If were HIE I'd offer vouchers for accommodation and grub in the local area if they are going guarantee snow tae season pass holders or refunds if requested and offer everyone thats spent a 10% discount on next years passes, that are reduced awready tae bring in more punters...
Personally if I was captain of the 'new' company running the show I'd let the season pass holders slide aboot for a season free as it's probably a different company that are on the passes they've bought and that aw went tae fook.. Maybe I'd let them have a free re-fill a' juice and a packet of skins. The trains would be out and snow would be pushed up tae gain access through the open door for a puff out the wind, place would be rocking...
Who in the ski industry lobbies they fecking socialist right wingers in edinburgh?
If its just HIE that holds the cards then their fecked and it cairngorm and probably one other out west and the rest will get shavings to play with unless the resorts come outta HIE and into a department in the 'government' for tourism and a health department and if they guarantee snow they get a wee slice out the education budget too..
All it's their now it appears is money to advertise the whats all ready in Scotland and very little if any tae invest in new, yet they say tourism is "5% of total Scottish GDP" and "8.5% of employment in the country." They can easily up both numbers by spending on the resorts with public money proportionally for winter and summer, planning needs tae change too for some base areas (the works) and land moved for summer and winter use. A whole different level of thinking is needed and the current system and bunch of 'voted' in eejits fronting the system and HIE aint capable...
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Prices have always been too high and if its gonna be a war with snow making then some have deffo gotta get accommodation sorted close by, cheap and comfortable tae target a different market with their snow but it's pish that cairngorms is the only the one tae get enough snow for a few runs and access up top open in a short time if the weathers right...
A few mountains and hills developed and spent on in Scotland would bring in good money, should have happened years ago but it's not too late and public money should be spent on cool stuff tae bring back in coin and for health and chill out space..
Till multidimensional thought and real investment in 'new' tourism here it's a price and snow machine war on the mountains and hills of Scotland with too big tae fail giving the rest the finger and a dangleberry fae its owners now and again tae balance the investment pins on the map. It's shite, gotta get used tae and unless something changes then Aviemore will be on the map again and will be a decent destination if something like their plans for the slopes happens and will continue tae get investment as they'll draw the crowds.. They get press coverage and that'll grow if they open a chunk with something this season then it'll continue with their investment and keep snowballing till whatever it becomes...
Aw that pish being said, it sucks for people that have no need for tows and slashing the price looks like the trains oot thsi season, maybe not and it's a move... I think they'll do awright out this and it should be a decent place tae go tae if ya can handle tows. Through the week should be quiet enough, weekends could be rammed start of the season.. I've been thinking about aviemore for a few days here and there if HIE make use of what they have bought and pump snow out, I doubt I'm the only one thinking that..
I feel sorry for the other resorts that need tae earn the money they need tae survive let alone invest fairly regular. Because of the snow making this mob got and the fact they can take a hit on the price I'm raging but the prices are a bit much in Scotland for a few reasons and I think if this mob make good use of their snow machines it could and should lead to investment elsewhere. Which will take a while and some will struggle or go as it stands now and looks in the future unless some money for snow making balances the map quickly...
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