Tourism boss praises world-class watersports venue in Lanarkshire

VisitScotland’s Chief Executive, Malcolm Roughead, visited Strathclyde Country Park as part of his tour to acknowledge successful partnership working between the tourism industry and local destination management organisations.

In advance of the VisitLanarkshire partnership meeting, Mr Roughead took a trip up the recently upgraded timing tower at the Strathclyde Country Park, with local businessman and partnership chair, Mark Calpin.

This was followed by Mr Roughead joining the partnership meeting to listen to discussion around plans to develop Lanarkshire’s tourism, which already accounts for 5,158 jobs and is worth around £323m per annum to the local economy.

Having recently hosted the European Championships in the triathlon and rowing events, Strathclyde Country Park includes the only Olympic standard rowing venue in Scotland and is one of just two across the UK. The upgrades to the tower, which were carried out last year to comply with International Rowing Federation guidelines, include a new viewing platform and reglazing to allow unrestricted views of the loch.

The VisitScotland chief has visited a number of locations across the country as part of his ‘listening tour’, the intention being to give local tourism organisations and businesses the opportunity to speak directly to him and to give Mr Roughead the opportunity to engage in local debate.

VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead said: "I am delighted to visit Strathclyde Country Park so soon after the successful European Championships. The park hosted the rowing and triathlon competitions which was a fantastic opportunity to showcase the region to a global audience.

“I have enjoyed the opportunity to meet directly with VisitLanarkshire to hear about their future plans, following the successes of this year.

“Tourism is more than a holiday experience - it is the heartbeat of the Scottish economy and touches every community.”

Mark Calpin, Chair of the Lanarkshire Tourism Partnership, said: “It’s always good to have a debate about how we ensure that local tourism continues to thrive and the roles that industry and public-sector partners must play to make this happen.

“We are always focused on future opportunities for tourism in the Lanarkshire area, but having Mr Roughead visiting us was a real reminder of just how much we have to offer with Strathclyde Country Park being just one example of the range of world class venues that we have to attract visitors to the area.”

For more information on what’s going on in Lanarkshire, visit www.visitlanarkshire.co.uk