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9th April 2009

VisitScotlad News Bad For Deeside

North East MSP Alex Johnstone has expressed serious concern at the potential impact on local tourist businesses after it was announced that Edinburgh is to leave VisitScotland, taking with it half a million pounds in anual funding.

The news comes as other areas including Glasgow and Shetland also look set to leave the tourism body. VisitScotland,  was formed five years ago after local tourist boards were abolished and is tasked with marketing Scotland as a 'must see' destination for tourists.

Mr Johnstone said, "When local authorities choose to leave VisitScotland in a bid to market themselves, then it simply weakens the overall brand that so much time and investment has created.  What concerns me most of all however is the fact that the substantial loss of income that VisitScotland will suffer may well have a negative impact on the marketing that the North East of Scotland receives.  This at a time when visitor numbers are already falling due to the current economic crisis."

"Aberdeenshire can only look on with envy at the amount of investment that Edinburgh already receives from the public purse and it speaks volumes about the central belt mentality that the Chief Executive of Edinburgh's new tourism body is seeking to attract "urban sophisticates" from other city regions."

"Here on Deeside we are proud of our reputation of warmly welcoming those who choose to visit us, and we are more than happy to share our unique history and culture with others, however modest their background."

Mr Johnstone concluded "I am deeply worried that this development may disadvantage tourism businesses along Royal Deeside and I have written to the Chief Executive of VisitScotland to seek assurances that we will continue to receive a fair share of the marketing that is conducted by them."