Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2012
21 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Visitor Economy
I discovered this Dark Island ale, which looked like a pint of Guinness to me, but I am told on good authority that it is well worth trying.
On the point about workforce retention, skills and customer service, there is sometimes an attitude in the Highlands that is almost as if people are in service, when in fact they are public servants. Many people provide excellent customer service, but it is for hotel owners and others in the tourism industry to ensure that staff are well trained—as I know they do—and to value those staff.
I have one good story and a second one that is a could-do-better. The good news story is on the whisky industry, which I again commend for its incredible contribution to the Scottish economy and in particular its contribution to tourism. More than half the distilleries in Scotland have visitor centres, the majority of which are four-star attractions. The distilleries attract 1.3 million visitors, 87 per cent of whom come from outside Scotland and 62 per cent from outside the UK. In 2010, £27 million was spent. Distilleries provide 640 jobs in the visitor centres and more than £30 million in value to our economy. On average, for every £100 million of Scotch whisky exports, there is an associated £20 million spend directly on tourism.
Starting in November, there will be an exhibition in the Parliament’s main hall for almost three months to mark the 100th anniversary of the Scotch Whisky Association. At last week’s meeting of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch whisky, which I was delighted to see was attended by many civil servants, we had a presentation from Ian Urquhart of Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin on the spirit of Speyside whisky festival.
Given that it has more than 50 per cent of malt distilleries, Moray is very well placed to host this four-day festival with 350 events that include wildlife and whisky walks, a “Dramble along the Spey” and “A Bacon Roll and Four Nips”. There is something for everyone at all times of the day and night. Eighty per cent of visitors stay for at least four nights and the festival is an excellent example of local distilleries, local businesses and people working together.
The second issue that I want to raise is walkers in Scotland. I do not think that those particular visitors are valued as highly as they should be; in fact, climbers, cyclists and walkers have considerable spending power and prefer to see and experience Scotland by walking, climbing or cycling rather than through city breaks at our excellent hotels and other accommodation. That market has enormous potential and should not be overlooked.
However, when I was in Lairg at the weekend, I was told that they are taking bookings from walkers from various European countries, who were also asking about the accommodation and shops along the 70-mile Sutherland trail from Lochinver to Tongue. As the minister knows, there might be excellent accommodation in both Tongue and Lochinver, as well as Inchnadamph Lodge, which is less than a kilometre from the trail, but unlike the west Highland way and the Speyside way there are no shops, services, hotels or bed and breakfasts along the trail. I am also concerned at the way in which this stunning trail along the old drover roads, which is highlighted on many websites and has been developed by Cameron McNeish, does not even register on the VisitScotland website. In fact, searching that website for the Sutherland trail brings up only two results, both to do with a flat in Talmine.
Moreover, anyone who starts the walk from Lairg has to get to Lochinver or Tongue first. When someone phones up the hotel in Lairg and asks for travel to Lochinver to be arranged, the people at the hotel have to tell them, “Well, there used to be a post bus, but it doesn’t run anymore”. There is now a post van, but I would not recommend huddling in the back among the letters. The councillor in north-west Sutherland also confirmed to me that all the community councils in the region are dissatisfied with the way in which VisitScotland constantly ignores the area.
The new Hebridean way will run 203 miles from the Butt of Lewis to Vatersay. Funding has been secured for that project, but I ask the minister to ensure that when these fabulous, stunning and amazing walks come on-stream in Scotland VisitScotland gets involved, helps to market them, provides advice about accommodation and so on. I am sorry to say that such support is not available at the moment.
Given that parts of the Highlands of Scotland remain the last areas of wilderness in Europe, we should be able to manage and support visitors—the hill walkers, the climbers and the cyclists who will use these huge new walks of 70 and 203 miles apiece—and make them feel welcome and safe as they enjoy our stunning scenery and hospitality. I ask the minister to ask VisitScotland to talk and listen to people in north-west Sutherland and to support the walks as well as the tourists, who do not all want to stay in four-star hotels.
I move amendment S4M-03400.3, to leave out from “renews” to end and insert:
“recognises the enormous opportunity for tourism in Scotland presented by The Winning Years and the Disney/Pixar film, Brave, in particular; congratulates Glasgow on its success in winning several additional conferences with the support of the Conference Bid Fund announced in March 2012; encourages other destinations in Scotland to use the fund to win further business for Scotland; calls on the Scottish Government to use the powers currently at its disposal to establish an air route development fund and to examine how the business rates system could be used in order to assist the tourist sector, and believes that there needs to be a substantial change to tackle the skills disconnect between employers and employees and help to ensure that tourism is seen as an attractive career.”
On the point about workforce retention, skills and customer service, there is sometimes an attitude in the Highlands that is almost as if people are in service, when in fact they are public servants. Many people provide excellent customer service, but it is for hotel owners and others in the tourism industry to ensure that staff are well trained—as I know they do—and to value those staff.
I have one good story and a second one that is a could-do-better. The good news story is on the whisky industry, which I again commend for its incredible contribution to the Scottish economy and in particular its contribution to tourism. More than half the distilleries in Scotland have visitor centres, the majority of which are four-star attractions. The distilleries attract 1.3 million visitors, 87 per cent of whom come from outside Scotland and 62 per cent from outside the UK. In 2010, £27 million was spent. Distilleries provide 640 jobs in the visitor centres and more than £30 million in value to our economy. On average, for every £100 million of Scotch whisky exports, there is an associated £20 million spend directly on tourism.
Starting in November, there will be an exhibition in the Parliament’s main hall for almost three months to mark the 100th anniversary of the Scotch Whisky Association. At last week’s meeting of the cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch whisky, which I was delighted to see was attended by many civil servants, we had a presentation from Ian Urquhart of Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin on the spirit of Speyside whisky festival.
Given that it has more than 50 per cent of malt distilleries, Moray is very well placed to host this four-day festival with 350 events that include wildlife and whisky walks, a “Dramble along the Spey” and “A Bacon Roll and Four Nips”. There is something for everyone at all times of the day and night. Eighty per cent of visitors stay for at least four nights and the festival is an excellent example of local distilleries, local businesses and people working together.
The second issue that I want to raise is walkers in Scotland. I do not think that those particular visitors are valued as highly as they should be; in fact, climbers, cyclists and walkers have considerable spending power and prefer to see and experience Scotland by walking, climbing or cycling rather than through city breaks at our excellent hotels and other accommodation. That market has enormous potential and should not be overlooked.
However, when I was in Lairg at the weekend, I was told that they are taking bookings from walkers from various European countries, who were also asking about the accommodation and shops along the 70-mile Sutherland trail from Lochinver to Tongue. As the minister knows, there might be excellent accommodation in both Tongue and Lochinver, as well as Inchnadamph Lodge, which is less than a kilometre from the trail, but unlike the west Highland way and the Speyside way there are no shops, services, hotels or bed and breakfasts along the trail. I am also concerned at the way in which this stunning trail along the old drover roads, which is highlighted on many websites and has been developed by Cameron McNeish, does not even register on the VisitScotland website. In fact, searching that website for the Sutherland trail brings up only two results, both to do with a flat in Talmine.
Moreover, anyone who starts the walk from Lairg has to get to Lochinver or Tongue first. When someone phones up the hotel in Lairg and asks for travel to Lochinver to be arranged, the people at the hotel have to tell them, “Well, there used to be a post bus, but it doesn’t run anymore”. There is now a post van, but I would not recommend huddling in the back among the letters. The councillor in north-west Sutherland also confirmed to me that all the community councils in the region are dissatisfied with the way in which VisitScotland constantly ignores the area.
The new Hebridean way will run 203 miles from the Butt of Lewis to Vatersay. Funding has been secured for that project, but I ask the minister to ensure that when these fabulous, stunning and amazing walks come on-stream in Scotland VisitScotland gets involved, helps to market them, provides advice about accommodation and so on. I am sorry to say that such support is not available at the moment.
Given that parts of the Highlands of Scotland remain the last areas of wilderness in Europe, we should be able to manage and support visitors—the hill walkers, the climbers and the cyclists who will use these huge new walks of 70 and 203 miles apiece—and make them feel welcome and safe as they enjoy our stunning scenery and hospitality. I ask the minister to ask VisitScotland to talk and listen to people in north-west Sutherland and to support the walks as well as the tourists, who do not all want to stay in four-star hotels.
I move amendment S4M-03400.3, to leave out from “renews” to end and insert:
“recognises the enormous opportunity for tourism in Scotland presented by The Winning Years and the Disney/Pixar film, Brave, in particular; congratulates Glasgow on its success in winning several additional conferences with the support of the Conference Bid Fund announced in March 2012; encourages other destinations in Scotland to use the fund to win further business for Scotland; calls on the Scottish Government to use the powers currently at its disposal to establish an air route development fund and to examine how the business rates system could be used in order to assist the tourist sector, and believes that there needs to be a substantial change to tackle the skills disconnect between employers and employees and help to ensure that tourism is seen as an attractive career.”
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-03400, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on growing the visitor economy.15:13
The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
It is only 15 weeks since we last debated tourism in the chamber. As the minister with responsibility for tourism, I am delighted to be in a position so soon...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I was going to say that I have been invited and that I would be happy to give my ticket to the minister in the event that he is not invited personally.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
There is universal generosity and courtesy. Of course, I hope that Mary Scanlon will also be able to attend. The First Minister yesterday said that my four-y...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
He is behind you.
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Excellent. I welcome him and thank him and all his colleagues on the tourism leadership group for their work on the strategy. The strategy was not devised in...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I pay tribute to the tourism leadership group’s work and its report, “Tourism Scotland 2020: The future of our industry, in our hands”.I will talk about a nu...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I, too, welcome the increase in tourism business that the minister outlined. I share other members’ views on the Olympic torch relay, which has undoubtedly b...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
The member makes an important point about Scottish products being available in our hotels. I have sometimes been in hotels in which there has been a disappoi...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I discovered this Dark Island ale, which looked like a pint of Guinness to me, but I am told on good authority that it is well worth trying.On the point abou...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
We move to the open debate and I ask for speeches of six minutes.15:43
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
As a member of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, I am delighted to speak in this debate, particularly as it comes on the back of yesterday’s announc...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I ask the member to draw to a close, please.
Chic Brodie
SNP
I am just about to finish.Scotland is a brand. Brands that have stories have meaning, and brands that have meaning have impact and resonance. Our tourism ind...
Margaret McCulloch (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
From the Falkirk wheel to Lanarkshire’s great country parks, there is a wide range of premier visitor attractions in my Central Scotland region, which I am o...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?
Margaret McCulloch
Lab
No. I am tight for time. I am sorry. I will cover that point next.The performance of our ground and air transport is vital to our competitiveness as a destin...
Fiona McLeod (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
I join the minister in welcoming the work that the Scottish Tourism Alliance has published in the past week, which was encouraging for me to read because the...
Mary Scanlon
Con
I, too, have been reading briefings. I remind the member that Glasgow is the UK’s second-top retail destination.
Fiona McLeod
SNP
My credit card will attest to that, no problem.As I was saying, Strathkelvin and Bearsden is just next door to the fantastic city of Glasgow. In fact, Strath...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Thank you. There is an invitation for everyone.16:02
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
I will now take my friend and colleague Fiona McLeod to the real outdoors of Aberdeenshire West.I begin by thanking the minister for not dipping into my cons...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
I thank Mr Robertson for the kind invitation to visit his constituency this summer, which I may or may not take up. Nonetheless, I am sure that his constitue...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to take part in the debate, because tourism is a key part of the Scottish economy, as many members have said. A vibrant and thrivin...
Dennis Robertson
SNP
I encourage Hanzala Malik to enjoy the taste of Grampian festival when he visits my constituency.
Hanzala Malik
Lab
Dennis Robertson is going to get me into trouble with my imams.United Kingdom Border Agency immigration clearance officers have not been helpful with visa ap...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
I think that all members in the chamber agree about the importance of tourism and treating our tourist guests with respect. Does Hanzala Malik believe that i...
Hanzala Malik
Lab
Again, a member is trying to get me into trouble.The issue is the policy on immigration rather than who makes the decisions. Tourism is important for us beca...
Joe FitzPatrick (Dundee City West) (SNP)
SNP
It is a privilege to take part in the debate, and it has been great to hear examples of Scotland’s offer for tourists.The figures released by VisitScotland c...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
If a son of Dundee offered £50 million for a project that was backed by the majority of Dundonians, what does the member think Dundee City Council’s reaction...