Tourism in the proposed National Park Alan Bailey
Speaking from Experience: o Campsite Opened in mid-2012 o 2015: 3,500 visitors new visitors to the Borders o 2016: + 10 % Growth is continuing o Borders Tourism Business of the Year 2015 o a new Destination for people Stepping back from city life Into unspoilt countryside and panoramas Getting down into nature
Good things have followed Pubs & restaurants significant increases in custom Jobs 3 FTE directly generated Our Suppliers butchers; firewood; fire bowls; vehicles & equipment Retail camping supplies, village shops, galleries Downstream business Alpacca Walking start-up next door; Wood School courses - attendance up Visitor Attractions attendance up Horse riding, fishing, cycle hire boosted Community Engagement Interest Link; DoE; Schools; Boys Brigade
Unrecognised assets Campers give us new eyes for our Scenic & Tourism assets Scenery we think ordinary = for visitors Local attractions we ve stopped noticing =! People come back & back 2016: over 50% were returnees or came on a recommendation Unspoilt Landscapes have rarity value in Scotland The Scottish Cheviots / Carter Bar panorama is the most dramatic arrival point in Scotland - completely under-sold
As we are now: The Scottish Cheviots have almost no profile cf. say Innerleithen : Peebles Traffic on A68 down by 35% 2004-2014 while A1 & A7 saw traffic increase UK Traffic Data tables A68 is not on VisitScotland's list of 12 national tourist routes Jedburgh population down around 3% 2001-2009 Scottish Borders rose 5% over this period http://www.gov.scot/publications/2011/09/26153917/10 In 2014 The Scottish Borders ranked 13/16 for British visitor numbers and spend, and 16/16 for overseas visitor numbers and spend VisitScotland Policy-makers are overlooking an obvious solution
As We are now Similar Scenery & Hills support masses of tourism in Northumberland Our Activities, History, Culture, Textiles, Food, Wild life are all 5* Existing business hungers for higher footfall Hard working, committed local tourist industry All uncoordinated, under-sold and under-developed Proper Framework & Support will drive up footfall Over 3 million people living within 1.5 hours drive of Jedburgh We should be not
What would the NP do for tourism? Co-ordinated marketing under an International Brand Identity; Profile; campaigns; media Tourism Infrastructure Visitors come if it s there new trail networks; link existing routes; signage; Visitor support Carter Bar project; other gateway projects; Co-operation with current schemes Jedburgh CARS, Hawick Action Plan Conservation & Access to Wildlife Ospreys, Eagles, Roman Goats, Business support Park Economy Growth Plan; Destination creation Land Manager support access management; assistance with diversification Community Engagement very important in increasing footfall Working to a shared vision
Tourism Infrastructure Examples Improved Access for all 8 routes to Ruberslaw summit Circular route around Ruberslaw Interpretation aound: Iron Age fortifications Roman Signal Station Covenanters & Peiden's Pulpit Make a Destination of the Roman camps just to the north of Towford
What s happened elsewhere? 1 st proposed boundary approx. 1500 sq.km. cf. Northumberland 1048 sq.km cf. Lomond & Trossachs 1865 sq.km National Park name Northumberland (Oct 14) Loch Lomond and the Trossachs (2009) Population Visitors a year (million) Visitor days a year (million) Visitor spend a year (million) 2,200 1.5 1.7 190 15,600 4 7 190 http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/students/whatisanationalpark/factsandfigures
To Sum up: Local Start-ups show the Tourism Potential Born in the Borders, Bairnkine Farm Cottages, Ruberslaw Wild Woods Camping; 2 distilleries coming Our Landscape and other Assets are unrecognised, under-valued and under-used A shared vision, focus & dedicated management would drive growth a National Park Board could do this - it s been done elsewhere Question Is there any other game in town for the Scottish Cheviots?
Bottom up initiatives work 1. SLAs were introduced as a result of Private Sector pressure Private Sector objections to Local Plan Inquiry 2007 SLAs Designated by SPG in 2012 2. Borders Railway Initiated & developed to Pre-Feasibility by Borders Transport Futures Ltd, awaking Public Sector interest Private Sector can do it for the NP too
Thank you