VisitScotland blows it again...

[Arlen]

Robertson, you do far better at being polite with them than I ever would be.
They really seem to be getting worse.

[auld argonian]

Does anybody realize what a boon tourism is? When I was last in New York City, it was brought to my attention that tourism is the number two business in NYC, the Stock Exchange being number one.

Chicago is in a budget crunch right now but there's always room for improvements to things that attract tourist. Why is that? Its about THE MONEY.

I've recently met many of the folks working for Canadian Tourism and they are smart and charming and very diplomatic. Pity that your local tourism office can't get the idea that their job is to boost tourism and not to alienate visitors and local businesses.

Best

AA

[Tattoo Bradley]

Man, that's too bad. Spite is an ugly beast.

[BEEDEE]

Robertson - like you I have a low tolerance for incompetence. But you at least have the patience to try and correct the situation. You deserve our praise and compliments for that.

Best of luck tilting at a Scottish windmill!

Brian

[David Dalglish]

Only what is to be expected from that lot.

[Mr. MacDougall]

Right... so a visit to 'Visit Scotland' is off my list for my visit to Scotland.

[gilmore]

Robertson,

Have you thought about starting your own tourism promotion business?

It's a rather simple thing to publish regularly a small magazine or newspaper paid for by its advertisers, promoting local events and businesses, and distributed at local businesses and other venues. I once ran a small weekly free newspaper. It was one of the most fun jobs I ever had. It does help to have an aggressive and energetic sales staff (paid by commission, of course.) With that, a desktop publishing program, and a printing house and you could be in business.

[beloitpiper]

Robertson,

Have you thought about starting your own tourism promotion business?

It's a rather simple thing to publish regularly a small magazine or newspaper paid for by its advertisers, promoting local events and businesses, and distributed at local businesses and other venues. I once ran a small weekly free newspaper. It was one of the most fun jobs I ever had. It does help to have an aggressive and energetic sales staff (paid by commission, of course.) With that, a desktop publishing program, and a printing house and you could be in business.

I'm sure running a B&B, tasting Scotch, donning kilts, and X-Marking alrady takes up a lot of time, but this sounds like a pretty good idea. Could be a good basement business!

[cessna152towser]

VisitScotland couldn't organise a p#ss up in a brewery. Over here in the Scottish Borders in 2001 visitor numbers were down on previous years, partly due to access to the countryside restrictions during the outbreak of animal foot and mouth disease that year and partly due to terrorist incidents in the USA making travellers more wary of flying. This was used by the local tourism manager as a justification for downgrading many of our tourist attractions, from all year round to open from Easter to end of October only. Even Drumlanrig's Tower and our local tourist office are set to close for the winter in two weeks time, to the bemusement of visitors from all over the world who continue to visit all year round and expect to find a tourist office open to help them find accommodation and facilities. Result, visitor numbers continue to fall. So much so that some of the Borders towns have set up their own go it alone tourist promotions - here in Hawick the Welcome Host scheme, the flags, and a few other initiatives are run by a local group comprised of and funded by local businesses including hoteliers. Looks like its time Dumfries booted out VisitScotland and set up its own tourist promotion group which would have the town and country's interests at heart, rather than just being there to give the manager a fat salary.

[Frank McGrath]

How hard would it be to get the local businesses to start a new tourist agency? Buy a couple of brochure holders and leave them with cab drivers and at the airports. Just an idea!