Drive begins to provide more glamping in national park
This year’s prolonged spell of good summer weather has contributed to a bumper tourism season in and around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park but has highlighted a shortage of certain types of accommodation.
One sector where demand is outstripping availability is glamping, which enables visitors to get close to nature and enjoy the national park at its best.
To address this shortage, Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the independent conservation and heritage charity for the national park, is launching an initiative as part of a wider eco-tourism project to encourage new or existing businesses to invest in glamping.
Glamping is rapidly growing in popularity with more and more visitors wanting to get back to nature and enjoy authentic experiences staying in unusual or unique, but comfortable, accommodation.
The Friends, with support from Scottish Enterprise, will host two glamping business workshops on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 4 and 5, in Balloch and Callander.
The seminars will run from
10am to 2pm.
Led by renowned glamping expert Kate Morel, the workshops are for any individual or business considering setting up a small to medium-sized glamping business.
James Fraser, chairman of the Friends of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, said: ‘These seminars are designed to provide practical insights into the glamping industry and to help encourage the development of more glamping in the national park, building on the runaway success of recent local glamping businesses we plan to feature as case studies.
‘This is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors of the tourism industry at the present time as visitors seek out more unique and rustic holiday experiences and, given the special scenic and natural heritage qualities of the national park, there is great potential for new start-up businesses or existing businesses to capitalise on this growth by developing much sought after glamping.’
One-to-one surgeries are also available as part of the new glamping initiative.
For further details of the seminars and surgeries, and to book places, email jared.bowers@lochlomondtrossachs.org or see www.loch lomondtrossachs.org.uk