Colin Fraser

Vital Scot Holiday Park Tourism Role

Posted on February 7, 2018

Vital Scot Holiday Park Tourism Role

ABOVE: Fiona Hyslop MSP (centre) is welcomed to the conference by director general of BH&HPA, Ros Pritchard OBE, and retiring chairman of BH&HPA Scotland Colin Fraser

Tourism minister Fiona Hyslop MSP has told holiday park owners that their businesses are a vital component of Scotland’s tourism industry. The minister made her remarks at November’s annual conference of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association Scotland which was held at Edinburgh’s Our Dynamic Earth.

Fiona Hyslop, cabinet secretary for culture, tourism and external affairs, was welcomed as chief guest speaker at the conference by Scottish association chairman Colin Fraser. The event was attended by delegates from many of Scotland’s 200-plus park businesses which offer holiday options from camping and glamping to luxury lodges to rent and own.

In her address to delegates, Fiona Hyslop said that her department recognises the important role played by parks in producing visitor income and sustaining employment: “Holiday parks offer visitors to Scotland both great value and a wide range of high quality accommodation options, as well as helping to sustain employment in some of our most remote and rural areas,” she said.

Picture Caption: Above- Fiona Hyslop MSP (centre) is welcomed to the conference by director general of BH&HPA, Ros Pritchard OBE, and retiring chairman of BH&HPA Scotland Colin Fraser

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Scottish Parks Meet At Annual Summit

Posted on January 16, 2017

Scottish Parks Meet At Annual Summit

Pictured are chairman of BH&HPA (Scotland) Colin Fraser; national BH&HPA chairman Henry Wild; Scottish tourism minister Fiona Hyslop MSP; BH&HPA (Scotland) policy director Jeanette Wilson, and director general of BH&HPA Ros Pritchard.

Pictured are chairman of BH&HPA (Scotland) Colin Fraser; national BH&HPA chairman Henry Wild; Scottish tourism minister Fiona Hyslop MSP; BH&HPA (Scotland) policy director Jeanette Wilson, and director general of BH&HPA Ros Pritchard.

Owners and managers of many of Scotland’s 200 plus park businesses attended the annual conference of the BH&HPA (Scotland) in November, at the end of what was generally regarded as a highly successful year for their sector.

Scottish tourism minister Fiona Hyslop MSP was the guest speaker at the event and was welcomed by Aberdeen park owner Colin Fraser who is chairman of BH&HPA (Scotland). Mr Fraser told the minister that an independent economic survey published last year found that Scottish holiday parks generate around £700m of visitor spending each year in Scotland.

This figure, he said, accounts for 8% of all the revenue produced by Scotland’s tourism economy, and allows the Scottish park sector to support more than 5,600 full-time equivalent jobs. In her address to delegates, Fiona Hyslop said: “The holiday homes sector is a unique but vital part of our tourism and hospitality industry.

The sector provides important geographic spread, allowing visitors to see more of our country and, in doing so, to support our rural economies.” Other speakers at the Edinburgh event included Director General of BH&HPA, Ros Pritchard, who outlined some of ways in which the association engages with politicians to help frame UK and EU laws and regulations affecting park businesses.

National BH&HPA chairman Henry Wild also gave his perspective as a holiday park owner on how the association helps its members develop their businesses and meet customer expectations.