The new chairman of VisitArran says the island’s tourist industry is entering a ‘crucial’ time.
Tourism on the island is worth around £27million annually and VisitArran hopes to increase this to £35m by 2010.
To help do this the group has appointed Robert Wain from the Best Western Kinloch Hotel its new chairman.
Mr Wain, who is responsible for marketing the family-owned Kinloch Hotel in conjunction with Best Western, has taken over from Alistair Dobson.
Four new members have also been appointed to the board of VisitArran at a meeting earlier this month.
Campbell Laing, Angela Elliot-Walker, Kenny Bone and Tom Tracey have joined Linda Johnstone, Alistair Dobson, Robert Wain, Douglas Davidson and Gerard Tattersfield.
Mr Wain has had a connection with Arran since he was a youngster. Before moving to Arran he worked in the finance industry for Alliance and Leicester and then for the Scottish Building Society.
He believes that VisitArran’s most important role is to protect the island’s interests. ‘As individuals you’re not that strong but as a group a bit more note is taken.
The whole thing is about the island. It’s vital that we don’t lose sight of that,’ he said.
Mr Wain added: ‘It’s a fairly crucial time.
‘Within the tourist industry we are going to have to compete much more energetically with other tourist destinations.
‘When you look at the cost of getting to Arran, obviously you can go elsewhere nowadays much cheaper.’
Having handed over the chair Alistair Dobson will now concentrate on the promotion of Arran off the island.
