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‘Fortunately we have over 90 active members, many of whom are step- on guides. We also have an increasing number of driver-guides investing in their own vehicles. OTGA is in good heart.’
Patricia Long became Chairman of OTGA in 2019, as she felt it was the only sure way to avoid becoming the secretary. As almost all guides have, or used to have, other occupations, the committee has a very useful mix of skills and interests so she enjoys chairing meetings.
She writes: ‘Tourism is one of the main planks of Orkney’s economy and, thanks to the hard work of the committee in recent years, the importance of tourist guides is being increasingly recognized. This allows our voice to be heard more than in many other parts of the country, with ready access to the decision-makers and a role in planning for the future, whatever that may be.
‘Before plans had to be suddenly changed, a large group of Orkney guides were looking forward to visiting Shetland in April. We will be heading there as soon as we can and are looking forward to building on the connections begun last year. There is exciting potential in better communication between us, and I hope the Western Isles as well, exploring different ideas for exploiting our good fortune in having clearly defined borders and so much to show off. As one visitor remarked in surprise, “Orkney is bigger on the inside”.
‘Orcadian film-maker Dr Margaret Tait was depressed to be asked to help provide material for an Orkney stand at the Scottish Tourist Board’s Holiday Market, to be held in Edinburgh in February 1959. She wrote to the Council that she thought an organized tourist industry would be profoundly destructive to Orkney. Concern was growing about depopulation and ‘the drift from the isles’ and she felt it was an avowal of defeat to say, “There’s nothing left for us to do now but charge admission for people to come and gape at us.” After some discussion, she agreed to help, on the understanding that information was being given to those who had already decided to visit.
The headline in The Orkney Herald was “Don’t Flaunt Orkney”. Happily, her gloom was misplaced. Our population has been growing since the 1970s and we flaunt Orkney very happily, and successfully.
‘Like everyone else, Orkney guides are wondering what lies ahead. At least we know that we are as well placed as we can be to work together, with the rest of the community and with the STGA, to make the best of whatever comes.’
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