Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 21 June 2012
21 Jun 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Visitor Economy
I declare an interest as someone with a great many years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality industry in the Highlands. I pay tribute to those who have spoken before me, who have highlighted a number of Scotland’s attractions, taking us on a kind of verbal tour around the country.
Tourism is hugely important to Scotland as a whole, and comparatively it plays an even greater part in the mixed economy of the Highlands and Islands. That is a part of Scotland with natural beauty and an incredible landscape, which I am sure will feature strongly in the special promotion of the year of natural Scotland, next year.
Mary Scanlon has left the chamber, but I must take issue with some of the things that she said about the Sutherland way. We have to be respectful of the environment that we have in Scotland. We have to be smart about recognising the areas that need to have cafes or facilities, but we also have to recognise the special, wild nature of the land that we have. There are three identified geoparks in Scotland, and they are all in the Highlands and Islands. All of them make specific requests in terms of relevant development. The idea that the north-west Sutherland way should have a string of facilities along it makes my—well, I will say simply that that is wild Scotland.
Scotland attracts visitors from across the world and, in the past couple of years, a growing number from across the United Kingdom. Those visitors help to maintain 25,000 jobs across 3,000 businesses in my region and bring £1.2 billion every year from the region into the economy, and it is the importance of the economy that we are talking about.
By talking about Glasgow attracting conferences, Hanzala Malik reminded me that, on 9 September 1997, which was only two days before the extraordinary vote for devolution, Glasgow hosted the annual congress of the American travel trade, with several thousand delegates. The keynote speaker was Mrs Thatcher, who took the time on “Newsnight” to tell Scots that they should vote no the following Thursday. However, we are grateful that Glasgow has the facilities to take that size of conference.
Scotland is famous for its hospitality and its friendly people. To combat some of Helen Eadie’s comments, I should say that our reputation is deserved. There may be instances such as those that she talked about, but Scotland will never be perfect in everybody’s eyes. It is too easy for someone to go out and find a place that they do not like, but they do not know that, the night before, other people have had a really good time there. The spit-and-sawdust pub can offer up as great a night’s entertainment for some people as a five-star hotel can do for a different clientele, offering a different service. We have to be careful about how we decide on these matters. We also have to be helpful. Do we want to hammer a business that is probably suffering really badly? It, too, plays a part in the economy and needs help rather than poor recognition.
That people recognise our hospitality and the friendliness of our people is evidenced by the extraordinarily high levels of repeat business that we achieve in Scotland generally and in the Highlands and Islands in particular. The figures are there for everyone to see. Familiar faces of people who have become addicted to holidays here appear regularly. That is still a factor of our industry. I have been in the hotel trade so long that I know the grandchildren of folk who stayed many years before. That is the legacy that we can and should build on. It is ironic, in some ways, that the industry should be sustained by such levels of repeat visits, given that employment opportunities in the industry often seem to be short-term and seasonal.
There have been many changes over the years and the recent festivals that the Highlands and Islands play host to are amazing. RockNess, Loopallu and the Insider festival that was held last weekend and was attended by 1,000 people, who stayed for three or four days, might seem like small beer compared with festivals such as T in the Park, but they are right for that part of Scotland and they are due recognition.
Anyone who has attended some of the smaller book festivals will know that they are hugely personal affairs, and contribute hugely to the economy. More and more are being organised outside what we choose to call the peak holiday period.
Although “Brave”, the now-released Pixar animation, is clearly getting global attention, I would like to thank members who recently supported my motion on the Hansel of Film, which came from Shetland and takes the story of Shetland and small film-makers around the United Kingdom. It is perhaps not the same in terms of marketing, but it is just as important and such projects often capture the imagination of visitors when they come here.
Tourism is an industry that does not stand alone. Like steel making and shipbuilding, it depends on all other sectors in order to flourish. Local authorities have much to contribute by keeping the infrastructure and public facilities open and in good order. The education of our children, especially in music and language, has an enormous role to play. Crofting and fishing are among our main attractions and we should never forget that folk on holiday love to watch folk at work.
16:35
Tourism is hugely important to Scotland as a whole, and comparatively it plays an even greater part in the mixed economy of the Highlands and Islands. That is a part of Scotland with natural beauty and an incredible landscape, which I am sure will feature strongly in the special promotion of the year of natural Scotland, next year.
Mary Scanlon has left the chamber, but I must take issue with some of the things that she said about the Sutherland way. We have to be respectful of the environment that we have in Scotland. We have to be smart about recognising the areas that need to have cafes or facilities, but we also have to recognise the special, wild nature of the land that we have. There are three identified geoparks in Scotland, and they are all in the Highlands and Islands. All of them make specific requests in terms of relevant development. The idea that the north-west Sutherland way should have a string of facilities along it makes my—well, I will say simply that that is wild Scotland.
Scotland attracts visitors from across the world and, in the past couple of years, a growing number from across the United Kingdom. Those visitors help to maintain 25,000 jobs across 3,000 businesses in my region and bring £1.2 billion every year from the region into the economy, and it is the importance of the economy that we are talking about.
By talking about Glasgow attracting conferences, Hanzala Malik reminded me that, on 9 September 1997, which was only two days before the extraordinary vote for devolution, Glasgow hosted the annual congress of the American travel trade, with several thousand delegates. The keynote speaker was Mrs Thatcher, who took the time on “Newsnight” to tell Scots that they should vote no the following Thursday. However, we are grateful that Glasgow has the facilities to take that size of conference.
Scotland is famous for its hospitality and its friendly people. To combat some of Helen Eadie’s comments, I should say that our reputation is deserved. There may be instances such as those that she talked about, but Scotland will never be perfect in everybody’s eyes. It is too easy for someone to go out and find a place that they do not like, but they do not know that, the night before, other people have had a really good time there. The spit-and-sawdust pub can offer up as great a night’s entertainment for some people as a five-star hotel can do for a different clientele, offering a different service. We have to be careful about how we decide on these matters. We also have to be helpful. Do we want to hammer a business that is probably suffering really badly? It, too, plays a part in the economy and needs help rather than poor recognition.
That people recognise our hospitality and the friendliness of our people is evidenced by the extraordinarily high levels of repeat business that we achieve in Scotland generally and in the Highlands and Islands in particular. The figures are there for everyone to see. Familiar faces of people who have become addicted to holidays here appear regularly. That is still a factor of our industry. I have been in the hotel trade so long that I know the grandchildren of folk who stayed many years before. That is the legacy that we can and should build on. It is ironic, in some ways, that the industry should be sustained by such levels of repeat visits, given that employment opportunities in the industry often seem to be short-term and seasonal.
There have been many changes over the years and the recent festivals that the Highlands and Islands play host to are amazing. RockNess, Loopallu and the Insider festival that was held last weekend and was attended by 1,000 people, who stayed for three or four days, might seem like small beer compared with festivals such as T in the Park, but they are right for that part of Scotland and they are due recognition.
Anyone who has attended some of the smaller book festivals will know that they are hugely personal affairs, and contribute hugely to the economy. More and more are being organised outside what we choose to call the peak holiday period.
Although “Brave”, the now-released Pixar animation, is clearly getting global attention, I would like to thank members who recently supported my motion on the Hansel of Film, which came from Shetland and takes the story of Shetland and small film-makers around the United Kingdom. It is perhaps not the same in terms of marketing, but it is just as important and such projects often capture the imagination of visitors when they come here.
Tourism is an industry that does not stand alone. Like steel making and shipbuilding, it depends on all other sectors in order to flourish. Local authorities have much to contribute by keeping the infrastructure and public facilities open and in good order. The education of our children, especially in music and language, has an enormous role to play. Crofting and fishing are among our main attractions and we should never forget that folk on holiday love to watch folk at work.
16:35
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...