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ayrshire chamber
of commerce and
industry's website

working in
partnership to
develop the
ayrshire economy

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Ayrshire and Arran Visitor Attraction Association (AAVAA)
Dynamic and mutually supportive, aiming to increase visitor satisfaction at attractions; to share resources, knowledge and information; be a collective lobbying voice; develop off-season activity and undertake joint promotional and awareness-raising activities to complement the work of VisitScotland Prestwick, operating under the strapline “Great Days Out”

The main activities involving financial contributions from members are joint leaflet printing and distribution, advertising, bedroom packs and the website.   The Association has and continues to work on education packs/school visits, press campaigns, trade shows, signposting VA/tourism presence at Prestwick Airport, market research and training and skills development.   Partnership project opportunities are being explored with for example the Ayrshire and Arran Hotels Association.

For further info contact
Chair: Fiona Carswell, Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
Secretary: Alastair Breckenridge 

AAVAA Members
Vikingar!
Kelburn Castle and Country Centre
Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park
The Museum of Country Life and Costume at Dalgarven Mill
Scottish Maritime Museum
Dean Castle Country Park
Loudoun Castle Family Theme Park
Rozelle House Galleries
Heads of Ayr Farm Park
Burns National Heritage Park
Dundonald Castle
Culzean Castle

Ayrshire Food Network (AFN)
The membership of AFN involves local artisan fine food producers as well as delicatessen providers, B&Bs, Guest Houses, hotels and restaurants who prepare and serve these raw materials to a high standard.

The membership is currently 42 and ongoing selective recruitment is a priority.   Marketing leaflets are distributed by the members and are on display in Tourism Information Centres and some continental airports.   The leaflet also appears on the Farmer’s Market website www.ayrshirefarmersmarket.co.uk

The use of local produce is also of national interest and many events have been held recently which emphasise this.   The food agenda is of increasing importance.   Howard Wilkinson, the Network’s Chair has been involved in and has represented AFN on many occasions recently including:
- Terre Madre congress in Turin – to a truly global audience of 900
- Tourism Innovation Group workshop in Edinburgh
- Borders Food Network visitors and meeting in Lauder
- Castle Douglas Food Town conference
- Estonian Ministry of Agriculture-led delegation meetings

During 2006, members have worked with similar groups in and from other countries – Italy, Sweden, Germany and Estonia and further links are planned.

To enhance the tourism aspect of AFN’s work, plans are being prepared for three Ayrshire Food Trails and discussions are taking place re working with other sectors e.g. crafts

An associated logistics/delivery business, Scot Foods 2 U is based in Troon.

Current AFN members :

Afton Glen Meats: Arran Chocolate Factory: Arran Brewery: Arran Dairies Ltd: Arran Smoked Products & Seafood Restaurant: Ayrshire Farmhouse Ice Cream: Ayrshire Farmers Market: Auchengreen Farm Shop: Balkissock Farm: Balmoral Knitwear Coffee Shop: Bellevue Cheese Co: Blair House: Borlands Delicatessen: Braidwoods:Burns Country Smokehouse:Chrisholms of Ayr: Corney and Barrow/Whighams of Ayr:Corrie Mains Farm: Dalduff Farm Shop:Dowhill Country Fayre:Dunlop Dairy Products: East Lochhead Country House and Cottages: Enterkine House:Fencebay Fisheries:Fins Seafood Restaurant: Fouters Restaurant: Hayes Farm Shop: Horizon Hotel:Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd: Island Cheese Co: Jane's Delicatessen:Kingscross Herbs: Langside Farm: Lime Tree Leader: Lochwood Farm Steading:Malin Court Hotel: Parkstone Hotel:Paterson Arran: Peckham and Ray: Petrie Fine Foods: Robbie's Drams: Scot Foods 2 U: Scottish Milk Products: Stair Organic Growers: Straition Stores: The Home Farm Food Shop: Threepwood Fayre: Westin Turnberry:Woodland Farm Shop 

Chair: Howard Wilkinson
Secretary/Treasurer: Alastair Breckenridge
www.ayrshirefoodnetwork.co.uk

Culture/Heritage
Ayrshire Trails
With funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire, South Ayrshire Council and Eurofunding through Kilmarnock College, the ‘Trails Leaflet’ was published in 2005.   The 32-page leaflet has a pullout map and descriptions of 8 Ayrshire Trails.
All About Ayrshire
Funding from Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and Kilmarnock College’s European ‘Developing Tourism Capacity’ initiative and a huge amount of voluntary time has allowed research to be completed on:
- Famous People – the Top Twenty and 135 others, who have been born, lived in or have been associated with the County.   There are short biographies of each, dead or alive and from sport to politics.
- ‘Fascinating Facts’- 40 items of unusual interest
- Past Events.   A time-line from 400AD to World War 2
- Famous Families from Earldoms downwards
- Family Names associated with Ayrshire for those interested in ancestral tourism and genealogy.