The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Tourist attraction surpasses target
A Perthshire tourist attraction has welcomed its 100,000th visitor in just over six months, smashing its opening year target.
The £4 million centre at Pitlochry Dam had expected to attract about 88,000 people throughout the whole of 2017.
But the complex, which was opened by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in February, significantly surpassed that goal this week.
The family that walked through the doors to mark the milestone had a unique connection to the centre.
The Millers, made up of three generations, are direct descendants of Ian Alistair Duncan Miller, former deputy chairman of the Scottish Hydro Electric Board.
James Duncan Miller was welcomed with a special cake which he and his family shared with fellow visitors.
SSE’s head of heritage Gillian O’Reilly said: “We are very pleased the centre has proved to be so popular with visitors from Perthshire, other parts of Scotland and the rest of the UK and overseas.
“There are a lot of great attractions in and around Pitlochry and we are very proud to be part of it.”
She said: “We are not resting on our laurels, however. In the short term, we have plans to mark Doors Open Day on Saturday September 9.
“Looking ahead, we are planning to mark the 75th anniversary next year of the Act of Parliament which gave rise to the network of hydro electric power schemes that are still providing clean electricity to customers to this day.”
VisitScotland regional director Jim Clarkson said: “Perthshire is renowned for its tourism reputation, boasting a diverse range of fascinating and beautiful attractions.
“Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre has become a welcome addition to this lineup and has undoubtedly helped bring more visitors to the area.”
He said: “To be welcoming its 100,000th visitor in just over six months is a remarkable achievement and demonstrates a real appetite for experiences of this nature.”