Visitor rangers team set to start
A new team of 10 visitor rangers is ready to start work in the region as the tourist season begins.
Seasonal visitor rangers were launched last year in response to the huge number of visitors who came to Perth and Kinross during summer 2020.
The rangers have a key role in welcoming and signposting tourists and visitors and in promoting responsible tourism in beauty spots.
Although most visitors behave responsibly, a small number“engage in littering, dirty camping and other anti-social behaviours”, which in turn “ruin the environment for other visitors and residents alike”.
Visitor rangers tour locations popular with campers to remind them of their responsibilities under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, to tidy abandoned campsites and to act as a point of contact for local residents who want to raise any concerns.
Clare Mailer, Perth and Kinross Council depute director of communities, said:“The Visitor Rangers initiative was incredibly popular last year, with visitors and residents alike.
“They can react quickly to any issues but also provide information to visitors and campers to prevent problems arising in the first place. Residents can also report issues by emailing visitormanagementgroup@pkc.gov. uk
“We’ll have more rangers on the ground this year so they will be able to cover an even bigger area than before.”
She added:“Lockdown restrictions might have eased but we’re expecting another busy season. We’re working in partnership with a range of agencies to make sure Perth and Kinross remains a great place to live and visit.”
Over the five months of the 2021 season, starting in May, the rangers, together with colleagues from Scottish Fire and Rescue and Forestry and Land Scotland, were on the ground for more than 5000 hours while seven vans clocked up over 10,000 miles each.
On their busiest day, rangers provided advice at about 350 camp pitches across Perth and Kinross.
Supported by the“Love It Like You Live Here”campaign, encouraging responsible tourism, the rangers were successful in reducing anti-social behaviour and protecting Perth and Kinross rural beauty spots so everyone could enjoy them.
Perth and Kinross Council is leading a multi-agency Visitor Management Working Group including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Forestry and Land Scotland and other agencies to manage the 2022 season.
Representatives from all groups visited Kinloch Rannoch Fire Station on Friday to meet the latest recruits before the Easter holidays start.
Its works focuses on three areas: Engagement, Enforcement and Infrastructure.