Organisers facing battle to sell tickets for Bannockburn re-enactment

Three quarters of tickets for next year’s Battle of Bannockburn re-enactment need to be sold for the event to break even, according to a new report.

However, the centrepiece of a major three-day event taking place near Stirling is “unlikely” to attract as many North Americans as the ill-fated Gathering 2009, MSPs have said.

A paper published by the Scottish Parliament’s economy, energy and tourism committee says a clear marketing strategy is now crucial to ensure its success and attract substantial interest.

Committee convener Murdo Fraser said it was “clear” the Bannockburn 2014 event won’t attract the same number of overseas visitors as the Gathering 2009 because it is of a smaller scale.

However, organisers are confident the re-enactment is “superb”. The reconstruction of the famous battle was announced after Stirling Council revealed in October last year it had cancelled the planned Gathering 2014 event, due to costs.

The Gathering 2009 brought around 17,000 clan members from across the Atlantic to Scotland but ran up more than £700,000 of debts.

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