VisitScotland blows it again...

[Pour1Malt]

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.

that's brilliant!

"Visitor numbers arr fallin'... sae we will make it harder fur tourists tae visit!"

[beowulf67]

since I was no longer a member of VisitScotland, I was no longer allowed to pick up the free copies of ‘See & Do'....

So are they saying that only paying members can get their free copies of the brochure? Do they have someone selling memberships to tourists that stop by to pick one up?
What a grand money making scheme that must be.

[McClef]

Af course ah dinnae ken whut it taiks tae be a member 'o thus organisation an why ye ah no a member noo Robertson.

Bit seems tae me they ah cuttin their nase tae spite their face!

Whit a bunch 'o knuckleheids!

[starbkjrus]

Well, from what Alex says it's not just the fact that the manager in the Dumfries site hates Americans in kilts (some will remember the episode when Hamish, DWG69 and I went to the Dumfries office during the 2007 Burns Weekend) but that VisitScotland is really failing in it's mission. (Actually, I already knew that from hearing descriptions of how they do business.)

I do have to say that the office was attractive but really wasn't impressed with the staff. Perhaps it IS time for the Dumfries & Galloway council (perhaps in conjunction with The Borders) to set up their own agency. Goodness knows those two districts have huge amounts of sights to see. Maybe David & Helen Dalglish can run an extension office in Carlisle?

I don't have the answer but I can say knowledgeably to anyone traveling DO NOT use Visit Scotland's website as your only resource. Use it as a reference and then one of the "real" travel sites. Often Hotel deals are cheaper using the Hotel's own website.

[Arizona Scot]

It is sad to see that incompetence and apathy are a world wide problem. I was beginning to think that it was just here in the states.

[Dirk Skene]

I would like to know if it was the same Brit fellow that passed out the insults earlier this year that refused to let P1M have the leaflets.

[mbhandy]

Robertson,
Has all the staff been told not to give you flyers or just some of them? Maybe another Quick call to the HQ might be in order if you want to continue to use their Things to Do or a call to some of their advertizers, if it really bugs you. Does the city or county give money to them or are they totally private? Just a thought. It could just be an additude problem on their part.
It seems rather juvenile on their part sence the dollar is down and the EU is up.

MrBill

[Ian.MacAllan]

What can you expect when Scots follow English precedents? On my last visit to Bedford I noted that their Tourist Office was open from 10:00 to 11:30 AM and from 1:30 to 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I don't think I would dare to ask if that was every week.


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[ccga3359]

What can you expect when Scots follow English precedents? On my last visit to Bedford I noted that their Tourist Office was open from 10:00 to 11:30 AM and from 1:30 to 3:00 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I don't think I would dare to ask if that was every week.


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Growing up in England, all the shops closed around noon for dinner.

[Mr. MacDougall]

It seems rather juvenile on their part sence the dollar is down and the EU is up.

Not all those nasty, ignorant tourists come from the US... just most of us.