Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 25 February 2026 [Draft]
25 Feb 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
Tourism Industry
It is no exaggeration to say that the tourism sector is in a state of crisis. Barely a day goes by without seeing news in the media about a once-thriving business closing or a hotel, bar, restaurant or cafe shutting its doors due to rising energy and employment costs. Of course, the latest blow is the revaluation of non-domestic rates, which we continually hear will force closures right across the country.
We have seen some relief in the budget, but that will go nowhere towards addressing the concerns that many in the sector have. In Northern Ireland, the Sinn Féin finance minister has announced a pause to the revaluation because of the crisis there. Why will the Scottish Government not do the same?
In the same item of business
7. Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the tourism industry. (S6O-05553)
The Minister for Business and Employment (Richard Lochhead)
SNP
Tourism contributes more than £4 billion to our economy each year, and we continue to support the sector to thrive. In the draft budget, we allocated VisitSc...
Murdo Fraser
Con
It is no exaggeration to say that the tourism sector is in a state of crisis. Barely a day goes by without seeing news in the media about a once-thriving bus...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
I have a regular dialogue with the tourism industry in Scotland, and I understand that, in many cases, bookings are looking healthy for the coming summer, so...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (Ind)
Ind
Yesterday, at a rural leadership meeting, we heard from a hotelier on the west coast. They are doing extremely well, with bookings all year round, but after ...
Richard Lochhead
SNP
Fergus Ewing will be aware that there is a review of business rates in the sectors that have been referred to, which is independently chaired and will take p...