Scottish political parties are not taking tourism seriously

The BHA in Scotland has accused all of the political parties competing in this week's Scottish election of not taking the tourism industry seriously. 

Tourism is one of Scotland's biggest industries, earning over £4b annually - a quarter from overseas – and employing more than 250,000 people.  

Yet, warned Gavin Ellis, chairman of BHA Scotland, none of the parties' manifestos reflect the fact that tourism, in some parts of the country, is the “only viable economic force”.

"We have a collective target of increasing tourism revenues by 50% by 2015 but there is little indication of how any of the parties will help us achieve it," he said.

"What will the parties do for business? Do they support a tourism minister? What do they propose for marketing funding? If [or when] VisitBritain is broken up, how will they promote Scotland overseas? What are their policies to improve training?”

Ellis, proprietor of the Knockomie Hotel, Forres, said that these were just some of the questions that needed to be debated with less than a week to go before the Scottish election.

"The parties have ignored the business agenda in this election yet it is business which provides the stability,” he said. “Tourism businesses and their employees need to be convinced they are in safe hands in an economy that is going to grow."

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By Daniel Thomas

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