September 10, 2005
Trouble at VisitScotland
Am I alone in thinking that VisitScotland is a silly name? What is wrong with calling a tourist board a tourist board? Not only that, but the area tourist boards are now called ‘hubs’. Why the desperate re-branding?
Numbers of overseas visitors were down 20 per cent between 1998 and 2003, and the Scotsman is now describing clashes between boardroom personalities.
Wouldn’t it better to look at what is going wrong, rather than change the signs on the doors? What are the main problems? Is it the cost of air connections? The prices and standards of accommodation and food? The lack of foreign language services? The relative dullness of festivals and special events?
Maybe it’s time to look at the basic state of Scotland’s largest industry.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1911122005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 06:38 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 31, 2005
Tourism revisited
Gillian Bowditch has contributed another good article about Scottish tourism to the Scotsman. She writes:
“Tourism is one of the few industries where no entry qualification is needed and where its “operatives” … need no formal skills or training. Too often, it shows.”
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=588982005
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:19 AM | TrackBack
December 12, 2004
Food heroes of Strathyre
Bad Scottish food has had some publicity recently, so it’s good to take note of some spectacular Scottish food successes as well.
Yesterday evening we ate in Creagan House in Strathyre. This is a local restaurant, just up the road from Callander, with a Michelin Bib Gourmand. This is a designation for exceptional food, available at a modest price. To qualify a restaurant has to offer a three course meal for less than 25 pounds. There are only 5 or 6 such restaurants in Scotland: a couple in Edinburgh, one in Glasgow, one in Pitlochry, and one in Tarbert (Kintyre), so it is something special.
The restaurant is owned by Gordon and Cherry Gunn who do much of the work themselves. The food is rich, more for special occasions than everyday, and the quality is excellent throughout. The most interesting dish we had last night - the starter - was made of fresh salmon mixed with smoked haddock in a sherry sauce wrapped in smoked salmon!
Posted by Simon Holledge at 10:05 PM | TrackBack
December 05, 2004
Tourism Survey II
Gillian Bowditch has an excellent follow-up article about tourism in the Scotsman. Perceptively, she identifies the middle of the market as the problem area for food and accommodation. Luxury and budget services in Scotland tend to be rather good.
news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=1389312004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 11:59 PM | TrackBack
December 04, 2004
Tourism Survey I
Surveys often tell you what you know already, albeit in more detail and with greater precision.
VisitScotland (a silly name for tourist board!) surveyed 1,300 tourists about what they think needs improving in Scotland. Not surprisingly they put the weather first, perhaps partly out of politeness? The others listed were ‘value for money’, exchange rates, accommodation and the food.
Scotland is, of course, expensive. Not much can be done about that while the pound remains at such a high level and economic policy is controlled from London. It would be impossible to bring prices down to European levels without putting hotels, B&Bs and restaurants out of business.
Many, perhaps most, hotels in Scotland need renovation and proper management. B&Bs can be excellent, but they don’t suit all visitors. There is excellent food, but you have to search for it. The bad is pretty awful, and it’s much easier to find than the good.
Positive aspects of visiting Scotland were said to be the scenery, the natural environment, ‘the number of things to see and do’ and the attitude of local people.
Ironically it’s all the rain that makes Scotland so beautiful, so we can win on this point! Scotland offers a great range of outdoor activities, mostly on the wilder side compared to other European countries. Perhaps that needs to be emphasized more in advertizing? Scotland does offer something special.
news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=106&id=1381212004
Posted by Simon Holledge at 01:05 AM | TrackBack
August 19, 2004
Inverness airport: need for cheap flights
According to a Salmond/Sturgeon press release from Inverness about the need for low cost flights to Scotland, 10 August 2004:
"Mr McConnell owns Inverness airport. He has been warned repeatedly that the charges are putting off low cost airlines. Ryanair wanted to fly to and from Inverness but Highlands and Islands Airport Ltd could not or would not come to an agreement. Now, Ryanair and other low cost airlines are flying to and from the European accession states like Latvia. People who should be coming to the Highlands are instead visiting Riga and other European cities. The drop in tourist numbers is a devastating blow. The Labour/ Liberal Executive has been in power since 1999. They have had the power to act but have done nothing to secure the tourist industry in the Highlands and Islands.
We should be an all the year tourist destination but it is expensive and becoming more inaccessible than anywhere else in Europe. In our joint manifesto we made it clear that we are committed to a New Age of Improvement for Scotland's infrastructure and will through the Scottish Trust for Public Investment buy out the PFI and make Inverness airport work in the interests of the people of the Highlands and Islands." Alex Salmond
"Tourism is the largest industry in the Highlands. The drop in visitor numbers will impact on the whole economy. We know that the Highlands and Islands are unique, with scenery unsurpassed anywhere in the world. It should not be marketed just to those who are rich enough to fly in their own jets. We need to attract the low cost carriers because that in turn will mean more money for the guest houses, bed and breakfast houses, the shops and tourist attractions. And of course, having low costs routes gives greater opportunities for the people who live in the Highlands and islands who will find their own travel horizons opened up. If action is not taken now tourism in the Highlands and Islands will wither on the vine and our fragile tourist industry and economy will go with it." Nicola Sturgeon
Statistics:
Visits to Scotland fell in the first quarter of this year to 191,000 from 195,000 in the same period last year. The biggest drop was in visitors from EU countries who fell from 82,000 to 68, 000. US visitors (biggest overseas market for Scotland) fell from 58,000 to 55,000. Everywhere else in Britain had an increase from the first quarter of 2004 compared to first quarter of 2003. Wales increased from 86,000 to 110,000. England increased from 708,000 to 796,000.
Source: www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=1905&More=N
My comment:
There is nothing much for me to add to that. Mr McConnell and the tourism people have some explaining to do. The figures are pretty damning. And it's not just Inverness Airport that needs to be opened up to the budget airlines. It's not possible to buy reasonably priced tickets from most places in Europe to Edinburgh either.
Posted by Simon Holledge at 07:01 PM