The European Small Islands Network Inter-Island Exchange Project (ESIN IIEP) is organising an information exchange visit to the Isle of Arran from Tuesday 14th to Friday 17th March 2006.

The European Small Islands Network Inter-Island Exchange Project (ESIN IIEP) aims to promote the sustainable development of Europe’s small islands. The project is funded by the EU’s Interreg IIIC Funding Programme and the Scottish funding partners are Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Argyll & Bute Council and North Ayrshire Council.

This visit is based on the project theme of Tourism and participants will find out about the ‘Arran Total Quality Destination’ project – a pilot initiative by VisitScotland (the Scottish Tourist Board). The project brings together public and private organisations, working together to create an overall package for potential visitors to Arran.

During the meeting participants will also have the opportunity to discuss current issues relating to Tourism in all six of the countries participating in the ESIN Project (Scotland, Ireland, France, Sweden, Denmark and Finland).

Participants will be expected to share their experiences of islands tourism requirements, issues, ideas and solutions incorporating some examples of best practice and tourism’s inter-relationships with other island issues.
The meeting will address the following questions from different national perspectives:

1. What is the general situation regarding tourism on your country’s islands?

2. What role does tourism plays in income generation, sustainability/job creation on islands?

3. What do you think are examples of good practice in your own country and why?

4. Who is involved in these projects (e.g. are they community or public-led)?

5. What about other related issues – e.g. infrastructure, transport, resources, accommodation availability or conflicts of interest such as conservation, competition between businesses, seasonality etc?

6. How does government at local, national and European levels affect tourism developments on your islands?


There is funding available through the ESIN IIEP Project to subsidise the costs of participation in this visit for a select number of eligible applicants.

To help us ensure that these limited funded places are put to best use we have had to draw up some selection criteria in line with the projects overall aims and objectives. To be eligible for a funded place on the exchange visit you must:

represent a community group or organisation based on, or working closely with, island communities;
be involved in (or planning involvement in the near future in) a project relevant to the theme of the visit;
demonstrate that your participation in the visit will be of benefit to your local community / interest group;
show that you will be able to disseminate the findings of the visit to a broad audience.

If you are eligible to participate, and would like an application form please send an email to scottish.islands@btinternet.com. The closing date for applications is Friday 24th February 2006.

The final selection of participants will be made in consultation with the project’s funding partners. Please note that although the number of funded places available is limited, we would welcome involvement from anyone who meets the selection criteria above and is able to fund their own participation in the visit. If this applies to you, please let me know and I will endeavour to accommodate you if we have spare places.

Also note that participants may be required to share accommodation and will have to pay for some of the costs incurred during the visit upfront before being reimbursed after the event.