Representatives from South Ayrshire Council and members of the Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce have recently returned from an important national conference at Hahn Airport in Germany.

The Council is a Lead Partner in a trans-national European Union funded project aimed at maximising the economic benefit to local areas from regional airports, with a particular focus on tourism. The 'Developing Active Regions and Sustainable Tourism project, known as DART, involves the Council and partners from Germany and Ireland. This is a three year project and the second national conference was held at Hahn Airport in Germany, and was organised by DART partner, Kreisverwaltung Rhein-Hunsruck, the local authority for the region in which Hahn Airport is located.

Around 150 senior politicians, industry leaders and economic development and tourism professionals from around Europe, including Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Holland and Scotland, attended the conference. Council representatives included members of the Council's Economic Development Team and were led by Graham Peterkin, Acting Chief Executive and Director of Development, Safety and Regulation.

The conference was addressed by a number of speakers from across Europe, and included a presentation by Eddie Clark, the Council's Economic Strategist Officer that covered 'the aims and objectives of the Council's DART project'.

The Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Andy Hill said: "South Ayrshire Council recognises the importance of Prestwick International Airport to the local economy, and is delighted to be leading this very important transnational project.

"The tourism industry is a major part of South Ayrshire's economy and the Council is working to maximise the benefits and opportunities that the airport can bring to industry and to the economy.

"The 2006 conference will be held in South Ayrshire, and I am looking forward to welcoming representatives to it, which will afford them an opportunity to see the opportunities there are for development in this part of Scotland."

The range of speakers demonstrated that while regional airports can be primary economic drivers for their areas, this benefit can only maximised through close working within civic, business and tourism communities to ensure that areas are internationally competitive. This includes the need to ensure a quality service for all business and holiday visitors and that supporting services including infrastructure, communications and tourism information are efficient and effective.

The conference agreed that development opportunities could best be identified and grasped through sharing experience.

Delegates from around Europe are pictured at the conference.

Representing South Ayrshire Council at the conference were (left to right) Bill Dunn, DART Co-ordinator, Jane Toye, Economic Development Officer, Graham Peterkin, Acting Chief Executive and Director of Development, Safety and Regulation, Eddie Clark, Economic Strategist, Alison Blair, Enterprise Officer, and Derek Cunningham, Head of Environment and Resources.

September 2005