Chamber
Plenary, 29 Nov 2007
29 Nov 2007 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Tourism
I did not plan the geography of the countryside.
To face up to the challenges and the aspiration for tourism growth of 4 per cent per annum, the north-east Scotland tourism partnership has developed an action plan. If it is to succeed, it needs to involve all those with an interest in tourism from the public, private and third sectors. Of course, that includes VisitScotland and the enterprise company. Intensive work continues to increase awareness of the area, to develop tourist destinations and high-quality activities, to increase the availability of quality accommodation, to modernise our visitor attractions, and to improve local infrastructure such as roads and public transport.
There is tremendous local enthusiasm and a desire to work together to develop and promote our local product into a sustainable and thriving 21st century industry that will attract growing expenditure from UK and international tourists in the business and leisure sectors. Alongside that, however, is frustration and a feeling that the north-east is not getting all the help it needs to promote local tourism.
For example, there is anger that successive national campaigns for the UK market on areas in which the north-east has strong products—such as walking, wildlife, golfing and mountain biking—have largely ignored the area. As far as regional representation in TV adverts, direct mail inserts and specialist websites is concerned, the north-east may as well not exist. It is little wonder that, in the north-east, the national marketing campaign is regarded as less than successful and as putting at risk the achievement of 50 per cent growth in tourism in the north-east by 2015.
No one denies that there were problems with the area tourist boards and few people would bring them back, but their replacement with 14 VisitScotland hubs has not been seen to improve the situation greatly and the prospect of a further reduction is perceived as a potential further erosion of local input. So far, Grampian has been able to retain its tourist information centre provision, but local stakeholders fear that it will be impossible to maintain all the TICs in the area.
I would welcome the minister's comments on the future of local TICs. They are greatly valued and do excellent work in providing a comprehensive information service, but that has become increasingly difficult in the north-east. The reduction in European regional development funding and the introduction of centralised policies by VisitScotland have reduced the capacity to promote Aberdeen and Grampian.
There is a growing feeling that if tourism is to be increasingly successful, a bottom-up approach is needed, with strong regional partnerships that engage with the industry locally and promote local activities and attractions, and with VisitScotland as the national body with an overarching remit to promote Scotland as a whole.
Part of our amendment reflects the concerns about the north-east that I have described. I have no doubt that there are similar issues in other parts of Scotland. We all want tourism to grow so that Scotland indeed becomes one of Europe's most sustainable tourism destinations and attracts tourists from the UK and throughout the world. I am glad that the minister has agreed to accept our amendment.
To face up to the challenges and the aspiration for tourism growth of 4 per cent per annum, the north-east Scotland tourism partnership has developed an action plan. If it is to succeed, it needs to involve all those with an interest in tourism from the public, private and third sectors. Of course, that includes VisitScotland and the enterprise company. Intensive work continues to increase awareness of the area, to develop tourist destinations and high-quality activities, to increase the availability of quality accommodation, to modernise our visitor attractions, and to improve local infrastructure such as roads and public transport.
There is tremendous local enthusiasm and a desire to work together to develop and promote our local product into a sustainable and thriving 21st century industry that will attract growing expenditure from UK and international tourists in the business and leisure sectors. Alongside that, however, is frustration and a feeling that the north-east is not getting all the help it needs to promote local tourism.
For example, there is anger that successive national campaigns for the UK market on areas in which the north-east has strong products—such as walking, wildlife, golfing and mountain biking—have largely ignored the area. As far as regional representation in TV adverts, direct mail inserts and specialist websites is concerned, the north-east may as well not exist. It is little wonder that, in the north-east, the national marketing campaign is regarded as less than successful and as putting at risk the achievement of 50 per cent growth in tourism in the north-east by 2015.
No one denies that there were problems with the area tourist boards and few people would bring them back, but their replacement with 14 VisitScotland hubs has not been seen to improve the situation greatly and the prospect of a further reduction is perceived as a potential further erosion of local input. So far, Grampian has been able to retain its tourist information centre provision, but local stakeholders fear that it will be impossible to maintain all the TICs in the area.
I would welcome the minister's comments on the future of local TICs. They are greatly valued and do excellent work in providing a comprehensive information service, but that has become increasingly difficult in the north-east. The reduction in European regional development funding and the introduction of centralised policies by VisitScotland have reduced the capacity to promote Aberdeen and Grampian.
There is a growing feeling that if tourism is to be increasingly successful, a bottom-up approach is needed, with strong regional partnerships that engage with the industry locally and promote local activities and attractions, and with VisitScotland as the national body with an overarching remit to promote Scotland as a whole.
Part of our amendment reflects the concerns about the north-east that I have described. I have no doubt that there are similar issues in other parts of Scotland. We all want tourism to grow so that Scotland indeed becomes one of Europe's most sustainable tourism destinations and attracts tourists from the UK and throughout the world. I am glad that the minister has agreed to accept our amendment.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alex Fergusson):
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S3M-945, in the name of Jim Mather, on tourism.
The Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism (Jim Mather):
SNP
I am pleased to open the debate on such an important subject and to encourage people to come up with yet more ideas that can help to improve a key sector. I ...
Jack McConnell (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab):
Lab
Will Mr Mather say how many people at the seminars called for the ending of the route development fund? The Government has decided to end the fund, but the t...
Jim Mather:
SNP
The member knows that the route development fund is constrained by what Europe will wear at the moment, but I must tell him that, of the 160 people who atten...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
If members are keen to intervene, time is available in the debate. Members who press their request-to-speak buttons will be able to contribute properly.
Jim Mather:
SNP
Bring them on. We need ideas.
Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD):
LD
I am surprised that Mr Mather said that no one in the tourism industry to whom he has spoken is worried about the loss of direct flights to and from Scotland...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
They are following a previous example, I think, Mr Scott.
Tavish Scott:
LD
Does the minister accept that he could find ways to augment VisitScotland's marketing budget, to allow for the development of a new mechanism for providing t...
Jim Mather:
SNP
VisitScotland has a good budget and much imagination is being applied to the issue. However, I have with me a list of issues that were raised at the seminars...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister confirm that the £5 million for the homecoming project is not currently in VisitScotland's budget but is additional money?
Jim Mather:
SNP
It is additional money.What excites me about the project is that the plan is to activate 5.1 million Scots—in the churches, universities, schools, profession...
Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
What is the Scottish Government's thinking on what we might call genealogical tourism, in which people come back to Scotland to look for their roots with the...
Jim Mather:
SNP
I am exceedingly positive about that. We are working closely with the registrar general for Scotland to develop that further—he is even reducing his charges ...
Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab):
Lab
We welcome the debate, but it is a debate about means, not ends. The objective of a 50 per cent increase in tourism revenue by 2015 is one that we supported ...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Are you in the Labour Party suggesting that more and more people will arrive by air in Scotland or that they will use more sustainable forms of transport in ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am not suggesting anything, Mr Gibson. Lewis Macdonald might be, and I am sure that he would like to answer.
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I am indeed, Presiding Officer. I am suggesting that if we are to achieve a 50 per cent increase in tourism revenue, there needs to be an increased number of...
Rob Gibson:
SNP
I would prefer that people come in from Leeds by road or rail rather than air. If you are looking at the largest number of visitors who come here at the mome...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I have tried to make it clear to members that they should not use the term "you" in the chamber. It is preferred that they refer to members by their proper n...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I am delighted that Mr Gibson supports tourism by road and by rail. That is encouraging. However, I hope that, come decision time, we will have a vote that s...
Jamie Stone:
LD
Does the member agree that that point also applies to the A9 north of Inverness, a road with which he is acquainted?
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I am well acquainted with that road. I hope that the range of strategic transport projects that have been carried forward from the previous Administration wi...
Jim Mather:
SNP
I am sure that the member will not concede that the idea of the route development fund was evolved in the SNP ranks, but will he say what steps he would take...
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
I certainly agree with Mr Mather if his point is that the SNP did not think of the route development fund. There is nothing sustainable about air visitors to...
Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Does the member accept that the route development fund in its present format cannot continue to exist because of European rules?
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
That is not a question for me—it is clearly one for ministers. However, there is a question for all of us. If we think that the route development fund has be...
Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con):
Con
Has the member seen a specific line in any budget anywhere that is described as being only for marketing, and can he prove that the funding has been reduced?
Lewis Macdonald:
Lab
Along with me, Mr Brown attended yesterday's meeting of the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee, so he will recall that the visitor engagement line in the ...
Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con):
Con
The debate should be an opportunity to unite behind Scotland's tourism industry, of which we should be extremely proud, but already the rain has arrived in t...