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Post by andi on Aug 31, 2005 4:56:58 GMT 10
Capital loses out in red tape tangle of tourism industrySCOTLAND'S capital is failing to fully exploit the world tourism market because of a bureaucratic vacuum in the industry, business leaders warned yesterday. The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce believes the city has lacked strategic direction since the local tourist board was scrapped by VisitScotland earlier this year. It is so concerned by the problem, it is planning to create a new forum to "fight the corner" of hospitality and travel professionals in Scotland's capital. The announcement of the initiative coincided with the publication of figures yesterday which showed that the number of overseas visitors to Scotland fell by 20 per cent between 1998 and 2003. The combined number of visitors from Europe, Japan and the United States fell from 1.6 million to 1.2 million in that period. However, it is believed that the industry has picked up since. But industry experts say this growth has been put at risk by the abolition of the Edinburgh and Lothians Tourism Board (ELTB). Stressing that the tourism sector was second only to financial services in its contribution to the city's economy, the ECC's chief executive Ron Hewitt claimed that the abolition of the ELTB was a retrograde step that has left a gap in the representation of the city's tourism sector. He said: "Edinburgh is now the only capital city in Europe that does not have a body dedicated to representing the interests of its tourism sector. "VisitScotland is a pretty good marketing organisation, but nevertheless it is a public sector body. If we are going to achieve the target of 50 per cent growth by 2015 then there is going to have to be a lot more engagement of the private sector. "Our members in the tourism business are phoning me up all the time saying that important issues are being ignored because of lack representation. There isn't a forum for them to raise issues vital to the future of the sector." Industry sources said issues being ignored included: • The effect of traffic reorganisation on hotels and B&Bs. • Inadequacies in the planning process. • A competitive disadvantage caused by Scotland's relatively high business rates compared to competitors in England. Mr Hewitt also claimed that VisitScotland, with its remit to support the industry "from Shetland to the Borders", was failing to give due precedence to the capital's prominent place on the map of Scottish tourism. "To take an example, the 'city breaks' concept is the fastest growing sector of the tourism industry. We are not getting enough of this business because there is not enough marketing focus on us. "Edinburgh is the gateway to Scotland, and it's essential that the marketing mix is changed to give more prominence to the capital." The comments found support from Douglas Logan, the managing director of Edinburgh-based tour company Speciality Scotland Travel. "Since the demise of the area tourist boards, there has been nobody to speak up for small businesses like ours. "We need someone who is prepared to stand up for us and fight our corner on the grass roots issues that are vital for our survival. "To my mind VisitScotland's local offices are just clones of the central organisation, representing a central big brother at a local level." Richard Jeffrey, the chairman of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, a discussion forum set up to influence the development of tourism strategy, said that ECC's attempts to increase the voice of the tourism sector in the development of tourism strategy was "an excellent move". "Only through the public and private sectors working together can we achieve the growth we want." A spokesman for VisitScotland rebuffed the claim that the ending of the membership-based local tourist boards had frozen out businesses from local tourism structures. He said: "VisitScotland works with the tourism industry to achieve the maximum economic benefit for Scotland through providing strategic leadership, direction and marketing. "Although the membership structure was abolished, if a business wants to market itself it can do so through the local VisitScotland office, where there will be business relationship managers who can give them advice and opportunities," the spokesman said. news.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=1838332005
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Elly
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Post by Elly on Sept 19, 2005 17:32:14 GMT 10
Maid Back on the Loch
The Maid of the Loch paddle steamer, which used to take tourists for a sail up beautiful Loch Lomond, was taken out of service in 1981. The ship was the last traditional paddle steamer to have been built in the UK and although there are still boat trips available on the loch (sailing from Balloch), there are many who yearn for a nostalgic trip on the "Maid". A band of enthusiasts has been keeping the ship afloat (literally, in the early stages, after it had been allowed to deteriorate) and working hard at restoration. It now looks a though their long hard battle will be crowned with success, as they have managed to raise £620,000 from a variety of sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Enterprise and West Dunbartonshire Council.
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Post by andi on Oct 5, 2005 2:50:49 GMT 10
Baby BoomSCOTLAND is experiencing a mini baby boom with the birth rate at its highest for six years. According to the latest figures 26,896 babies were born in the first half of 2005 - nearly 100 more than in the same period in 2004, when 26,800 babies were born. This year's birth rate for babies is the biggest baby boom for the first six months of any year in Scotland since 1999, when there were 27,777 births between January and June. But 29,284 Scots died in the first six months of this year - 1.3 per cent more than the same period last year, and the highest figure since 2003. The figures were revealed in the quarterly review for April to June 2005 by Duncan Macniven, the Registrar General for Scotland. "We should not make too much of quarterly figures like these - deaths slightly exceeded births," Mr Macniven said. "However, it is encouraging to note that in the second quarter of this year the number of births (13,544) was 1.5 per cent higher than in the second quarter of 2004, and that taking the past six months as a whole, births have been at a higher level than we have seen for six years." Mr Macniven's report also found there were more than 100 fewer marriages in Scotland in the first six months of this year (12,464) compared to 12,592 for the same period in 2004. Professor Robert Wright, of the department of economics at Strathclyde University, said the increase in the birthrate revealed yesterday was a "small fluctuation" and that Scotland's population would decline by 10 per cent over the next four decades. "This is an extremely serious situation. What may appear to be an increase in the birthrate is actually a mere blip when you really study population figures. "Deaths have exceeded births for the last ten years and that is not going to change. "The old-fashioned solution would be for women to have more children but with rising standards of living and childcare costs, this doesn't seem likely. "The crisis will come at the end of the decade. Jack McConnell realises there is a demographic problem but for all his Fresh Talent initiatives he seems to lack the political will to get a proper grip on encouraging widespread immigration. "All he is doing is taking a few people from one European Union country and moving them to another rather than advertising middle-range jobs further afield." Alan Mitchell, a policy officer at the CBI in Scotland, said: "Scotland's demographic issue is a problem for us. We want to see a Scottish economy growing faster than the past 20 years but that in turn will create a demand for labour. "While the Fresh Talent initiatives and wider immigration policies go some way to helping we could soon be competing with other countries for immigrant labour." A spokeswoman for the Scottish Executive said: "As the First Minister has said on many occasions, our declining and ageing population is the single biggest challenge facing Scotland today. "This is exactly why we have developed the Fresh Talent initiative and other schemes to attract jobs and talent to Scotland." news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1980432005
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Post by andi on Oct 5, 2005 2:54:10 GMT 10
Scotland second in Europe murder tableSCOTLAND has the second highest murder rate in western Europe, according to research published by the World Health Organisation yesterday. The study of 21 countries found people living in Scotland are more than three times as likely to be killed than those in England and Wales. The research found that the Scottish murder rate is 2.33 deaths per 100,000 people, compared with 0.7 south of the Border. The violent death rate is 1.02 per 100,000 people in Spain, 0.96 in Italy, 0.85 in France and 0.73 in Norway. Only Finland has a higher homicide rate in western Europe than Scotland, while Germany had the lowest - 0.68 per 100,000 people. The findings are the latest international report highlighting Scotland's violence levels, which are often blamed on the so-called "booze and blades" culture. Research from the United Nations last week said more than 2,000 people a week are attacked in Scotland - ten times official police figures. Scots were three times more likely to be the victims of violent assault than in the United States, according to the UN report. However, Chief Constable Peter Wilson, Scotland's most senior police officer, rejected that report, saying it had not been properly researched. Another study, from the University of California, which will be published later this year, will claim Scotland has a higher homicide rate than the US, Israel, Uzbekistan, Chile and Uruguay. A spokesman for the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland said: "We already have accepted there is a problem with violent crime in Scotland. "But we do take issue with these studies as we do not believe they are comparing like with like, and they are not helping the debate we are having in Scotland right now." The justice minister, Cathy Jamieson, said earlier this week that the Executive was already getting tough on violent crime and its causes. A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said: "Violence is a stain upon civilised Scotland and we are working hard to combat it. "We have put in place new measures to tackle the culture of violence, such as tough new laws to tackle knife crime and reforming Scotland's licensing legislation." news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1993102005
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Post by LLady on Oct 5, 2005 3:05:33 GMT 10
Because of where I live I have to agree with the statement" We already have accepted there is a problem with violent crime in Scotland. But we do take issue with these studies as we do not believe they are comparing like with like, and they are not helping the debate we are having in Scotland right now."
I live in Detroit, Michigan "the big city" and we do hear a lot of negative statistics about us too, many that are questionable at best. Yes there is a problem but depending on where the numbers are coming from we never know exactly how accurate the figures are. The focus should be on what to do to change it.
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Post by andi on Oct 6, 2005 0:36:29 GMT 10
I know the crimes of a big city and I'd not want to work there, in my job. I agree, jacqui, there should be thought of what to do to change things. When I read the sentence
'Only Finland has a higher homicide rate in western Europe than Scotland, while Germany had the lowest - 0.68 per 100,000 people.'
I'd never expected Germany the last, actually I was quite surprised.
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Post by LLady on Oct 6, 2005 3:45:28 GMT 10
I know the crimes of a big city and I'd not want to work there, in my job. I agree, jacqui, there should be thought of what to do to change things. When I read the sentence 'Only Finland has a higher homicide rate in western Europe than Scotland, while Germany had the lowest - 0.68 per 100,000 people.' I'd never expected Germany the last, actually I was quite surprised. Detroit's numbers have changed over the years. We are no longer as high on the list as we used to be. Thank goodness! |
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Elly
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Post by Elly on Oct 6, 2005 5:01:05 GMT 10
Scotland second in Europe murder tableResearch from the United Nations last week said more than 2,000 people a week are attacked in Scotland - ten times official police figures. news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1993102005 This article has opened up a lot of discussion over the last few days, I find it a bit hard to take it in that there could be as high as 1800 attacks per week that the police don`t have recorded and if so Why? Where is the United Nations getting these reports if not from the police records? I have never quite trusted the media at home although I must admit the Scotsman is a bit better than most, but usually when surveys like this turn up there is usually some sort of political reason behind the scenes. Nobody could deny that Scotland can be a violent place and has its dark spots like everywhere else and one murder or attack is one too many, I personally would like to see the police official statistics before I would take this as fact. |
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Post by LLady on Oct 6, 2005 8:01:00 GMT 10
Scotland second in Europe murder tableResearch from the United Nations last week said more than 2,000 people a week are attacked in Scotland - ten times official police figures. news.scotsman.com/scotland.cfm?id=1993102005 This article has opened up a lot of discussion over the last few days, I find it a bit hard to take it in that there could be as high as 1800 attacks per week that the police don`t have recorded and if so Why? Where is the United Nations getting these reports if not from the police records? I have never quite trusted the media at home although I must admit the Scotsman is a bit better than most, but usually when surveys like this turn up there is usually some sort of political reason behind the scenes. Nobody could deny that Scotland can be a violent place and has its dark spots like everywhere else and one murder or attack is one too many, I personally would like to see the police official statistics before I would take this as fact. You are very right elly. Many times statistics are biased, reflecting the point of view of the ones gathering the data. Numbers can be manipulated. That's why I don't trust our media here in the US. I'm just not sure of where and from whom the numbers are coming from. |
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Elly
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Post by Elly on Oct 6, 2005 15:25:42 GMT 10
This article has opened up a lot of discussion over the last few days, I find it a bit hard to take it in that there could be as high as 1800 attacks per week that the police don`t have recorded and if so Why? Where is the United Nations getting these reports if not from the police records? I have never quite trusted the media at home although I must admit the Scotsman is a bit better than most, but usually when surveys like this turn up there is usually some sort of political reason behind the scenes. Nobody could deny that Scotland can be a violent place and has its dark spots like everywhere else and one murder or attack is one too many, I personally would like to see the police official statistics before I would take this as fact. You are very right elly. Many times statistics are biased, reflecting the point of view of the ones gathering the data. Numbers can be manipulated. That's why I don't trust our media here in the US. I'm just not sure of where and from whom the numbers are coming from. It seems to be the way of the Media, there was a time long long ago, I read a newspaper and never doubted the contents or thought of any hidden agenda behind their headlines, the Media in Scotland are pathetic and most treat their readers like mushrooms, I find the same here though, they`ll splash some headlines, some topic over the first few pages, the real news is going on behind the scenes in some 6 line paragraph, it`s a well known fact over here if their is some hot topic going on like the recent Bali bombings it`s time to watch the government, while you are side-tracked with what the papers feed you they are usually trying to push some new law or tax through, or give themselves such new rort, while the population are distracted.  |
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Post by LLady on Oct 6, 2005 16:12:39 GMT 10
You are very right elly. Many times statistics are biased, reflecting the point of view of the ones gathering the data. Numbers can be manipulated. That's why I don't trust our media here in the US. I'm just not sure of where and from whom the numbers are coming from. It seems to be the way of the Media, there was a time long long ago, I read a newspaper and never doubted the contents or thought of any hidden agenda behind their headlines, the Media in Scotland are pathetic and most treat their readers like mushrooms, I find the same here though, they`ll splash some headlines, some topic over the first few pages, the real news is going on behind the scenes in some 6 line paragraph, it`s a well known fact over here if their is some hot topic going on like the recent Bali bombings it`s time to watch the government, while you are side-tracked with what the papers feed you they are usually trying to push some new law or tax through, or give themselves such new rort, while the population are distracted. Here it's all about sensationalism and ratings. I stopped trusting the media when I found out that they have used their influence to incite wars, riots and disharmony. That they at times have people believing untruths to be truths if it suits their needs. |
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Elly
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Post by Elly on Oct 9, 2005 14:02:58 GMT 10
Good Morning America - From Palace of Holyroodhouse
Viewers of the popular US breakfast show "Good Morning America" have been treated to the programme being presented from inside royal castles and palaces this week. The Queen gave permission for access for a live broadcast from Windsor Castle, Buckingham Palace and also the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the royal official residence in Scotland. Presenter Nick Watt was dressed in a kilt for that one - he is after all a former pupil of Glenalmond College near Perth. Viewers were treated to the skirl of the pipes, courtesy of his old school's pipe band. It is thought that such programmes have never been done before and they will not only respond to interest in the US about royalty and heritage, but will also be a tremendous free advertisement for UK tourism. But although access to the buildings was granted, the Queen herself stayed out of the limelight in her summer holiday home of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, which was not included in the Royal breakfast show.
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