Adventure industry to be discussed in Perth

Dec 6 2011 by Greg Christison, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A FAIR City venue will tomorrow play host to a gathering of Scottish adventure tourism groups – with the industry’s future on the agenda.

Wild Scotland, the wildlife and adventure tourism association, will meet at Perth Concert Hall for their annual conference, which is this year entitled ‘Your Business, Our Future’.

The forum will see figures released which suggest that adventure tourism businesses have enjoyed a successful 2011.

Thirty eight percent of the association’s members reported business was better in 2011 than in 2010 – up 12% on the previous year.

Concerns over the effect that higher energy prices and VAT levels are having on their operating costs will also be discussed.

Ben Mardall, the chairman of Wild Scotland, said: “Adventure means different things to different people.

“It is not just about high adrenaline sports. For many a walk in the hills or whale-watching is an adventure and in Scotland we can provide all of this and much more.

“As the adventure tourism sector grows, we have the opportunity to ensure that the sector benefits Scotland, not just the businesses, but the local communities and the environment as well.”

A report published by Scottish Natural Heritage in 2010 valued nature-based tourism at £1.4billion and supporting 39,000 jobs in Scotland.

The definition of nature-based tourism included wildlife watching, field sports, walking/mountaineering, snow sports, cycling, water sports, horse riding, hard-adventure activities, conservation work, other specialist interests, all of which are now covered within Wild Scotland's membership.

Chris Tiso, chief executive of The Tiso Group; Paul Easto, chief executive of Wilderness Scotland; Andrea Nicholas, managing director of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, and Guy Grieve, outdoors-man and owner of the Ethical Shellfish Company, will speak at the event.

The conference, which is the only national industry event for the nature-based tourism sector, will run at the concert hall from 10.15am-4pm.

For more information, visit www.wild-scotland.org.uk.