Scotland’s love affair with music has never been more apparent. The recent electrifying tour by pop legend Taylor Swift and the energetic comeback gig by Girls Aloud at the Hydro in Glasgow have not only captivated audiences but have also significantly boosted Scotland’s tourism economy.
After briefly touching on the subject in my last column, the question now is whether music is the key to Scotland’s booming tourism sector. With Glasgow holding the prestigious title of a UNESCO City of Music, it seems our country is well on its way to becoming a global music destination.
With three sell-out performances at Edinburgh’s Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Taylor Swift’s visit to Scotland was nothing short of a phenomenon. The singing sensation drew nearly 220,000 fans from all corners of the globe. This massive influx of “Swifties” transformed the city into a vibrant hub of excitement and celebration. Edinburgh’s city council leader, Cammy Day, aptly described the atmosphere as one of “fun and celebration”, a sentiment echoed by the throngs of fans who flooded the city.
The event painted Edinburgh in a new light, not just as a historic city with a rich cultural heritage, but as a dynamic hub for contemporary entertainment. Additionally, the economic impact of Swift’s concerts was equally spectacular. Tens of millions of pounds were injected into Edinburgh’s economy, benefitting hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.
The influx of visitors led to a bustling weekend for the city’s transport systems, with Edinburgh Trams recording their busiest weekend in a decade and ScotRail executing one of its largest operations to transport fans. The synergy between the city’s infrastructure and the music event highlighted Edinburgh’s capability to host large-scale concerts, ensuring that every fan could move seamlessly between venues, accommodations, and local attractions.
Meanwhile, Glasgow, already renowned for its rich musical heritage, witnessed an electrifying performance by Girls Aloud at the Hydro. The group’s comeback gig was a nostalgic trip down memory lane for many fans and a testament to the city’s vibrant music scene.
As a UNESCO City of Music, Glasgow has long embraced its musical roots, promoting itself through various campaigns over the years, including a significant push two years ago that emphasised the city’s musical offerings. The Hydro, with its state-of-the-art facilities, provided the perfect stage for the group’s energetic performance, further cementing Glasgow’s status as a top-tier music destination.
Nonetheless, Glasgow’s designation as a UNESCO City of Music is more than just a title; it’s a reflection of the city’s enduring commitment to fostering a diverse and dynamic music culture. From its legendary venues like the Barrowland Ballroom to its thriving live music scene, Glasgow has positioned itself as a must-visit destination for music lovers.
It’s fair to say that music has always been an integral part of Scottish culture. Going back as far as the medieval period, one of the most important roles throughout Scottish communities was an individual known as the bard. This historical foundation underscores Scotland’s deep-rooted connection to music, making the current surge in music tourism feel like a natural continuation of a long-standing tradition.
These recent successes highlight just how music tourism is proving to be a powerful catalyst for Scotland’s economy. The ripple effect of such events extends beyond the concerts themselves, fostering a positive economic environment that benefits the entire community. The influx of fans not only supports local businesses but also generates employment opportunities and promotes cultural exchange.
Moreover, music tourism aligns perfectly with Scotland’s broader tourism strategy. The country’s stunning landscapes, historic sites, and rich cultural heritage already attract millions of tourists each year. Adding high-profile music events to this mix enhances Scotland’s appeal, offering tourists a unique blend of recreational experiences.
Finally, the recent successes of Taylor Swift and Girls Aloud underscore the transformative power of music tourism. By continuing to attract high-profile musical acts and promoting its rich musical heritage, Scotland can solidify its reputation as a global music destination, ensuring that its tourism sector continues to thrive.
As the saying goes, “Where words fail, music speaks,” and in Scotland’s case, music is speaking volumes.
Two in five occupied homes in Scotland do not meet current quality standards, with the highest failure rates in energy efficiency.
This is a worrying statistic in isolation, but it’s particularly concerning when we already know that homes are not being built fast enough.
However, a recent report, led by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), does offer some hope. Despite British homes being among the worst insulated in Europe, there are proven techniques to modernise older buildings, lowering both carbon emissions and household energy bills, as well as securing much of the current housing stock for years to come.
One takeaway came from Hamilton based retrofitting specialists Procast Group, highlighting that there are skills being taught in local vocational colleges that are crucial for the retrofitting revolution, but are not being protected or rewarded properly.
The issue is they don’t have an official accreditation platform for these skills, meaning firms and customers don’t have a way of knowing who can do what, creating distrust in the whole process.
These skills, already held by many in the labour market, cannot be overlooked. A government recognised platform would give customers confidence to spend their money, futureproof their homes and help push for high quality jobs for local tradespeople.
I hope the report helps these (often young) people on the frontline of the retrofitting revolution get the status they deserve.
It is our job to make these roles as appealing as possible to the workforce of the future – we’ll be needing them.
It Made Me Laugh
It Made Me Laugh
A business sale is rarely funny, but the announcement that W Edinburgh, the recently opened hotel in St James Quarter, is back on the market, certainly reignited memories of the funny conversations overheard regarding the building’s distinct architecture style.
The signature brass swirl certainly catches your eye from any of the city’s viewpoints, such as Calton Hill.
It has divided opinion from the start. Many tourism sites will give you the impression that people know it affectionately as the Walnut Whip, which although somewhat true, carefully ignores the more common name on the ground – Edinburgh’s own “Golden Jobbie”.
Whether this brand hijacking has impacted business is hard to say, but I certainly wouldn’t want it attached to my 5-star hotel.
It Made Me Weep
It Made Me Weep
Attracting people to spend money in the city has become difficult. Online shopping is often blamed, but Glasgow’s SPT is fuelling the fire with recent ZoneCard changes, making city visits even less appealing.
As an example, William Hill, who commutes from Kilmarnock to Glasgow for work, will see his 10-week ZoneCard fare soar from £485 to £890. That’s an astronomical 83.5 per cent increase.
We should be incentivising people into these trading hubs. Businesses are trying to remain competitive, yet their customer base is being burdened with heavy costs just to access these areas.
We need a deeper understanding of how people and their money flow to protect otherwise good businesses. If they suffer, we suffer.
