By Paul Reoch

PERTH AND Kinross is in prime position to capitalise on high-profile events in the coming years, which could have a significant bearing on levels of tourism in the area.

The council’s enterprise and infrastructure committee will be asked on Wednesday to approve two strategy documents that aim to ensure Perthshire benefits from event opportunities over the next eight years.

These include the 800th anniversary of Perth City in 2010, and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles in 2014.

Committee convener Alan Livingstone said yesterday, “Events play an important role in the economic development of Perth and Kinross.

“They are important for helping to develop tourism, play a major role in raising the area’s profile nationally and internationally, and also serve to qualify our proud boast that Perth and Kinross is a superb place to live, work and visit.”

He continued, “The Scottish Executive’s vision for Scotland is that it becomes one of the world’s foremost event destinations by 2015. A programme of forthcoming major international events scheduled for the country offers tremendous opportunity for the economic development of the area.

“In order to maximise these opportunities the council and its partners must have a clear strategic direction and co-ordinated approach. This report includes two documents to help achieve this—the events strategy and action plan and the Perth and Kinross Council events policy.”

The list of events is:

*Highland 2007—A year of Highland culture to attract international visitors.

*2009, Year of Homecoming—this aims to encourage some of the 50 million-strong Scottish diaspora to visit their homeland.

*2010, 800th anniversary of Perth City—a major opportunity to celebrate Perth and Kinross and raise its profile in Scotland, the UK and beyond.

*2012 London Olympics—opportunities include hosting public and business events, using the Olympics as a platform to promote Perth and Kinross as a tourism destination and hosting training camps in the area.

*2014 Ryder Cup—hosted at Gleneagles, this major sporting event offers an enormous opportunity for Perth and Kinross to be promoted on the international stage and generate significant economic impact.

*2014 Commonwealth Games bid for Glasgow—opportunities to host training camps, training events, tender for business contracts and opportunities to promote the area will be even greater than those offered by the Olympics.

Councillor Livingstone added, “The area already hosts some of the best events in Scotland, the UK and Europe such as the Blair Castle International Horse Trials, T in the Park in Kinross-shire, and Perth Festival of the Arts, not to mention international conferences at Perth

“The Scottish Executive’s vision for Scotland is that it becomes one of the world’s foremost event destinations by 2015. A programme of forthcoming major international events scheduled for the country offers tremendous opportunity for the economic development of the area.

“In order to maximise these opportunities the council and its partners must have a clear strategic direction and co-ordinated approach. This report includes two documents to help achieve this—the events strategy and action plan and the council’s events policy.”