The STA is a non-profit organisation funded almost entirely through government grants and membership fees. We are run by a board of volunteers and a single paid development officer. In order to continue operations, we rely on the support of members, successful grants from the council and wider government, and the generosity of the public.
Our Fundraising Goals
We are always looking for opportunities to improve the STA, whether developing tourism in Shetland, improving benefits for our members, or other important goals. Read on to learn of our current goals and targets!
Save the Tourist Office!
As has been news for some time, the iCentre in the centre of Lerwick is closing. We believe this to be a travesty for local tourism, as the location is extremely profitable and popular with both locals and tourists alike. Instead, Visit Scotland has decided that local tourism helpdesks should be a work from home job, a conclusion we fundamentally disagree with.
We at the STA firmly believe that a local tourist office in the centre of Lerwick is essential as the beating heart of tourism in Shetland, but we cannot save it alone. We intend to pursue the goal of keeping a local office, whether in the current location of the iCentre or somewhere else in the centre of Lerwick. With every donation, that becomes a little more likely.
Host a Tourism Conference!
The STA wants to be the definitive platform for tourism in Shetland, and part of that is bringing the industry businesses and partners together. To that end, we want to host a Tourism Conference in 2025, with keynote speakers, stalls for local businesses to advertise and sell their products, lunch, and more, for all of our members, stakeholders, and anyone with a vested interest in the industry. However, hosting events is a large financial commitment, and we will need sponsors and donations to make it a reality.
Improve the STA!
Our long term goal for the STA is to continually provide additional benefits for our paying members, which in turn will encourage more businesses and individuals to sign up, providing a self sustaining cycle of growth for years to come. Every contribution, large or small, help us improve our services.
Join a community of business owners and operators who share your ambition to make your businesses more profitable, successful and innovative as we seek to maximise opportunities in the growing tourism sector in Shetland.