Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 March 2012
08 Mar 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Tourism
The member makes a reasonable point. Of course, this is all about enticing visitors to the country and being confident in the belief that, once in Scotland, they will find their way around and sample the many great things that we have to offer. The on-going enhancement of hotel provision in Dundee can be only good news for both our constituencies, as it will provide tourists with a much-needed east Tayside base.
Returning to specifically parochial issues in Angus South, I note that great efforts are being made to enhance the attractiveness of Glamis castle to visitors. The area also boasts among its attractions Barrie’s birthplace, the camera obscura, the RSPB reserve, the open championship venue that is Carnoustie and a small part of the Cairngorms national park.
In the midst of all that lies a largely underexploited means of luring tourists to the area in the shape of Arbroath abbey. It is great that sizeable numbers of Scots and English visitors are vacationing and staycationing in Scotland, but the fact that foreign visitors represent 16 per cent of total tourism numbers surely indicates that we should be looking to do better in this area. Unless we become more efficient and effective in telling our story to that particular audience we will not get that improvement.
What is so special about Arbroath abbey and why should we give it much greater prominence in the promotion of Scotland as a tourism destination? I am not for a moment suggesting that we should base our entire efforts in this regard around Arbroath. However, most of us in the chamber will be aware of the incredibly strong links between Arbroath abbey and the USA. The signing of the declaration of Arbroath at the abbey and the American declaration of independence might be separated by more than 450 years, but the connection between those documents and therefore our two nations is beyond challenge. It is accepted that through the influence of William Small on its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, the US version was heavily based on the document that set Scotland on the road to freedom in 1320.
William Small was born in Carmyllie, just outside Arbroath, and, after moving to the US, was in 1758 appointed professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Among his pupils was Thomas Jefferson who, 18 years later, chaired the committee commissioned to draft a declaration of independence. After being tweaked by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, that document was signed on 4 July 1776. Jefferson, who went on to become the third president of the USA—and who it is claimed was a descendant of one of the signatories of the declaration of Arbroath, Thomas Randolph—never hid his admiration for Small, admitting that meeting the Angus-born academic had
“probably fixed the destinies of my life.”
Many years later, in 1998, the US Senate moved to mark the links between the declaration of Arbroath and America’s own declaration by unanimously backing Senator Trent Lott’s resolution to fix 6 April as the day on which Americans would acknowledge the contribution of Scots to the development of their country. In the preamble to the resolution, Lott stated:
“April 6 has a special significance for all Americans and especially ... Americans of Scottish descent”
because
“on April 6, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed; and ... the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on this inspirational document”.
Why do we not make more of that connection in marketing Scotland to America as a tourism destination, or indeed the fact that nine Scots and two Americans of Scots descent, including Jefferson, are believed to have signed the document that freed the USA from British control?
Returning to specifically parochial issues in Angus South, I note that great efforts are being made to enhance the attractiveness of Glamis castle to visitors. The area also boasts among its attractions Barrie’s birthplace, the camera obscura, the RSPB reserve, the open championship venue that is Carnoustie and a small part of the Cairngorms national park.
In the midst of all that lies a largely underexploited means of luring tourists to the area in the shape of Arbroath abbey. It is great that sizeable numbers of Scots and English visitors are vacationing and staycationing in Scotland, but the fact that foreign visitors represent 16 per cent of total tourism numbers surely indicates that we should be looking to do better in this area. Unless we become more efficient and effective in telling our story to that particular audience we will not get that improvement.
What is so special about Arbroath abbey and why should we give it much greater prominence in the promotion of Scotland as a tourism destination? I am not for a moment suggesting that we should base our entire efforts in this regard around Arbroath. However, most of us in the chamber will be aware of the incredibly strong links between Arbroath abbey and the USA. The signing of the declaration of Arbroath at the abbey and the American declaration of independence might be separated by more than 450 years, but the connection between those documents and therefore our two nations is beyond challenge. It is accepted that through the influence of William Small on its principal author, Thomas Jefferson, the US version was heavily based on the document that set Scotland on the road to freedom in 1320.
William Small was born in Carmyllie, just outside Arbroath, and, after moving to the US, was in 1758 appointed professor of mathematics and natural philosophy at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Among his pupils was Thomas Jefferson who, 18 years later, chaired the committee commissioned to draft a declaration of independence. After being tweaked by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, that document was signed on 4 July 1776. Jefferson, who went on to become the third president of the USA—and who it is claimed was a descendant of one of the signatories of the declaration of Arbroath, Thomas Randolph—never hid his admiration for Small, admitting that meeting the Angus-born academic had
“probably fixed the destinies of my life.”
Many years later, in 1998, the US Senate moved to mark the links between the declaration of Arbroath and America’s own declaration by unanimously backing Senator Trent Lott’s resolution to fix 6 April as the day on which Americans would acknowledge the contribution of Scots to the development of their country. In the preamble to the resolution, Lott stated:
“April 6 has a special significance for all Americans and especially ... Americans of Scottish descent”
because
“on April 6, 1320, the Declaration of Arbroath, the Scottish Declaration of Independence, was signed; and ... the American Declaration of Independence was modeled on this inspirational document”.
Why do we not make more of that connection in marketing Scotland to America as a tourism destination, or indeed the fact that nine Scots and two Americans of Scots descent, including Jefferson, are believed to have signed the document that freed the USA from British control?
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02245, in the name of Fergus Ewing, on the future of tourism in Scotland. I call Fergus Ewing to speak to...
The Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism (Fergus Ewing)
SNP
I am delighted to secure this debate on tourism in Scotland. The Scottish Government very much welcomes the decision to locate the headquarters of the green ...
Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP)
SNP
Does the minister agree that the Highlands and Islands tourism awards, which are the Oscars for our area, are a model for each area to show how our industry ...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Yes—I do. I say that with the experience of having attended such events, as have other members. I have discussed the matter with Marina Huggett in the past t...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
The minister will have seen the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee’s concerns about the target of 50 per cent growth in tourism by 2015, which we now seem...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
We are considering the committee’s report carefully. I think that the committee did not express a particular view; rather, it drew attention to evidence that...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I share the minister’s delight at the announcement that the green investment bank will be headquartered in Edinburgh. It shows that the cross-party campaign ...
Murdo Fraser
Con
I appreciate that everyone wishes to see better pay and conditions in the hospitality sector. However, that will come about only if the consumers are prepare...
Rhoda Grant
Lab
I take Murdo Fraser’s point that people need to pay more, but they must pay for the service that they receive. The hospitality industry has come a long way i...
Stuart McMillan (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Does Rhoda Grant agree that not just rural areas but urban areas outside the cities play an important part in tourism?
Rhoda Grant
Lab
Yes, I agree with that. The point that I am trying to make is that our cities, such as London and Edinburgh, do well, as do some of the small towns, which ha...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I am pleased to speak in this debate on tourism. I support the Government’s motion and the amendment—we are in for a consensual debate.I am delighted to see ...
Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I declare an interest, as someone who has been involved in tourism for 40 years.During that time, tourism has become an industry. There was a time when to ca...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
We did hear it. You are doing wonderfully well—do carry on.
Jean Urquhart
SNP
Employment is the single biggest issue that should exercise everyone’s mind, and in that regard the tourism industry offers significant opportunities. Let us...
Siobhan McMahon (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
We all know that Scotland is blessed with some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. From the southern uplands to the Ochils, the Trossachs and the C...
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I am delighted to speak in this debate on the future of tourism in Scotland.I say to Siobhan McMahon that I have family in Coatbridge. She reminded me that I...
Graeme Dey (Angus South) (SNP)
SNP
Whatever the future direction of Scottish tourism—and I am sure that under this Government it will be positive—one thing is certain: it must involve utilisin...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I recognise that the member for Angus South is concerned about his part of the world. However, as the member representing the bit just north of that, I wonde...
Graeme Dey
SNP
The member makes a reasonable point. Of course, this is all about enticing visitors to the country and being confident in the belief that, once in Scotland, ...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
The member talked about some of the people who signed the declaration of independence. Does he agree that one of them was the Rev Witherspoon, who was a prea...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Twenty seconds, please, Mr Dey.
Graeme Dey
SNP
In common with other members, I am sure, I knew what was coming there.We are told that half of all visitors to Scotland visit historic sights and 63 per cent...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I would be grateful if you would draw to a close, please.
Graeme Dey
SNP
I ask the minister to encourage those who are responsible for promoting our country to turn their gaze to Angus. Let us see VisitScotland and Event Scotland ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You really must stop.
Graeme Dey
SNP
There is every possibility that, come the latter part of 2014, Arbroath and its abbey will no longer be able to claim exclusivity when it comes to Scottish d...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
On Tuesday evening, l attended the tourism reception that was held in the garden lobby. I was struck by the enthusiasm and passion that all the speakers had ...
John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
Does the member agree that, if we look at ourselves as others look at us, we will realise that they value the Gaelic language in the Highlands? Does he agree...
David Stewart
Lab
I strongly agree with the member’s comment.We must develop the five drivers for the industry. We must extend attraction hours, increase the length of the sea...