Providers of “fresh air holidays” in Scotland met recently in Edinburgh tourism minister Fergus Ewing praise their invaluable support of rural economies.
Mr Ewing was speaking at the annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland) attended by many senior members of BH&HPA Scotland’s 200-plus park businesses.
Held at Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth, the event brought tor spending annually.
In his address at the start of the full-day conference, Mr Ewing said that by consistently providing both value and quality, Scottish holiday parks were writing their own success story.
But the benefits, he pointed out, were felt right across the largely rural areas in which parks operate, thanks tors in other businesses in the regions:
“The holiday park secto sustain employment in some of Scotland’s most remote and rural areas,” said Mr Ewing.
“In this it is a great success stor will take full advantage of this excellent opportunity,” he added.
Mr Ewing also noted that parks had also helped contribute tor numbers which were up by 4% compared with last year, and their spending up by 10 %.
Delegates to the conference were welcomed by Colin Fraser, chairman of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland) whose own park businesses are based in Aberdeen.
Mr Fraser introduced a succession of specialist speakers on a range of subjects affecting parks which vary across Scotland from small camping sites to major holiday centres.
They included Gill Brittle of Respitality, an initiative of Shared Care Scotland which seeks to link local organisations which support unpaid carers, and local hospitality providers such as parks.
Solicitor Paul Kelly of park industry specialists Tozers outlined the powerful new rights introduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015 which affects all businesses.
The conference also heard from Ruth Badger who became one of Sir Alan Sugar’s favourites when she took part in BBC television’s The Apprentice.
Ruth now has a close involvement with the parks sectomers and build their loyalty by creating exceptional experiences.
An entertaining and highly informative insight tor of student life at the university of Manchester.
Other speakers included BH&HPA national chairman Henry Wild who provided an update on forthcoming changes to UK and EU laws and regulations which will affect park businesses.
Henry also said that the importance of Scottish parks tourism economy was underlined last year in an independent study commissioned by the Scottish Caravan and Camping Forum (SCCF).
It found not only that visitor supported more than 5,600 full-time equivalent jobs.
Overall, said Mr Wild, Scottish holiday parks contribute a tor.
Closing the conference, Colin Fraser said the industry was delighted tourism minister Fergus Ewing among its champions, and greatly valued his work on its behalf.
Mr Fraser also thanked Mr Ewing for the time he had dedicated over the past year to Scottish parks.