The Cairngorms are up against the likes of the Canadian Rockies and the Yosemite National Park in the quest for tourists’ cash.

Development bosses want to boost outdoor activities in the area, along with visitor attractions and facilities. They hope to create 1,200 new jobs in the tourism industry with a £1m investment in the East of the national park.

Scottish Enterprise Grampian says without this boost, there is a risk tourist numbers will drop, as the area loses out to its international competitors. It hopes to increase spending by visitors by £30m in the next ten years and attract six per cent more tourists.

David Littlejohn, the agency’s grandly titled global connections director, said: “We have to see ourselves as competing in an international market with the likes of Yosemite National Park in the United States or the Canadian Rockies, and provide increasingly discerning visitors with a world-class destination which matches the best of what is on offer.
 
“Our vision for the area is to increase the number of high-value visitors and boost our economy by making it a sought-after destination for people from across Europe who come to stay in good-quality accommodation and enjoy the park's unique qualities as a remote and wild place.”

Scottish Enterprise Grampian says it has identified a need for a ‘small- to medium-sized resort in the East of the region. It says it has not yet decided where this would be built, but is looking for potential investors.

The Scottish Parliament recently defeated MSP John Swinney’s bid to have the Cairngorms National Park enlarged to take in additional parts of Perthshire.