NCC: All roads lead to Scotland for caravans

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Wednesday, 31, Oct 2007 12:00

For the first time, Scottish caravan parks and the Scottish tourism industry are working together on a campaign to attract visitors north of the Border and to build business - particularly in the shoulder season. More than £70,000 is being spent on the drive and over two dozen Scottish caravan holiday parks have joined the campaign, which has secured support from the VisitScotland Challenge Fund. The aim is to ensure that Scotland gets a bigger share of the UK caravan holiday market, which is worth almost £2 billion per annum.

The campaign, which was ‘soft launched’ in August, has already been seen by two million people, all of whom have hopefully been encouraged to find out more about what Scotland has to offer for caravan holidays. A new website www.scottishcaravanholidayparks.co.uk has been developed and advertisements have appeared in Scottish Sunday newspapers and national caravanning magazines. Other activities include production of a campaign brochure; and a presence at caravan and motorhome shows.

At a meeting of the Scottish Committee of the National Caravan Council (NCC) today in Stirling to review progress, Chairman David Key said:

“This is the first time so many different operators have come together in a private sector driven initiative to market Scotland as a destination for caravanners. Currently caravan holidays have a lower share of the overall holiday market in Scotland than in

England and Wales. We’re seeking to do something about this by highlighting that we have a fantastic and varied product in Scotland and caravan parks second to none.

“I hope this is the start of a successful campaign that will make a significant difference to visitor numbers to Scotland next year and beyond.”

Yvonne Cook, Head of Business Propositions for VisitScotland, added,

“ We are delighted to support this exciting initiative through our Challenge Fund.

“Over two million British people take caravan holidays every year and that number is growing. This campaign is a great example of the caravan holiday parks industry coming together to ensure that Scotland gets a good share of that growth.”

The campaign will continue into Spring 2008 with further advertising, representation at holiday exhibitions, and an extensive programme of PR activities.

Ends.

For further information please contact:

On the Scottish campaign:

Douglas Ritchie

Tourism and Leisure Solutions

01738 860523 douglas@tals.co.uk

On the NCC:

Louise Wood

Director of Communications

National Caravan Council

01252 796064 LouiseW@nationalcaravan.co.uk

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Scottish Caravan Holiday Parks marketing campaign is being co-ordinated by the National Caravan Council with support from The Camping & Caravanning Club, The Caravan Club and Thistle Holiday Home Parks, as well as 27 caravan holiday parks across Scotland.

2. The campaign aims to increase the number of holidays and short breaks taken in caravan holiday homes and touring caravans in Scotland, particularly during the autumn and spring shoulder seasons.

3. The campaign has a total budget of £70,000, of which £28,000 has come from the VisitScotland Challenge Fund.

4. There are nearly a million caravans and motorhomes in Britain and approximately £1.9 billion p/a is spent on caravan holidays in the UK.

5. According to the most recent statistics, nearly one in five of all adults whose last holiday was in the UK took a caravan holiday.

6. VisitScotland have spent the last six months reviewing Challenge Fund, with a view to launching a new fund later in the year. The focus will be on building on the successes of the last two years to help the tourism industry achieve the ambitious growth target of 50% by 2015.

7. For further information on how to apply for the new fund visit www.visitscotland.org, alternatively contact your Challenge Fund Advisor Sarah Kirk on 01224 288839 or email sarah.kirk@visitscotland.com.