Snowsports sector 2022 - economic, social, and cultural impact: research

This report presents the findings of research into the economic, cultural and social value of the Scottish snowsports sector.


8. Appendix A

Scottish Market Review

We have also created a dashboard that provides more detailed analysis of the Scottish snowsports sector.

Scottish Snowsports Sector Data Analysis

Figure A-1: Snowsports Visitors (Individual Mountain Centres) - Cairngorms
Line chart showing steady decline of annual snowsports visitors to the Cairngorm Mountain centre from 1989 to 2015. The peak was in 1990, with 300,000 visitors.
Figure A-2: Snowsports Visitors (Individual Mountain Centres) - Glencoe
Line chart showing a slight decline of annual snowsports visitors to the Glencoe centre from 1989 to 2015, although there was a significant rise in visitors from 2011 to 2015.
Figure A-3: Snowsports Visitors (Individual Mountain Centres) - Glenshee
Line chart showing a slight decline of annual snowsports visitors to the Glenshee centre from 1989 to 2015, from its peak in 1990 with 200,000 visitors.
Figure A-4: Snowsports Visitors (Individual Mountain Centres) - The Lecht 2090
Line chart showing a slight decline of annual snowsports visitors to the Lecht 2090 centre from 1989 to 2015. The peak number of visitors was in 2000.
Figure A-5: Snowsports Visitors (Individual Mountain Centres) – Nevis Range
Line chart showing a steady decline of annual snowsports visitors to the Nevis Range centre from 1989 to 2015.

Drive time

Table A-1: Population with access to a Mountain Centres within 60 Minute Drive
Local Authority SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
Stirling   385 1,253     1,638
Perth and Kinross 1,344 2,522 5,117 9,529 3,675 22,187
Moray     3,150 4,717   7,867
Highland 1,261 2,535 10,719 16,426 767 31,708
Argyll and Bute     2,075 2,942   5,017
Angus 864 827 5,633 1,118 1,296 9,738
Aberdeenshire     2,278 6,430 4,792 13,500
Total 3,469 6,269 30,225 41,162 10,530 91,655
Table A-2: Population with access to a Mountain Centres within 120 Minute Drive
Local Authority SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
West Lothian 16,540 31,588 24,786 22,721 20,656 116,291
West Dunbartonshire 35,513 25,038 14,731 9,884 4,785 89,951
Stirling 10,756 12,648 12,847 26,812 26,869 89,932
South Lanarkshire 49,546 46,755 33,832 33,534 35,931 199,598
Renfrewshire 42,755 37,474 30,680 26,807 36,724 174,440
Perth and Kinross 8,563 20,751 30,353 51,200 35,260 146,127
North Lanarkshire 95,773 75,677 40,072 44,271 34,350 290,143
North Ayrshire 11,494 5,243 5,443 3,630 2,944 28,754
Moray 2,514 14,161 30,078 34,528 11,695 92,976
Inverclyde 32,088 10,590 8,157 4,644 6,717 62,196
Highland 18,455 28,037 53,226 59,187 17,397 176,302
Glasgow City 257,612 99,773 78,026 71,293 71,476 578,180
Fife 55,531 65,795 60,810 65,365 69,565 317,066
Falkirk 24,472 36,161 40,272 26,103 28,802 155,810
East Renfrewshire 5,305 9,701 7,630 15,674 52,088 90,398
East Dunbartonshire 4,398 18,754 6,317 23,071 52,279 104,819
East Ayrshire 270 4,812 1,562 5,579 3,455 15,678
Dundee City 54,114 28,226 17,113 23,190 23,593 146,236
Clackmannanshire 13,538 13,089 8,617 7,371 8,735 51,350
City of Edinburgh 2,133 1,104 2,802 4,868 5,777 16,684
Argyll and Bute 4,555 10,676 22,125 19,595 7,545 64,496
Angus 8,567 24,174 34,935 33,113 14,790 115,579
Aberdeenshire   11,006 40,004 80,747 67,893 199,650
Aberdeen City 23,049 50,938 36,279 30,082 81,602 221,950
Total 777,541 682,171 640,697 723,269 720,928 3,544,606
Table A-3: Population with access to a Mountain Centres within 180 Minute Drive
Local Authority SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
West Lothian 26,847 50,801 34,775 28,540 33,863 174,826
West Dunbartonshire 35,513 25,038 14,731 9,884 4,785 89,951
Stirling 10,756 12,648 12,847 26,830 26,869 89,950
South Lanarkshire 62,760 78,462 63,333 55,853 52,797 313,205
South Ayrshire 19,595 25,902 25,503 16,005 25,086 112,091
Scottish Borders 1,749 6,745 17,116 20,007 8,514 54,131
Renfrewshire 42,755 37,474 30,680 26,807 36,724 174,440
Perth and Kinross 8,563 20,751 30,357 51,200 35,260 146,131
North Lanarkshire 112,693 91,124 46,303 50,021 36,360 336,501
North Ayrshire 56,430 26,107 18,111 16,339 14,640 131,627
Moray 2,514 14,161 30,128 34,533 11,695 93,031
Midlothian 6,984 30,220 19,691 13,836 12,192 82,923
Inverclyde 34,956 11,516 10,248 11,715 11,912 80,347
Highland 18,883 33,124 68,540 63,974 17,397 201,918
Glasgow City 261,994 99,969 78,026 71,293 71,476 582,758
Fife 73,412 75,467 69,694 73,600 72,609 364,782
Falkirk 24,472 36,161 40,272 26,103 28,802 155,810
East Renfrewshire 5,305 9,701 7,630 15,713 52,107 90,456
East Lothian 5,461 30,000 22,851 22,175 18,953 99,440
East Dunbartonshire 4,398 18,754 6,317 23,071 52,279 104,819
East Ayrshire 38,605 31,170 20,508 18,729 13,040 122,052
Dundee City 54,114 28,226 17,113 23,345 23,593 146,391
Dumfries and Galloway 10,821 17,826 36,011 15,208 10,940 90,806
Clackmannanshire 13,538 13,089 8,617 7,371 8,735 51,350
City of Edinburgh 55,358 64,942 65,974 78,470 211,190 475,934
Argyll and Bute 5,840 12,160 26,675 21,038 7,545 73,258
Angus 8,567 24,174 34,933 33,113 14,790 115,577
Aberdeenshire 7,927 23,048 55,633 93,183 72,577 252,368
Aberdeen City 23,049 50,981 36,279 30,082 81,602 221,993
Total 1,033,859 999,741 948,896 978,038 1,068,332 5,028,866
Table A-4: Population with access to an Artificial Slope within a 30 Minute Drive
Local Authority SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
Aberdeen City 11,959 32,144 25,733 19,723 53,802 143,361
Aberdeenshire   2,453 8,062 21,849 27,852 60,216
Angus 7,703 18,851 21,060 22,287 6,239 76,140
Argyll and Bute         71 71
City of Edinburgh 28,378 16,587 15,446 19,517 63,463 143,391
Clackmannanshire 13,538 13,089 8,617 7,371 8,735 51,350
Dundee City     325   1,345 1,670
East Ayrshire 28,202 24,140 16,777 15,147 13,033 97,299
East Dunbartonshire 4,398 18,754 6,303 23,071 52,279 104,805
East Lothian 5,415 25,071 10,840 10,076 8,883 60,285
East Renfrewshire 5,305 9,701 7,630 15,675 52,092 90,403
Falkirk 24,472 36,161 40,272 26,103 28,798 155,806
Fife 4,680 8,064 12,768 13,137 6,669 45,318
Glasgow City 261,994 99,969 78,026 71,293 71,476 582,758
Highland     2,310 6,478   8,788
Inverclyde 797   1,675   2,645 5,117
Midlothian 6,984 30,220 19,667 13,804 12,192 82,867
Moray   1,881 2,338 3,178   7,397
North Ayrshire 9,401 9,610 4,060 2,490 2,412 27,973
North Lanarkshire 98,116 77,477 40,559 44,595 34,067 294,814
Perth and Kinross     53 2,160 721 2,934
Renfrewshire 42,755 37,474 30,676 26,791 36,724 174,420
Scottish Borders     937 348 1,547 2,832
South Ayrshire 6,515 5,740 7,901 5,564 10,068 35,788
South Lanarkshire 53,418 53,563 45,892 42,769 48,487 244,129
Stirling 10,161 10,066 8,413 15,967 21,351 65,958
West Dunbartonshire 30,494 23,547 13,432 9,526 3,175 80,174
West Lothian 19,134 38,727 31,231 26,476 24,493 140,061
Total 673,819 593,289 461,003 465,395 592,619 2,786,125
Table A-5: Population with access to an Artificial Slope within a 60 Minute Drive
Local Authority SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
Aberdeen City 23,049 50,981 36,279 30,082 81,602 221,993
Aberdeenshire   10,038 37,515 77,296 67,339 192,188
Angus 8,567 24,174 34,546 32,663 14,475 114,425
Argyll and Bute 2,132 1,267 3,445 8,186 7,545 22,575
City of Edinburgh 48,466 61,553 63,995 75,031 208,606 457,651
Clackmannanshire 13,538 13,089 8,617 7,371 8,735 51,350
Dumfries and Galloway 2,233 1,633 447 509   4,822
Dundee City 42,771 19,588 9,257 18,542 16,199 106,357
East Ayrshire 38,605 31,151 20,508 18,729 13,040 122,033
East Dunbartonshire 4,398 18,754 6,317 23,071 52,279 104,819
East Lothian 5,461 30,000 22,849 22,168 18,953 99,431
East Renfrewshire 5,305 9,701 7,630 15,713 52,107 90,456
Falkirk 24,472 36,161 40,272 26,103 28,802 155,810
Fife 72,508 70,813 57,681 51,207 50,768 302,977
Glasgow City 261,994 99,969 78,026 71,293 71,476 582,758
Highland 1,382 3,538 8,809 23,087 10,131 46,947
Inverclyde 34,956 11,516 10,248 11,712 11,912 80,344
Midlothian 6,984 30,220 19,691 13,836 12,192 82,923
Moray 1,981 11,702 23,930 28,484 7,958 74,055
North Ayrshire 56,430 26,107 18,069 16,339 14,640 131,585
North Lanarkshire 112,710 91,124 46,303 50,021 36,360 336,518
Perth and Kinross 7,088 17,976 20,847 29,544 28,599 104,054
Renfrewshire 42,755 37,474 30,680 26,807 36,724 174,440
Scottish Borders   5,674 13,003 17,748 8,349 44,774
South Ayrshire 17,528 21,126 23,317 16,005 25,086 103,062
South Lanarkshire 62,760 78,435 63,301 55,853 52,797 313,146
Stirling 10,756 12,263 11,475 26,748 26,869 88,111
West Dunbartonshire 35,513 25,038 14,731 9,882 4,785 89,949
West Lothian 26,847 50,801 34,775 28,540 33,863 174,826
Total 971,189 901,866 766,563 832,570 1,002,191 4,474,379
Table A-6: Artificial slopes' 30 minute and 60 minute drive time populations
Venue 30 Minute Drive 60 Minute Drive
Aberdeen Snowsports Centre 174,756.00 360,812.00
Alford Ski Centre 19,413.00 215,194.00
Bearsden Ski and Board Club 496,815.00 2,299,080.00
Firpark Ski Centre 121,796.00 1,643,631.00
Glasgow Ski & Snowboard Centre 1,467,097.00 2,702,789.00
Glenmore Lodge 4,461.00 20,477.00
Huntly Nordic and Outdoors Centre 19,420.00 167,341.00
Lagganlia Outdoor Centre 8,634.00 45,967.00
Loch Insh Outdoor Centre 8,697.00 48,029.00
Midlothian Snowsports Centre, Hillend 279,633.00 1,343,976.00
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 194,779.00 2,042,083.00
Polmonthill Snowsports Centre 490,987.00 2,767,898.00
RM-Condor, Arbroath 77,810.00 239,008.00
Table A-7: Visitor Survey, Respondents by Council Area and SIMD Quintile
Visitor Council Area SIMD Q1 SIMD Q2 SIMD Q3 SIMD Q4 SIMD Q5 Total
Highland 0.72% 1.34% 4.92% 12.80% 1.70% 21.48%
Aberdeenshire 0.09%   1.88% 5.10% 5.82% 12.89%
Perth and Kinross 0.18% 0.72% 2.24% 3.76% 2.69% 9.59%
City of Edinburgh 0.36% 0.45% 1.07% 2.60% 3.40% 7.88%
Aberdeen City 0.09% 0.98% 0.98% 0.98% 3.31% 6.34%
Fife 0.72% 0.63% 0.72% 1.25% 1.61% 4.93%
Glasgow City 0.81% 0.72% 0.36% 0.72% 1.52% 4.13%
Dundee City 0.72% 0.36% 0.63% 0.81% 0.63% 3.15%
Angus 0.27% 0.45% 0.81% 0.90% 0.27% 2.70%
Stirling 0.09% 0.36% 0.27% 1.25% 0.72% 2.69%
Moray   0.18% 1.16% 0.81% 0.27% 2.42%
Argyll and Bute 0.18% 0.09% 0.98% 0.98% 0.18% 2.41%
South Lanarkshire 0.18% 0.36% 0.45% 0.45% 0.63% 2.07%
East Dunbartonshire   0.18% 0.18% 0.36% 1.25% 1.97%
West Lothian 0.09% 0.36% 0.27% 0.54% 0.45% 1.71%
Falkirk   0.45% 0.18% 0.27% 0.72% 1.62%
Clackmannanshire 0.09% 0.54% 0.27% 0.09% 0.54% 1.53%
East Renfrewshire       0.36% 1.16% 1.52%
Scottish Borders 0.09% 0.09% 0.09% 0.45% 0.36% 1.08%
West Dunbartonshire 0.27% 0.54% 0.09% 0.09%   0.99%
East Lothian 0.09%   0.27% 0.27% 0.36% 0.99%
North Lanarkshire 0.18% 0.36%   0.27% 0.18% 0.99%
Inverclyde 0.18%   0.18% 0.18% 0.36% 0.90%
Midlothian     0.27% 0.36% 0.27% 0.90%
Renfrewshire 0.27% 0.27% 0.18% 0.09% 0.09% 0.90%
South Ayrshire     0.27%   0.45% 0.72%
Dumfries and Galloway 0.18% 0.18% 0.09% 0.09%   0.54%
East Ayrshire 0.18%   0.09% 0.09% 0.09% 0.45%
North Ayrshire 0.09% 0.09%   0.18% 0.09% 0.45%
Na h-Eileanan an Iar     0.09%     0.09%
Orkney Islands       0.09%   0.09%
Grand Total 6.12% 9.70% 18.99% 36.19% 29.12% 100%
Table A-8: Visitor Survey, Percentage Respondents by Council Area and Mountain Centre
Visitor Council Area Cairngorm Glencoe Glenshee Lecht Nevis
Highland 50% 12% 2% 15% 43%
Aberdeenshire 6% 2% 19% 47% 2%
City of Edinburgh 5% 12% 9% 2% 5%
Perth and Kinross 5% 8% 19%   4%
Moray 4%     15%  
Fife 4% 3% 8% 1% 5%
Aberdeen City 3% 2% 11% 15% 4%
Stirling 2% 5% 1% 1% 5%
Glasgow City 2% 11% 2%   4%
East Dunbartonshire 2% 3% 2%   1%
Clackmannanshire 2% 2% 1%    
South Lanarkshire 2% 3% 1%   4%
Dundee City 2%   6% 2% 4%
Inverclyde 2% 2%     1%
East Renfrewshire 2% 3% 1%    
West Lothian 1% 3% 1% 1%  
Dumfries and Galloway 1% 1%     1%
Falkirk 1% 4% 1% 1%  
South Ayrshire 1% 2%      
Argyll and Bute 1% 7%     7%
North Lanarkshire 1% 1% 1%   2%
East Lothian   2% 1%   1%
East Ayrshire   2%      
West Dunbartonshire   3%     2%
Angus     8%    
Orkney Islands          
Scottish Borders   1% 2%   2%
Renfrewshire   2% 1%   1%
Midlothian   2% 1% 2%  
Na h-Eileanan an Iar          
North Ayrshire   2%      
Grand Total 100% 100% 100% 100% 100%

List of Roles within Sector

  • Activities Manager
  • Finance Manager
  • Marketing Assistants
  • Ski Hire Technicians
  • Assistant Manager
  • General Manager
  • Mechanics
  • Ski Patrol
  • Bookkeeper
  • Health and Safety Manager
  • Office Manager
  • Ski Patrol Manager
  • Catering Assistants
  • HR Manager
  • Operations Director
  • Ski School Manager
  • Catering Manager
  • HSE Director
  • Party Host
  • Snow factory Technicians
  • Chef
  • Land Manager
  • Pisting Technicians
  • Snowsport Instructors
  • Chief Executive
  • Leisure Attendant
  • Ranger Service Head Ranger
  • Snowsport Volunteers
  • Cleaners
  • Lift Operators
  • Rangers
  • Support Assistants
  • Commercial Manager
  • Maintenance Director
  • Retail Assistants
  • Tech Ops Manager
  • Community Leisure Officer
  • Maintenance Technicians
  • Sales and Events Co-Ordinator
  • Ticket Office Assistants
  • Customer Services and Operations Coordinator
  • Managing Director
  • Ski Hire Manager
  • Youth Worker
  • Duty Officer
Table A-10: Investment Summary – Mountain Centres and Artificial Slopes
Venue Year Item Amount Funding Source Project Details Reason for Investment
Cairngorm 2019-2020 Exhibition Base Station £60,000 HIE Exhibition Base Station To increase dwell time
Cairngorm 2019-2020 Refurb Cafes in Day Lodge £27,423 HIE Refurb Cafes in Day Lodge To improve facilities and increase dwell time
Cairngorm 2019-2020 Tubing Slide £36,151 HIE Tubing Slide To provide family activities
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Access Track £15,186 HIE Access Track 0
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Addition to Tubing Slide £110,448 HIE Addition to Tubing Slide To enhance the existing experience
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Camper Van Facilities £60,257 HIE and CNPA Camper Van Facilities To reduce pollution from wild camping
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Car Park Barrier System £34,803 HIE Car Park Barrier System 0
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Car Park Upgrade £17,685 HIE Car Park Upgrade To improve sense of arrival
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Energy Efficiency £50,029 HIE Energy Efficiency To reduce the carbon footprint
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Equipment Hire £7,979 HIE Equipment Hire Business Improvement
Cairngorm 2021-2022 IT Hardware £11,268 HIE IT Hardware Business Improvement
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Kitchen Equipment £12,678 HIE Kitchen Equipment Business Improvement
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Online Ticketing £40,790 HIE Online Ticketing Business Improvement
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Ptarmigan Refurbishment £628,525 HIE Ptarmigan Refurbishment To improve facilities and increase dwell time
Cairngorm 2021-2022 Replace EPOS System £6,182 HIE Replace EPOS System Business Improvement
Glencoe Mountain 2016 -2017 Coire Pollach Button tow £200,000 Own Funds and HIE New Beginners button Improve beginners experience
Glencoe Mountain 2017 - 2018 New Garage £250,000 Own Funds and HIE Large Garage on the mountain To allow plant to be stored inside
Glencoe Mountain 2017 - 2021 Rannoch Chairlift £1,100,000 Own Funds and HIE New 3-man Chairlift on the plateau To relieve bottle neck and improve experience
Glencoe Mountain 2017 -2018 Snow Factory Purchase £400,000 Own funds HIE and crowdfunding Small snowfactory to guarantee snow on beginners' area
Glencoe Mountain 2021 -2022 New Base café after fire £2,000,000 Insurance (£1m), own funds and HIE Replace base café after fire on 25th Dec 2019 Original café burnt down
Glenshee 2017 Master Plan £60,000 SE £13716 Master Plan Help with Funding
Glenshee 2018 Café Feasibility £8,000 SE 50% Café Feasibility Realistic Possibilities
Glenshee 2019 Snow Factory/Canons £898,500 SE 40% Snow Factory/Canons Upgrade of Existing Snowmaking Including Snow Factory
Glenshee 2019 Surface Lift Upgrades £277,000 SE 50% Surface Lift Upgrades Upgrade to Variable Speed Drives
Glenshee 2019 Ticket System £50,000 SE £4200 Ticket System Obsolete - part funding software only
Glenshee 2019 Wind Turbine/Energy Storage Feasibility £9,962 LCIPT 50% Wind Turbine/Energy Storage Feasibility Reduce reliance on Diesel Generation
Glenshee 2021 Kassbohrer Winch Cat £391,451 SE 75% Kassbohrer Winch Cat Upgrade and Replace 30-Year-Old winch cat
Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports 2019 Installation of new Travellator on tubing slope £80,000   Installation of new Travellator on tubing slope Improve product and help allow less able-bodied members of the public to participate in tubing
Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports 2020 Ground works. Path Widening £17,000 Sport Aberdeen Ground works. Path Widening Make paths to slope wider during Covid-19
Adventure Aberdeen Snowsports 2021/22 Matting replacement £130,000   Matting replacement Slope surface improvement
Alford Ski Centre 2021 Mat replacement, poma upgrade and travelator upgrade, sprinkler system upgrade £300,000 Council Mat replacement, poma upgrade and travelator upgrade, sprinkler system upgrade Mat was almost 20 years old and going bare, needed significant update.
Hillend No Data No Data £0 No Data No Data No Data
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 01/01/2021 Ski Resort Recovery - Round 1 - March- Dec 2020 £45,000 Scottish Government - Snowsports Scotland Ski Resort Recovery - Round 1 - March- Dec 2020 Ski Surface Mat Replacement
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 01/03/2021 Ski Resort Recovery - Round 2 - Jan - March 2021 £24,726 Scottish Government - Snowsports Scotland Ski Resort Recovery - Round 2 - Jan - March 2021 Ski Surface Mats
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 01/05/2019 Tubing Track £196,833 Ayrshire LEADER Tubing Track Increase Capacity, increase income
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 01/06/2021 Communities Recovery Fund £28,500 SCVO Adapt and Thrive Communities Recovery Fund Outdoor Shelter
Newmilns Snow and Sports Complex 01/12/2021 Accessible Play Park £20,000 Postcode Lottery Fund Accessible Play Park Site Development
Total     £7,606,376      

It should be noted that the above table includes funding by HIE for third party projects only. This excludes any HIE owned assets that are leased to Cairngorm Mountain Scotland Ltd, including the Cairn Gorm Funicular. It is estimated that the cost of the funicular refurbishment will be around £25 million, with funding being provided by both Scottish Government and HIE.

Table A-11: HIE Approved Investment in Mountain Centres
Year of Investment Cairngorm Mountain Ltd Glencoe Mountain Limited Lecht Ski Company Ltd Nevis Range Development Company Limited Approval Amount
2014 £139,471 £1,629,295 £342,100 £627,650 £2,738,516
2015   £126,000 £72,535 £10,500 £209,035
2016     £14,467   £14,467
2017 £58,800     £33,800 £92,600
2018   £140,000 £208,000 £15,100 £363,100
2019 £920,852     £521,000 £1,441,852
2020   £20,000 £300,000 £412,975 £732,975
2021 £1,916,261 £500,000 £98,125 £800,000 £3,314,386
Total £3,035,384 £2,415,295 £1,035,227 £2,421,025 £8,906,931
Table A-12: Scottish Enterprise - Glenshee Capital Investment Summary
Item Amount SE Approved Investment Paid by SE
Snowmaking Equipment 370,000 300,000
Winchcat 400,000 200,000
Tiger chairlift 635,000 6,000
Cairnwell Tow 1,840,00 476,178
Ground source heat pumps and low carbon ventilation system 200,000 200,000
Lift Infrastructure 56,698 56,698
Small Infrastructure   6,000
Total 1,605,000 1,332,464

How to access background or source data

The data collected for this social research publication: are available via an alternative route on the Scottish Snowsports Sector Data Analysis dashboard

Contact

Email: socialresearch@gov.scot

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