A NORTH Ayrshire election candidate ​has expressed his “deep dismay” at Visit Scotland’s announcement that its information centre on Arran is to close.

The national tourism body announced on March 27 that it will be shutting all of its visitor information centres, or 'iCentres', including the one at the pier in Brodick, over the next two years as part of a move to a 'digital first' strategy.

Todd Ferguson, who is standing for the Scottish Conservatives in North Ayrshire and Arran at the forthcoming Westminster election, said the closure of the centre on Arran was a “bitter blow” to promoting tourism in the local area – and blamed the SNP Government for cutting funding to VisitScotland.

But SNP MP for North Ayrshire Particia Gibson said she was "surprised" by his comments, pointing out that it would bring Scotland into line with the rest of the UK, She said VisitEngland, where his party are in power, had already closed all their tourist visitors centres.

Mr Ferguson said that closing the Arran centre risked harming the local economy and an industry that supports jobs on Arran.

The Conservative candidate, also a North Ayrshire councillor representing the North Coast ward, has now urged Scotland's First Minister Humza Yousaf to intervene to prevent the closure of the tourist information centre on Arran.

He said: “I am deeply dismayed that VisitScotland are planning to shut the tourist information centre on Arran.

“These centres help to promote tourism on Arran and explain to visitors what the local area has to offer.

“The closure is a bitter blow and will harm the local economy on Arran as the centre supports jobs.

“The SNP Government can’t pass the buck to VisitScotland, as this planned closure comes on the back of their savage funding cuts to the organisation.

“I am calling on Humza Yousaf and relevant SNP ministers to intervene in this situation and do all they can to stop the centre on Arran from closing its doors.”

Mr Yousaf told MSPs on Thursday that he "completely" understood VisitScotland's decision. 

He said: “I think there’s also a recognition that the way in which we seek information when we travel to tourist destinations has changed. Most of us here will use an app or we will go online.

“That is not to say that visitor centres, information centres, don’t have a place. Among some people, they will find the use and interest of them. But the way in which people seek information, find information on tourist destinations is rapidly and vastly changed.

“My expectation of VisitScotland, and they know this, of course, would be to engage with the communities based in these tourist destinations, to ensure that they fully reassure them about what is in place in order for people to seek information about those destinations even when information centres are closed.”

But North Ayrshire & Arran's SNP MP Patricia Gibson responded: “I’m surprised by the Tory candidate’s remarks.

“These proposals will bring VisitScotland into line with VisitEngland, where his party is in power and, indeed VisitWales where Labour is in office. Neither VisitEngland nor VisitWales run any visitor centres.

“VisitScotland’s research shows that 99 per cent of visitors now book accommodation in advance of travelling, while more than two thirds of global travellers book their whole itinerary online, by social media or travel intermediaries prior to arriving at their destination.

“Visit Scotland will be more impactful in attracting people by prioritising a digital first information model. It’s evolving with customer needs to ensure marketing, destination development, insights and events and investment deliver for communities that rely on tourism.

“As for Mr Ferguson talking about ‘cuts,’ he is devoid of credibility. It’s less than a month since the Tory Spring Budget cut more than £18,000 million from public services without a word of condemnation from him.

“So how can anyone take his soundbites seriously?”