The renewal ballot for the Visit Moray Speyside Business Improvement District has failed to gain the support it needed.
This result means the current BID will cease operations on 31 March 2025.
Originally launched in 2020, the BID was designed to boost tourism across Moray Speyside through strategic marketing and industry support.
The aim was to drive visitor numbers, raise the region’s profile and help local businesses thrive.
A second five-year term was proposed to continue these efforts and build on the foundation already laid.
However, the tourism sector did not deliver the backing required to keep the initiative alive.
Despite considerable collaboration and campaigning, the ballot fell short of the necessary threshold.
This brings a halt to dedicated funding that underpinned a wide range of tourism-focused projects.
It also raises concerns for the future of coordinated tourism development in the region.
Local business leaders will now be left to navigate a new landscape without the collective support structure the BID provided.
There is disappointment among supporters who believed in the BID’s potential to drive growth.
The Moray Economic Partnership is set to review the implications of this decision at an upcoming meeting.
Attention will turn to what, if anything, can replace the BID’s role in promoting the region.
There are fears that the absence of a central tourism body could limit progress in a highly competitive market.
Others argue that the focus should shift to more grassroots, locally led solutions moving forward.
The official results of the ballot have been published and mark the end of a significant chapter for Moray Speyside.
Tourism remains a vital part of the area’s economy, and the next steps will be crucial.
Stakeholders will now need to regroup and reassess how best to support and grow the visitor economy.
Without the BID, alternative models may need to be explored to ensure Moray Speyside continues to attract and welcome visitors.
The region’s natural beauty and cultural assets still offer major potential for tourism.
What is now required is a renewed vision and a commitment to adapt to this change.
