeachd.
[Ailean MacCoinnich] Chan eil duilgheadas sam bith againn a thaobh a bhith a’ cur daoine ann an leapannan is bracaist sna taighean-òsta is mar sin air adhart. Agus tha sinn a’ faicinn leis ged a tha àrdachadh a’ tighinn tha na h-àiteachan ann dhaibh ‘s a tha daoine ag iarraidh tuilleadh agus diofar rudan agus tha na diofar rudan sin ann airson a bhith an-sàs airson na h-iarrtasan aca.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Ged ‘s e naidheachd mhath a th’ ann, tha feum cuideachd air a bhith a’ coimhead air adhart le atharrachadh a’ tighinn air ais thugainn agus farpais làidir bho àiteachan eile.
[Alasdair MacLeòid] Tha fàraidhean a’ phlèana gu math àrd, tha a h-uile duine a’ gearain mu thràth mu dheidhinn a’ bhàt’-aiseig, Loch Seaforth. Nach eil sinn a’ cluinntinn bho CalMac mu dheidhinn a’ chlàir-ama agus feumaidh sinn a bhith faiceallach ged a tha uiread a’ tighinn, dh’fhaodadh gu bheil leth uiread eile nach fhaigh a-nall aig amannan tron t-samhradh nuair a bha na bàtaichean-aiseig làn.
[Ailean MacCoinnich] Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil atharrachaidhean ann, an an inntinn dhaoine bliadhna seach bhliadhna co-dhiù ach chan eil mi iomagaineach mu dheidhinn a thaobh sin. Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil daoine gu bhith tighinn dha na h-Eileanan nach eil an teas a’ tighinn, ach mar a tha sinne a’ faicinn anns an rannsachadh a tha seo, a’ chuid as motha a tha a’ tighinn, ‘s e daoine a tha a’ tighinn bliadhna às dèidh bliadhna, as dèidh bliadhna. Agus tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gu bheil am fasan sin a’ dol a chumail riutha airson a tha iad a’ faighinn rudan a tha a’ còrdadh riutha agus cumaidh iad orra a’ sireadh nan rudan sin a-mach.
[Aonghas Dòmhnallach – Neach-aithris] Mar sin, dòchas math do thurasachd nan Eilean. Aonghas Dòmhnallach, BBC An Là, ann an Steòrnabhagh.
[Iain MacLean - Presenter] Good evening. It would appear that people have grown very fond of the Western Isles. Research that was commissioned by the council, HIE and VisitScotland showed that two hundred thousand people visited the islands between 2012 and 2013. That is up 46,000. It’s people who are returning that make up the majority and they also recommend the area to others. Here's Angus MacDonald.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] The number of tourists who come to the islands has risen by nearly fifty thousand last year. And as long as they are in the islands, they add a lot of money to the economy.
[Alasdair MacLeod] We attracted about more than 200,000 people through the year and they have spent around more than £50,000,000. Now that’s a big chunk of change to a small economy. And it’s a good thing that this grows year on year. But we must keep battling with good marketing to keep attracting people to the Western Isles.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] Tourists are pleased with the services and facilities that they get. But how much will the business expand before it starts to impact on the facilities and on the area in general.
[Allan MacKenzie] We don’t have any trouble in putting people in bed and breakfast in the hotels etc. And we see that although there is an increase in the places for them and people want more and different things and the different things are there to meet their needs.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] Although, it’s good news. There is a need to look forward with a change coming back to us and strong competition from other places.
[Alasdair MacLeod] The fares for the planes are really high. Everyone is already moaning about the ferry, Loch Seaforth. We don’t hear from CalMac about their timetable and we must be careful although a number are coming, maybe there is another half of that number who cannot come across at times through the summer when the ferries are full.
[Allan MacKenzie] I think there are changes, in the minds of people year on year; anyway I am not too worried about that. I think they are coming to the islands that are not in the middle of things, but as we see in this research, most of those who come, it’s people that come year after year after year. And I think they’ll keep with that fashion as they get things that they like and they keep seeking out those things.
[Angus MacDonald – Reporter] As such there is hope for tourism in the islands. Angus MacDonald, BBC An Là, in Stornoway.