Festival promotes wider opportunities for visitors

 Craft market first for event 

BOOK A GIG – SEE AN ISLAND 

An island music festival is offering the perfect stage for tourist operators to further boost visitor number to the Outer Hebrides. 

Every year thousands of people from around the globe visit the Hebridean Celtic Festival, far outnumbering the resident population of its base in the Lewis town of Stornoway. 

In an effort to encourage people to stay longer or make a return trip to the islands, the festival has launched a partner scheme to promote a range of other activities - including surfing, fishing, kayaking or canoeing, guided walks, craft sessions and Harris Tweed demonstrations-  to fans using its social networking tools, such as Facebook and Twitter. 

Festival director Caroline Maclennan said: “We know that our festivalgoers spend more than the 3-4 days of the event in the area which has a rich and diverse range of activities. 

“HebCelt can offer a wider window of opportunity and encourage the development of private enterprise or diversification by existing providers. 

“The project has the potential to provide our festivalgoers with the opportunity to dip into a range of quality Hebridean experiences and enhance their visit to the area. This in turn could extend the positive effect of the festival throughout the community that encourages repeat tourism.” 

Traditionally, some 45 per cent of the people who attend the festival each year are visitors to the area and include children, families, couples and senior citizens. 

The festival Facebook page has over 6,000 'likes' or people with an active interest in the festival. In the last week alone nearly 5,000 individuals were reached by festival Facebook content and its Twitter account has over 1,000 registered followers. 

The initial cost per business for the opportunity to partner with the festival and buy-in to the social networking marketing scheme is £100. This would include a link to the businesses’ Facebook page, a Facebook mention in the month preceding the festival with links to the business website. 

There would also be a Twitter mention with link to the business website in the month prior to the festival. This has the additional power to be shared, retweeted and forwarded; indeed the onward traffic is limitless. 

More information is available at HERE 

Ian Fordham, chairman of the Outer Hebrides Tourism Industry Association, said: “HebCelt has grown into an internationally renowned event and attracts people to the Hebrides from many parts of the world. 

“It is a fantastic showcase for the islands which already provides significant economic benefits for the area. It can also be a catalyst for people to explore the wider attractions of the Hebrides and the tourism sector could use its drawing power and marketing tools for greater advantage.”     

Meanwhile, the festival is providing a new opportunity for arts and crafts producers to display their goods at this year’s event. 

The Crafts Market will operate in a newly-created area on the castle green adjacent to the main stage and beside the family area. Individual units, each 6ft x 6ft, will be available in the craft tent at a fee of £120 per unit. 

The HCF Trust is now accepting applications from artists/craftspeople with the deadline for submissions on 28 April. More info HERE