Expansion planned at Inverness marina
A MAJOR boost to the Inverness tourism sector is expected at the city's marina which is going to expand and improve its facilities.
Inverness Marina plans to create a new visitors’s building which will include office and retail units, showers and toilets, all designed to improve the customer experience and encourage boat owners to stay in the area for longer.
Inverness Marina Limited managing director, Jamie Hogan, said: "Since day one, the marina has been a great success. Fifty per cent of our business is from foreign boat owners, so it’s clear to see that we’re managing to attract tourism and inward investment to the Highlands.
"A large number of our visitors are staying for two to three nights are we’re hoping the latest developments will encourage more people to stay longer.
"The construction of a new marina building is really just the start of what we hope will be a long term positive ripple effect in the area. A number of exciting possibilities, including retail space and a hotel, have already been discussed so it can only be good news for Inverness and the region as a whole."
The development for the marina which sits on a 25 acre site is being made possible through a £150,000 Bank of Scotland loan which is in addition to an original £750,000 asset based package which assisted towards set up costs of the marina which opened in 2008.
Bank of Scotland relationship manager David Hamilton said: "Inverness Marina really has the potential to be an economic catalyst in the region. The setting is stunning and the possibilities are endless. There are a number of neighbouring sites with potential for further development so it’s evident that the marina is going to have an incredibly positive long term impact.
"Jamie and the team at Inverness Marina Limited have shown that the Highland business community is thriving through relatively testing economic times. Bank of Scotland is always keen to work with visionary businesses of all sizes. Working together will enable us to create a vibrant and strong Highland economy with an incredibly positive future."
