Annabelle Ewing’s Vision For Tourism In Ochil And South Perthshire

Ochil and South Perthshire has the ingredients of a strong year-round visitor economy: dramatic hills, historic towns, golf, food, whisky, walking routes and communities with deep local identity. Annabelle Ewing’s approach places these assets within a broader economic recovery agenda, aiming to make tourism work harder for residents, small businesses and visitors.

For an Australian audience, the region may be imagined as a compact blend of the Blue Mountains, the Yarra Valley and the historic villages found along Victoria’s regional touring routes. The Ochil Hills, Perthshire countryside and towns such as Kinross, Dunblane and Auchterarder offer experiences that can be promoted beyond the traditional summer season.

The emphasis is on sustainable growth rather than simply attracting larger visitor numbers. Better transport, stronger digital promotion, support for independent businesses and responsible access to the countryside can help spread spending across the year and across more communities.

Ewing’s background in law, public service and local campaigning also informs the case for practical representation at Westminster. Her campaign platform connects tourism with wider priorities, including Scotland’s economic resilience and the ambition for Scotland to make more of its own decisions.

Priority	Practical focus	Benefit for the area
Year-round tourism	Promote culture, food, nature and events outside peak summer	More stable jobs and trading
Sustainable access	Improve public transport, paths and visitor information	Easier, lower-impact travel
Local enterprise	Support accommodation, guides, producers and retailers	More visitor spending retained locally
Digital visibility	Build stronger online campaigns and itineraries	Reach domestic and international markets
Community value	Protect landscapes and involve residents	Tourism that earns local support

Turning Landscapes Into Longer Stays

The Ochil Hills can support walking, cycling, wildlife watching and landscape photography, while South Perthshire offers historic buildings, riverside routes, gardens and village-based experiences. Packaging these attractions into themed itineraries would encourage visitors to stay for several nights rather than pass through on a single day.

That approach could appeal to travellers familiar with self-drive holidays from Melbourne to regional Victoria or Sydney to the Blue Mountains. Instead of focusing on one landmark, marketing could connect a hill walk near Dollar with local food, a heritage visit in Dunblane and an evening at a Perthshire accommodation provider.

Clear route information would be essential. Graded walks, seasonal advice, parking guidance, public transport connections and accessible options could be presented in one digital system. This would help families, older travellers and international visitors plan confidently while reducing pressure on fragile locations.

Supporting Local Businesses

Tourism spending has its greatest effect when it reaches independent cafés, farms, craft producers, guesthouses, tour operators and shops. A local procurement approach could encourage hotels and restaurants to feature Perthshire produce, Scottish whisky, seasonal menus and products made within the constituency.

There is a useful comparison with Australian regional markets, where visitors often expect a farmers’ market, cellar-door experience or local food trail to be part of the journey. Ochil and South Perthshire could strengthen similar links between attractions and producers, giving visitors more reasons to explore beyond major venues such as Gleneagles.

Small operators also need practical assistance with online booking, photography, accessibility information and overseas marketing. Shared training and cooperative campaigns could make it easier for a family-run business to reach visitors from Brisbane, Adelaide or Perth without having the budget of a large hotel group.

Building Better Connections

Transport will determine whether tourism growth benefits villages as well as headline destinations. Reliable rail connections, integrated bus services, safer cycling routes and well-signposted walking links could make it easier to travel between Stirling, Perth, Kinross and smaller communities without relying entirely on a private car.

This matters to Australian visitors, who are accustomed to long distances between attractions and may hire a vehicle for a Scottish touring holiday. Good local connections would still allow them to leave the car behind for individual days, much as visitors may use regional trains around Melbourne or buses from Sydney into nearby national park areas.

Investment in visitor facilities should include toilets, rest areas, charging points, path maintenance and clear information about responsible countryside access. Coordinated planning can help manage congestion at popular beauty spots while directing attention towards lesser-known villages and routes.

Extending The Visitor Season

A stronger events calendar could make autumn, winter and spring more attractive. Food festivals, literary weekends, heritage open days, trail-running events, golf packages and winter craft markets would give accommodation providers reasons to remain busy after the peak holiday period.

Seasonal promotion should reflect the character of the landscape rather than copy a summer campaign. Crisp autumn colours, winter fireside stays, spring gardens and dark-sky experiences can appeal to visitors seeking slower travel. These offers could be timed around Australian school holiday periods, when families and empty-nesters are often researching overseas trips.

Tourism businesses would benefit from a longer season through steadier employment and improved cash flow. Hospitality workers could receive more predictable hours, while attractions and retailers could plan investment with greater confidence.

Making Growth Work For Communities

Tourism policy needs local consent. Residents should have a meaningful role in decisions about visitor numbers, parking, paths, events and the use of public spaces. Protecting the character of towns such as Kinross, Dunblane and Auchterarder is central to retaining the qualities that attract visitors in the first place.

Environmental stewardship must sit alongside promotion. Visitor management, litter reduction, habitat protection and guidance for responsible dog walking can preserve the Ochil Hills and Perthshire’s waterways. Climate-conscious travel information could also encourage rail journeys, shared transport and longer stays instead of rushed itineraries.

Annabelle Ewing’s tourism agenda therefore links place, enterprise and representation. It presents the constituency as a destination where economic recovery should strengthen local livelihoods while respecting landscapes and community life.

Support for this vision by sharing the campaign’s priorities, following local updates and engaging with the campaign can help keep tourism, jobs and sustainable regional development at the centre of the political conversation. Visit the campaign website to learn more about Annabelle Ewing’s work for Ochil and South Perthshire and Scotland’s future.