Meeting of the Parliament 16 June 2015
The minister has obviously not seen me play golf across a pond.
Europe has recognised the value of the sector; in the previous debate, I mentioned the trans-European network transport programme of investment for improving our harbours and ports, which can only aid and abet our tourism strategy.
Mention has been made of the cruise-liner industry and the great potential that it offers. From conversations with people who are involved in the industry in Florida, we know that they are pulling out of the middle east and are looking for alternative destinations. In 2012, about 500 cruise liners went to Copenhagen, while only 50 docked in Edinburgh. As has been said, cruise liners offer huge potential to encourage jobs and investment. We can build on the fact that 2015 is the year of food and drink by encouraging more visitors by sea to go to shops and restaurants when they come ashore.
All that only adds to our image as a country that can attract and manage big events such as the Ryder cup and the Commonwealth games, which we had last year. We can also provide individual activities such as fishing. I am talking about inshore fishing for things such as scallops and prawns, rather than about dredging.
I want to look at an example closer to home. We all know about the potential of Prestwick as an airport and a spaceport. Prestwick sits alongside Troon. I spoke in the debate on the Harbours (Scotland) Bill, which will give us the opportunity to encourage investment in our ports and harbours. That investment in marine facilities could be aligned with investment in air facilities. If all that was combined with a reduction in air passenger duty, there would be potential for drawing together marine tourism and air passenger tourists.
I commend the marine plan to the chamber and I look forward to encouraging whoever will sail into our harbours, engage in water sports and enjoy diving and seeing that Scotland is as beautiful under the water as it is above it.