Chamber and committees

In 2008-09 The National Golf Tourism Monitor was introduced in order to assist partner agencies (VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise), as well as wider industry stakeholders, to capture information about trends of visiting golfer rounds played on golf courses in Scotland. £9,000

Golf Tourism Business Insight seminar- The event provided businesses involved in the golf market, both as operators and in the wider tourism community, with an opportunity to hear from and meet Bob Morris of Billy Casper Golf, USA. Bob provided a commentary on the opportunity Scotland has to attract the ˜next generation'' golfer and increase its share of the US market in particular. £6,000

The St Andrews Golf Development Group has been assisted with business development activities (web and database development) and development of an International Marketing Strategy. £12,000

First In Fife Golf Group - SE have been working with this collaboration of 12 golf courses and 15 accommodation providers in the West of Fife, who are targeting their golf pass at the UK, Ireland and European golfer looking for great golf at good value prices. The group have upgraded their website, collecting much improved customer data, and have recruited new businesses into the fold. £15,000

Golf Tourism Ayrshire was provided with support for a new destination marketing campaign, which includes a new industry body called Scotland''s West Coast Golf Links. This was formally constituted in February, and launched officially by Jim Mather on 22 April. £12,000.

Support for the British Senior''s Open - at Royal Troon and evaluation report as to the economic impact of the event. £29,000

Support for the British Open - at Royal Birkdale. £30,000.

VisitScotland spends £1 million annually on the promotion of golf tourism. Marketing activity includes publications, direct mailings, sponsorship of major tournaments, golf website, and attending the International Golf travel market. Golf is marketed to specialist golf groups as well as more widely across those consumer segments where golf may be an element of the visitor''s trip.

Scottish Enterprise (SE) continues to support the development of the Sail Clyde Initiative through the development of a Sail Clyde Action Plan, and a number of facilitated workshops with the Sail Clyde Steering Group (which consists of a number of public and private sector organisations involved in sailing development). The Action Plan builds on the recommendations and priorities from the Sailing in the Clyde estuary report and should be finalised by the end of June.

Scottish Enterprise has approved funding of £100,000 towards the development of the Largs Slipway project during 2009. This development will enable Scotland to bid for larger scale high profile sailing events and is a priority project under the Sail Clyde Strategy. In support of this development, Scottish Enterprise recently approved £33,000 towards a UK bid to secure the World Radial Sailing Championship event in July 2010 at Largs in Ayrshire.

Scottish Enterprise is currently supporting research, to be undertaken by VisitScotland, to identify growth opportunities of sailing at a Scottish level. This research will inform SE''s future investment in sailing development.

VisitScotland supports the leisure marine industry through promotional work, publications, direct mail campaigns, e-newsletters, website advertising, and joint working with bodies such as Sail Scotland, the Clyde Sailing Development Group and the British Marine Federation. They also provided £6,000 to support Sail Scotland''s stand at the London Boat Show in 2009.