Scotland will be represented at a leading international hunting and fishing trade fair by the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group (SCSTG). Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei  international fair will be held in in Austria from 21st to 24th February 2013.

The SCSTG is to exhibit from the 21st – 24th February 2013 at the Hohe Jagd & Fischerei, a famous European hunting and fishing expo in Salzburg, Austria. With thanks to the VisitScotland Growth Fund, visitors to the fair will be shown how to find some of the best sporting opportunities and sport -friendly accommodation in Scotland, through the website  www.countrysportscotland.com . The  site  includes sport to suit all budgets and a wealth of useful information on travel including open seasons for deer, game and fish.

Country sports tourism in Scotland is worth over £200 million to the Scottish economy each year and is vital to many remote rural businesses. SCSTG was set up in 2003 to widen the market for Scottish country sports and to help ensure visitors are offered the best possible experience.

Sarah Troughton, chair of the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group and senior trustee of Atholl Estates in Perthshire said:  “There have always been strong links between Scotland and the alpine region of central Europe with many Austrian people coming to Scotland for deer stalking and fishing.  We are very keen to welcome more people to Scotland and to show the huge range of sporting experiences available.  As well as red deer on the open hill, we have roe, fallow and sika in our woodlands.  The quality of pheasant and red-legged partridge shooting in the dramatic Scottish countryside is among the best in the world, alongside grouse shooting on our moorlands.  Rabbits and hares can be a most rewarding sporting quarry and both salmon and trout fishing is widely available at reasonable cost.  Scotland truly has something for everyone and we are looking forward to showing what we can offer at Die Hohe Jagd & Fischerei.”

At the fair Scotland will have the opportunity to promote its sport to sportsmen and women from all over Europe. “People will be looking for new experiences and will be attracted by the scenery and culture of Scotland. Not only will we be marketing our sport, but we will promote the whole Scottish experience from the hospitality to the culture, history and tradition. Scotland is good at putting on a show and we will certainly be doing that; visitors to the stand will be offered a true ‘taste of Scotland’ with bagpipes, kilts, whisky and of course Scottish shortbread! ’’said Victoria Brooks, SCSTG Project Coordinator.  ENDS.