SENIOR SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT and tourism industry figures gathered in Grangemouth this November for the annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association (Scotland).
The event brought together the owners of many of Scotland’s 200 park businesses which are major contributors to the country’s annual £991 million camping, caravan and glamping sector.
Delegates met at the Macdonald Inchyra Hotel to hear from a line-up of speakers including Business Minister Richard Lochhead who holds special responsibility for tourism.
He was welcomed to the conference by Scottish BH&HPA Director Keith Campbell and the association’s National Chairman Ian James. Mr Lochhead told members:
“Campsites and holiday parks make a valuable contribution to our national and local economies, and support thousands of jobs in coastal and rural areas.
“They are also taking great steps to champion greener getaways to help achieve Scotland’s net zero ambitions. And with the rise in campervan ownership, they are becoming ever more popular.
“I have seen for myself how parks work within communities to provide the best possible, and often more affordable, visitor experience while supporting other local businesses,” said Mr Lochhead.
The conference also heard from other guest speakers on a range of different topics impacting on park businesses, many of which in Scotland are long-established family enterprises.
Subjects included an examination of how AI will impact on the tourism sector which was delivered by Joshua Ryan-Saha of the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Holiday trends were analysed by the CEO of Scottish Tourism Alliance Marc Crothall, and delegates also heard from Carron Tobin, Director of the Scottish Community Tourism Network.
Other speakers looked at how the Westminster Government’s autumn Budget would affect park businesses, and the threats posed to parks by recent changes in inheritance tax regulations.
Delegates also discussed the association’s opposition to the visitor levy which local authorities will be able to impose on overnight accommodation, driving up holiday costs for families.
Running parallel to the well-attended conference was an exhibition featuring the suppliers of goods and services to Scottish holiday parks.
Bringing the conference to a close, BH&HPA Director Keith Campbell said that parks had played a key role in staging the recovery of Scotland’s tourism industry following the pandemic.
This had been achieved, he said, by the sector’s determination to continue investing heavily in their businesses and providing guests with high quality experiences at affordable prices.
Mr Campbell is the owner of Highland Holidays which operates three top-rated parks in Tyndrum, Oban and Ben Nevis, all winners of awards for their care of the natural environment.
He also thanked BH&HPA Scottish Policy Director Sarah Allanson who organised the conference, and the association’s Director General Debbie Walker who was also in attendance.