Call for more ferry sailings to cope with demand 8/8/14
The Western Isles tourism trade is urging Transport Scotland and Cal Mac to put on more ferry sailings in an effort to cope with demand at peak periods.
Many ferries are fully booked resulting in lost business for the islands with tourists being turned away.
Most ferries are working at capacity on weekends when holiday cottages have their changeover tenants all at the same time.
Constrained space and the absence of additional sailings also badly hits islanders as they find it difficult to get to the mainland at short notice.
The Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association (OHTIA) says more sailings should be timetabled.
The body urges an improved booking system, maintaining many would-
However, Cal Mac does not kept records of how many travellers are knocked-
Ian Fordham, chairman of the Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association (OHTIA) said: “The OHTIA is extremely concerned over the lack of ferry capacity on all routes to and from the Outer Hebrides.
“We have carried out our own independent research on the availability of online bookings over the past four years and we have found that the availability in the peak summer months is getting markedly worse year on year.
“The availability of adequate ferry capacity on all routes to and from the Outer Hebrides is essential to the successful development of tourism in the Outer Hebrides, and we are highly concerned with the current situation.”
Mr Fordham added: “We are active members of the Outer Hebrides Ferry Task Group – a public/private sector group established to raise the awareness of the issues with the ferry services to the islands – and we will continue to work with Calmac, CMAL and the Scottish Government to raise our concerns and seek solutions to the current issues.”
There are also worries that a worse service will emerge under plans to cut the present four sailings during peak periods when the new MV Loch Seaforth starts service.
Mr Fordham said: “We are not convinced that the new ferry on the Stornoway -
“We are also seeking a full review of the services on the other routes to the Outer Hebrides to ensure that the service provision is fit for purpose.”
A Cal Mac spokesman said: “Ferry traffic is very much as we would expect at this time of year with the popular peak sailings very busy, but with adequate space at other times.
“The Western Isles routes are no different from other popular routes across the network, but unfortunately there is no quick fix to provide additional reservable capacity on these busy days.
“We would encourage people who are not tied to weekends to consider travelling at other times and, during busy periods, it would help everyone if customers advised us as timeously as possible of changed plans and cancellations to maximise what space we do have on the most popular sailings.
“In addition we have agreed with theOuter Hebrides Tourism Industry Association to carefully monitor and review all reservations on routes to the Outer Hebrides to see if there is any traffic which can be transferred away from key sailings."