The Partnership, comprising representatives of public and private sector businesses interested in the economic development of Ayrshire, launched its draft strategy yesterday, outlining its vision for . . . → Read More: NEW TOURISM STRATEGY UP FOR DISCUSSION]]> Tourism in Ayrshire and Arran is high on the agenda as the Ayrshire Economic Partnership (AEP) seeks views on its new strategy to boost tourism across the area.

The Partnership, comprising representatives of public and private sector businesses interested in the economic development of Ayrshire, launched its draft strategy yesterday, outlining its vision for the development of tourism in the region over the next five years.

The tourism industry is extremely important to the economy of Ayrshire and Arran, generating around £342 million per year in revenue. The new strategy recognises the potential to increase this contribution and proposes the objective of growing it by 20% to £410 million over the next five years, in addition to increasing visitor numbers and jobs by 10%.

On 14 February 2011, AEP members signed a statement to ‘Love Ayrshire’ as a symbol of their commitment to work together to increase tourism across Ayrshire and Arran. Since then, work has been undertaken with a range of stakeholders to develop a new five year strategy. In the coming weeks, a steering group will engage in a series of surveys and roadshows to extend consultation and further refine the strategy. This will ensure that it supports business growth, creates jobs and improves communities, by focusing on key markets and maximising resources and return on investment.

The new strategy highlights a range of offers and opportunities for growing tourism in the area, from golf and Burns to outdoor activities and the islands. The strategy touches on a broad range of enablers, which include transport, funding and cleanliness, so it has the potential to benefit local communities throughout the area.

The Partnership has now challenged people across Ayrshire and Arran to show that they too ‘Love Ayrshire’, by getting involved in the consultation and setting their priorities for the growth of this important sector.

Bill Costley, Chairman of the Costley and Costley Hotel Group, said: “Members of the AEP are committed to ensuring that tourism makes an increasing contribution to our area. We have already begun working together across industry sectors to support the growth and development of successful businesses and promote our area’s quality products to key markets.

“As we move forward, this will provide increased opportunities for employment growth and income from tourism revenue will reinforce our drive to improve the lives and vitality of our local communities.”

Moira Birtwistle, Chair of the Ayrshire and Arran Chamber Tourism Partnership, added: “Visitors already come here to enjoy a wide range of experiences, including attractive coast and countryside, world class golf courses and sailing, renowned culture and heritage and high quality food, drink and hospitality. The challenge is to build on these strengths. This draft strategy underlines the enthusiasm and will of public and private sector alike to achieve this.”

Craig Stevenson, Managing Director of Braehead Foods and Cook School Scotland, said: “I know that people have been working very hard over recent weeks to develop this new strategy. It is clearly taking shape and it is great to see all the agencies working together along with businesses and across Council boundaries to make things happen.

“What we need now is to get everyone involved to make sure that the strategy is right, so that we can all get behind it.”

http://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/devser/planandbuild/aatourism.asp

ends

For further information, contact Elaine Scott on 01563 576013 or email elaine.scott@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

The centre has been awarded four star visitor status by Visit Scotland in recognition of the very high level of service provided by our employees and the very high standards generally within the centre.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the . . . → Read More: BURNS MONUMENT CENTRE IS A FOUR STAR ATTRACTION!]]> It’s official – Kilmarnock’s Burns Monument Centre is one of Scotland’s top attractions!

The centre has been awarded four star visitor status by Visit Scotland in recognition of the very high level of service provided by our employees and the very high standards generally within the centre.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of the Council said: “The Burns Monument Centre never fails to impress its visitors – from the First Minister who officially opened the centre to our regular genealogists. In terms of genealogy we are leaders in our field – the centre houses archivists, registrars and librarians under the one roof and this means they can provide a very full research service.

“The centre itself is extremely well used. It is a very popular wedding venue; it has played host to book festivals; craft fairs; conferences and many more events with great success. I am very proud of the Burns Monument Centre. We have breathed life into one of our town’s most iconic landmarks and in the process have created a top class tourist attraction.”

Ends

Three evening events were held at Dumfries House, Braehead Foods Cook School, and The Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock providing the opportunity for tourism operators to experience some . . . → Read More: EAST AYRSHIRE TOURISM BRINGS BUSINESSES TOGETHER]]> Over sixty Ayrshire’s tourism businesses have come together over the past few weeks at a series of networking events organised by East Ayrshire Council and VisitScotland.

Three evening events were held at Dumfries House, Braehead Foods Cook School, and The Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock providing the opportunity for tourism operators to experience some of the finest tourism attractions in East Ayrshire and encourage a collaborative approach to tourism development and marketing.

Councillor Bobby McDill, East Ayrshire Council Spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration, said: “We have a vision to grow tourism in the area over the next few years, and we are committed to working in partnership with the industry and other partner agencies across Ayrshire to achieve this. The feedback from businesses who attended the events has been excellent and underlines that East Ayrshire’s growing range of attractions are a perfect complement to coastal Ayrshire.”

VisitScotland’s Regional Director, Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland, added: “We are delighted to have been involved in delivering these events along with East Ayrshire Council. In this current climate it is crucial we work together to get tourism growth back on track and these events have helped to bring people together to strengthen collaborative working.”

Moira Birtwistle, Chair of the Ayrshire Chamber’s Tourism Committee, said: “These events have been a wonderful networking experience for those working in the tourism industry, connecting businesses from length and breadth of Ayrshire to improve product knowledge and promote cross-selling. I think many of the attendees have been astounded by the quality of the attractions on offer in East Ayrshire, which form a vital part of the overall visitor experience in Ayrshire.”

For further information please contact:

Daniel Steel
Tourism Promotion Adviser
East Ayrshire Council
Tel: 01563 503233
Email: daniel.steel@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Following on from the success of Ayrshire’s presence at the 2009 event, which saw a partnership between . . . → Read More: BEST OF AYRSHIRE & ARRAN AT NATIONAL TOURISM EXPO]]> Ayrshire and Arran led the way at VisitScotland’s annual Expo at the SECC in Glasgow last week, as public and private sector partners worked together to promote the area on the show’s largest and most impressive stand.

Following on from the success of Ayrshire’s presence at the 2009 event, which saw a partnership between the three Ayrshire Councils and six tourism operators, the 2010 stand included ten of Ayrshire’s leading tourism operators. They came together with Council support staff on a custom-built stand designed to highlight the best of Ayrshire and Arran at Scotland’s flagship business to business event for the travel trade.

Leading tourism businesses including Dumfries House, Simpsinns, Ayrshire Food Network, Ayrshire and Arran Hotels Association, The Park Hotel, VisitArran, Ayr Racecourse, Scottish Sailing Institute and Scotland’s West Coast Golf Links worked together over the two days to showcase their products and services to key buyers from around the globe.

Highlights included a special Whisky Masterclass, hosted by Euan Mitchell, Managing Director of Isle of Arran Distillers, highlighting the strength of the area’s food and drink producers to travel trade media representatives.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council, said: “We are working very hard to ensure that Ayrshire is viewed as a key destination for tourism so I am delighted that, in partnership with the other two Councils, we have been able to build on last year’s success to again support our industry partners in showcasing the area at VisitScotland Expo. We have organised the largest co-ordinated area presence at the show for the past two years and it is great to see Ayrshire leading on a national stage in terms of a joined-up approach to tourism promotion.”

Tuathal Breheny, Chair of Ayrshire & Arran Hotels Association, added: “Expo is a great opportunity to showcase Ayrshire and Arran and generate new business for the area. Many operators exhibit on their own, but the model of public and private sector partners coming together to work on an area stand is fantastic. There is no doubt that we had the most prominent stand at the show, and we certainly generated a significant number of positive enquiries over the two days, so I am confident that the area will benefit as a result.”

Philip Riddle, VisitScotland Chief Executive, said: “Ayrshire and Arran’s collaborative presence at Expo really underlines the importance of a joined up approach to tourism. Their co-ordinated stand presence stood out again this year and it was clear to see that it worked well and provided a professional platform which maximised their market position and encouraged cross-selling amongst industry partners.”

Following the success of the collaborative presence over the past two years, plans are already underway to further strengthen Ayrshire and Arran’s position as a key tourism destination with a presence at the 2011 show in Aberdeen.

Ends

For further information please contact Daniel Steel, Tourism Promotion Adviser, East Ayrshire Council
Tel: 01563 503233
Email: daniel.steel@east-ayrshire.gov.uk or visit the website at: http://www.ayrshire-arran.com

Notes to editors:
VisitScotland Expo is Scotland’s flagship business to business event for the travel trade, attracting over 800 buyers from all sectors of the industry from around the UK and worldwide markets including Europe, USA, Japan, and Australia.

For further information, contact Elaine Scott on 01563 576013 or email elaine.scott@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Following on from the success of Ayrshire’s collaborative presence stand at the 2009 event, East Ayrshire Council has co-ordinated an even bigger presence for . . . → Read More: EAST AYRSHIRE LEADS TOURISM COLLABORATION]]> East Ayrshire Council has again taken the lead in organising a pan-Ayrshire presence at the national tourism trade show, VisitScotland Expo, being held at the SECC in Glasgow this week.

Following on from the success of Ayrshire’s collaborative presence stand at the 2009 event, East Ayrshire Council has co-ordinated an even bigger presence for 2010. Having grown from six partners in the pilot year, this year’s stand includes ten of Ayrshire’s leading tourism operators who will come together on a custom-built stand designed to highlight the best of Ayrshire and Arran at Scotland’s flagship business to business event for the travel trade, which attracts hundreds of buyers from around the UK and worldwide markets.

The collaborative project is supported by the three Ayrshire Local Authorities and tourism operators from across the area, including Kilmarnock’s Park Hotel and Dumfries House, near Cumnock, as well as collaborative groups such as the Ayrshire Food Network.

Councillor Douglas Reid, Leader of East Ayrshire Council said: “Ayrshire is a National and International destination, and tourism is vital to the Ayrshire economy. I am delighted that, in partnership with the other two Councils, we can support this initiative which showcases Ayrshire and draws new tourism business into the area to support the industry and regenerate our communities.”

Natalie Howson, Sales Manager of the Park Hotel in Kilmarnock, said: “Expo is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Ayrshire and Arran. Last year was the first time we have presented the whole area in a co-ordinated way and I am delighted that East Ayrshire Council has taken the lead in pulling all the partners together to deliver an even bigger and better presence this year. I am sure it will be a busy couple of days in Glasgow and will generate new business for Ayrshire.”

Ends

For further information please contact:

Daniel Steel
Tourism Promotion Adviser
East Ayrshire Council
Tel: 01563 503233
Email: daniel.steel@east-ayrshire.gov.uk

Three evening events which will be held at Dumfries House, Braehead Foods Cook School, and The Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock will provide the opportunity for . . . → Read More: GROWING TOURISM TOGETHER IN EAST AYRSHIRE]]> East Ayrshire Council has teamed up with VisitScotland to organise a series of networking events for tourism businesses to encourage a collaborative approach to tourism development and marketing.

Three evening events which will be held at Dumfries House, Braehead Foods Cook School, and The Burns Monument Centre in Kilmarnock will provide the opportunity for tourism operators to experience some of the finest tourism attractions in East Ayrshire, and network with other tourism businesses working in the area.

Councillor Jim Buchanan, East Ayrshire Council’s Spokesperson for Community Regeneration, said: “We have a vision to grow tourism in the area over the next few years. One of the aims of the East Ayrshire Tourism Strategy is to develop an active, connected tourism community which is exactly what these events aim to do. The events will showcase some of the area’s many tourism assets, pulling together stakeholders from the industry to ensure that we are all working together to achieve tourism growth which assists in the regeneration of our towns.”

VisitScotland’s Regional Director, Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland, added: “We are delighted to be involved in delivering these events along with East Ayrshire Council. A joined up approach to tourism development and marketing is essential to what we do and these events will provide opportunities to increase product knowledge and provide opportunities for cross-selling and collaboration.”

Ends

For further information please contact:

Daniel Steel
Tourism Promotion Adviser
East Ayrshire Council
Tel: 01563 503233
Email: daniel.steel@east-ayrshire.gov.uk