European visitors bring tourism boost to Scotland

Dec 02, 04 | 3:09 am

The number of European visitors coming to Scotland is up 25 per cent, the tourism minister will tell industry representatives today.

Patricia Ferguson, who is addressing the Scotland United tourism conference in Aviemore, will also announce that occupancy figures are at their highest for five years. She says investment in skills and training of staff, and public-private partnership working in the industry, will help the Scottish Executive realise its ambition of 50 per cent growth in the next decade.

But the conference will also hear that a shortage of home-based workers is forcing the tourism and hospitality industries to bring in staff from abroad.

Ms Ferguson will tell the event: "Tourism is a crucial industry for Scotland. It is one of the largest contributors to the economy and employs a significant proportion of our workforce.

"In the first six months of this year, our overseas visitor numbers increased by 12 per cent compared with last year. We have seen a 25 per cent increase in visitors from western Europe - that is enormously encouraging.

"And the latest occupancy figures for most types of visitor accommodation are at the highest levels seen in the past five years. These statistics represent significant increases in turnover for many businesses across Scotland, and increases in revenue for the Scottish economy."

She said the Route Development Fund has seen 13 new air routes operating, and improved rail services are also making it easier for visitors to get to different parts of Scotland. She also believes the Executive’s smoking ban will be a major marketing tool for the industry.

The minister says funding to VisitScotland has risen by 28 per cent over 3 years. "We have given VisitScotland an extra £3 million over two years to strengthen and broaden its quality assurance schemes, and we are challenging businesses to match the marketing funding being provided by VisitScotland through its £1 million Challenge Fund."

A total of 221,000 of European visitors came to Scotland in the first six months of this year, compared to 177,000 the previous year. Total number of visitors from overseas for the first six months of the year show an increase of 12 per cent over the same period for 2003, with spending up by 6 per cent.

The minister will also launch Springboard Scotland's career pack to encourage more people to see tourism and hospitality as a career.

The conference will hear that employers are finding it increasingly hard to recruit and retain local staff. In the Highlands and Islands one in five jobs is supported by tourism, hospitality, leisure and travel but recruitment remains a problem.

Springboard UK, which provides information and careers advice, aims to create a national network of specialist centres promoting career opportunities in the industry in schools, and among women and long-term unemployed.