A new piece of research into the impact of Ryanair flights from European destinations to Glasgow Prestwick International Airport has been launched by Scottish Enterprise. The survey shows that flights to the airport (Burns National Heritage Park's local airport, just a few minutes away from Burns' Alloway birthplace) generated a stunning total of 2.4 million bed-nights in Scotland last financial year and contributed an estimated 55-76 million pounds to the Scottish Economy. An executive summary of the survey is available from Scottish Enterprise Services to Industry (click on the link to go straight to a Word Doc version of the summary). Despite promising figures, however, the survey suggested that the tourist industry still had a way to go in order to maximise the potential of Ryanair flights.

One key issue identified in research, by SQW, was the need for better tourist information at the airport. Burns National Heritage Park is working alongside other members of the Ayrshire and Arran Visitor Attractions Assocition and the Ayrshire and Arran Tourism Forum to develop plans to address this, along with colleagues in Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and the local Tourist Board. We would very much like to hear from anyone who has visited the area as a tourist about what kind of information they would like to see at the airport and also what they think is special or unique about the region. If you have any thoughts, e-mail Nat Edwards with your comments.

Ryanair has also added new direct flights to Prestwick, so you can now travel directly to the heart of Burns Country from Shannon and Milan, as well as the existing flights available to Prestwick, from Alicante, Barcelona, Bourgas, Bournemouth, Brussels, Cardiff, Dublin, Faro, Frankfurt, Gothenburg, Isle of Man, Las Palmas, London, Oslo, Parma, Paris, Stockholm, Tenerfe and Varna. It has never been quicker, more convenient or better value to visit Burns Country.