Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2012
21 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Visitor Economy
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 continue to provide encouragement for the Scottish economy. VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and all the other organisations that are involved in the tourist industry should be highly commended for their work in maintaining such a vibrant sector during really difficult times, in making the most of people who go on staycations, and in encouraging people from the rest of these isles, and further afield, to make Scotland their destination when money is tight. They have done very well.
It is great to hear about other parts of Scotland, but members will not be surprised to hear that I will spend some time talking about my constituency in Dundee. Dundee is a city in transformation; it is changing from jute, jam and journalism to a vibrant city that hopes to attract tourists to our culture and innovative industries, and to the offer in our neighbourhood.
The key to the city’s transformation is very much the people of Dundee and their aspirations. That is encapsulated in the new V&A at Dundee, which will be one of the biggest tourist draws in Scotland and probably across Europe. However, when I talk about Dundee, and when Hanzala Malik talks about Glasgow, it is important that our various tourist offers should not be considered as individual attractions—they are much stronger if they are offered as a whole.
My colleague Graeme Dey talked about bringing tourists to see Glamis castle in his constituency on the back of the Disney Pixar film “Brave”. I hope that Dundee, too, will benefit, with those tourists spending some time in my constituency. As I look around the chamber, I see colleagues from other areas in which there are tourist attractions that Dundee can benefit from. Rod Campbell’s constituency contains some of the finest golf courses in Scotland; his constituents will benefit from the V&A, because people who come to get a bit of culture will also bring their golf clubs and head to St Andrews. Equally, when the V&A is established I hope that people who come to play golf at Scotland’s oldest golf courses will decide to come to Dundee too to see our taste of tourism and what we have to offer.
In order for that to happen, of course, we must have connections—between our cities, and between our cities and our urban areas. Our vision for Dundee, in terms of the waterfront redevelopment, is to ensure that when people come to our city—whether they come specifically as tourists to Dundee or are passing through—they get the best possible offer. However, it is crucial that we have links not only with St Andrews, Carnoustie and the other areas around Dundee, but with Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Whenever more tourists come to Dundee, I genuinely believe that the rest of Scotland will benefit, too. The Ryder cup and the Commonwealth games will be of particular advantage to the area in which the event takes place, but if we can get the connections right and ensure that the offer we provide is a holistic one for the whole of Scotland, we can encourage tourists to spend much more time in Scotland, and we will all be winners.
Dundee’s transformation to ensure that it has an offer to compete with Edinburgh and Glasgow has been very much a partnership between Scottish National Party-led Dundee City Council, the Scottish Government and a host of local businesses that have worked to revitalise and revolutionise the heart of Dundee city centre. The important parts of that are not just the Victoria and Albert, but the transformation of the train station and so on. All that is very important.
It is a genuine shame that the same is not happening in Aberdeen, where the current Labour-Conservative coalition appears to be turning its back on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform that city. I hope that those councillors change their minds. Although I represent Dundee and it might seem that the proposals for Aberdeen would be very much to the advantage of Aberdeen city, a strong Aberdeen city is good for Dundee.
The figures released by VisitScotland continue to provide encouragement for the Scottish economy. VisitScotland, the Scottish Tourism Alliance and all the other organisations that are involved in the tourist industry should be highly commended for their work in maintaining such a vibrant sector during really difficult times, in making the most of people who go on staycations, and in encouraging people from the rest of these isles, and further afield, to make Scotland their destination when money is tight. They have done very well.
It is great to hear about other parts of Scotland, but members will not be surprised to hear that I will spend some time talking about my constituency in Dundee. Dundee is a city in transformation; it is changing from jute, jam and journalism to a vibrant city that hopes to attract tourists to our culture and innovative industries, and to the offer in our neighbourhood.
The key to the city’s transformation is very much the people of Dundee and their aspirations. That is encapsulated in the new V&A at Dundee, which will be one of the biggest tourist draws in Scotland and probably across Europe. However, when I talk about Dundee, and when Hanzala Malik talks about Glasgow, it is important that our various tourist offers should not be considered as individual attractions—they are much stronger if they are offered as a whole.
My colleague Graeme Dey talked about bringing tourists to see Glamis castle in his constituency on the back of the Disney Pixar film “Brave”. I hope that Dundee, too, will benefit, with those tourists spending some time in my constituency. As I look around the chamber, I see colleagues from other areas in which there are tourist attractions that Dundee can benefit from. Rod Campbell’s constituency contains some of the finest golf courses in Scotland; his constituents will benefit from the V&A, because people who come to get a bit of culture will also bring their golf clubs and head to St Andrews. Equally, when the V&A is established I hope that people who come to play golf at Scotland’s oldest golf courses will decide to come to Dundee too to see our taste of tourism and what we have to offer.
In order for that to happen, of course, we must have connections—between our cities, and between our cities and our urban areas. Our vision for Dundee, in terms of the waterfront redevelopment, is to ensure that when people come to our city—whether they come specifically as tourists to Dundee or are passing through—they get the best possible offer. However, it is crucial that we have links not only with St Andrews, Carnoustie and the other areas around Dundee, but with Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow.
Whenever more tourists come to Dundee, I genuinely believe that the rest of Scotland will benefit, too. The Ryder cup and the Commonwealth games will be of particular advantage to the area in which the event takes place, but if we can get the connections right and ensure that the offer we provide is a holistic one for the whole of Scotland, we can encourage tourists to spend much more time in Scotland, and we will all be winners.
Dundee’s transformation to ensure that it has an offer to compete with Edinburgh and Glasgow has been very much a partnership between Scottish National Party-led Dundee City Council, the Scottish Government and a host of local businesses that have worked to revitalise and revolutionise the heart of Dundee city centre. The important parts of that are not just the Victoria and Albert, but the transformation of the train station and so on. All that is very important.
It is a genuine shame that the same is not happening in Aberdeen, where the current Labour-Conservative coalition appears to be turning its back on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform that city. I hope that those councillors change their minds. Although I represent Dundee and it might seem that the proposals for Aberdeen would be very much to the advantage of Aberdeen city, a strong Aberdeen city is good for Dundee.
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...