Issue 9: Economic Development

David Gowans

ISSUES

• Achieving consistent ‘buy-in’ to the National Park brand across the National Park;
• Promoting the National Park and surrounding regional destinations, eg Aberdeenshire and Inverness & Loch Ness, to their mutual benefit;
• Limited public transport;
• Increasing pressure on infrastructure including roads, rail, housing, business premises;
• Comparatively poor broadband and mobile reception in the remoter areas of the National Park;
• A lack of Further and Higher Education opportunities;
• Attracting investment for key infrastructure projects; and
• A continued heavy reliance on low-wage tourism sector.

Angus Findlay

Economic Impact of Tourism

TARGETS PREFERRED DIRECTION

• Deliver the Cairngorms National Park Economic Strategy’s
  (2015-2018) priorities for:
  • Tourism: consolidating and enhancing the strong brand of the National Park throughout the visitor journey; creating a more valuable, resilient year round tourism economy with increased profitability and local prosperity
  • Forestry: supporting a more valuable and resilient forestry sector with increased profitability and local prosperity
  • Food and Drink: encouraging a growing food and drink sector locally and with new markets
  • Energy and Renewables: encouraging businesses to use less energy, reduce costs, and generate income from renewable energy;
• A growing business sector with increasing employment;
• Improving and increasing Further and Higher Education opportunities within the National Park to support key sectors;
• Increased investment in businesses and infrastructure to make better connections to the natural capital (the natural assets and
  special qualities) of the National Park;
• Improve physical infrastructure and digital connectivity in the National Park to support a growing economy; and
• Developing a better understanding of current and future economic trends and opportunities.

Strategic Projects and super-fast broadband provision in the Cairngorms National Park

MECHANISMS FOR DELIVERY

• Cairngorms Business Partnership – providing business leadership and promoting collaboration
• Cairngorms Economic Forum and Strategy Business Support Group
• Cairngorms Local Action Group
• Cairngorms Tourism Partnership
• Cairngorms Nature Strategy Group
• Digital Cairngorms Steering Group
• Cairngorms Community Broadband Project

Anke Addy

 ISSUE 9 | KEY QUESTIONS

• How can the National Park tourism sector be strengthened?

• How can businesses be better connected with the natural environment for economic benefit?

• What more can be done to diversify the National Park’s economy beyond tourism?

• Have the right key infrastructure priorities been identified, or are there others that should be included?