The slow and complicated process of working out who will operate Cairngorm ski area in Scotland continues to move forward with the announcement that five separate public bodies will manage the Land where the ski slopes are located.
At the same time the ski area itself will be managed by a new private operator, which currently looks likely to be the only remaining contender in a protracted application process, a business called Natural Retreats – although that has not yet been formally confirmed.
Nor has the likely business and financial relationship between the new operator and public body Highlands and Islands Enterprise which will continue to own the estate and assets.
The five public organisations who have announced a new partnership to develop a co-ordinated management plan for the publicly owned land at Cairngorm Mountain and Estate and Glenmore Forest Park, which together with neighbouring Rothiemurchus are one of the most visited destinations in Scotland, attracting 1.4 million visits annually, are Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), the Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and The Highland Council.
“This partnership looks to create a management plan to preserve and promote the area. We envisage all businesses and communities with an interest in Cairngorm Mountain and Glenmore Forest Park having a role to play in developing the new plan,” said an HIE spokesperson.
A new masterplan will set out plans to deliver a world-class visitor experience, protect and enhance the outstanding nature and landscape and boost the tourism economy.
“As an area of outstanding natural beauty which boasts several award winning visitor attractions, Cairngorm and Glenmore is already a hugely popular destination with the potential to develop further. The Cairngorm Mountain railway is unique in Scotland, and snowsports enthusiasts are currently enjoying a fantastic season there. As the owner of the resort, a priority for HIE in the coming years will be to work with the new operator to ensure we continue to develop the business and maximise the benefits it will generate as an important driver of the local economy,” said Charlotte Wright, Director of Business and Sector Development with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
