As a proud Scot and a shrewd business leader, I will always welcome any initiative which brings more tourists to our beautiful nation – in turn, bringing a range of associated economic benefits.
I’m pleased to see the sector is on the mend following its initial desperate plea for recovery post-pandemic, with visitors returning to our world-renowned beauty spots.
More than 536,000 visitors from across the globe visited Scotland in 2021, bringing a lifeline boost of an estimated £521million in spending. Although this was well below the 3.4million visitors who flocked here in 2019, it was still a big step in the right direction.
Tourists were clearly making the most of their time here as they were staying for longer and spending an average of £972 per trip, more than they were previously. With further lifts in Covid restrictions in 2022, this recovery is set to continue, with some predicting that this year’s numbers will be closer to those seen in 2019.
In the face of the cost-of-living crisis, it’s good to see the Scottish Government acknowledging that strengthening these tourism ties is vital. A new Tourism and Hospitality Industry Leadership Group is in the works, to be co-chaired by the Scottish Government’s Tourism Minister Ivan McKee. It will support the objective of positioning Scotland as a world leader in tourism by prompting thought leadership and strategies to invite visitors from all corners of the globe.
This will complement the national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030, which aims to ‘grow the value and positively enhance the benefits of tourism across Scotland by delivering the very best’.
As much as this fills me with optimism and confidence in the future, I’d still describe it as ‘cautious’ optimism, because Edinburgh did face some criticism as it hosted the world-famous Edinburgh International Fringe Festival.
It’s easily the biggest date on the Scottish tourism calendar and one we are right to be proud of. This year the landmark arts festival returned with over 3,400 shows in August.
It’s worth a huge amount to our economy and seeing it back in full swing should be reason to celebrate, but when we host these world-famous gatherings we need to ensure we’re giving the right first impression.
I saw a fair bit of criticism about the exorbitant rates being charged by some hotels, as well as grumbles about the shortage of accommodation.
The demand for the limited space allegedly saw some accommodation providers doubling their rates. There were even reports of the festival’s performers camping in tents or vans in order to make performing economically viable.
As a landlord I’m well aware of the concept of supply and demand, and maximising opportunities at times of peak demand, but there need to be some limits and common sense applied if we want to keep attracting visitors.
Edinburgh’s refuse collector strikes have also caused misery for residents and tourists alike, with the city resembling a Womble habitat as streets were piled high with rubbish. It’s sad that such a situation couldn’t have been avoided before we opened our doors to the world for the festival.
Hopefully lessons will be learned though and next year’s festivals will be talked about for all the right reasons.
Online Sales Tax Could Hurt, Not Help
Various Scottish business representative groups have spoken out over their concerns around plans to introduce an online sales tax.
The concept, which would see a 1 per cent tax added to all internet sales, was initially floated by Rishi Sunak back in 2020. He estimated the tax could raise as much as £1 billion each year and that some of these funds could be used to reduce business rates.
This all sounds straightforward (and it’s difficult to disagree with £1billion extra going into the Treasury) but the proposal has come under fire from business owners who believe such a tax would merely add to the already increasing costs they are facing while bringing little benefits.
While the Scottish Government is supposedly looking at plans to introduce a similar tax, it’s unlikely they’ll be able to implement this unless Westminster does too, as imposing new taxes is a reserved matter. Either way, Scottish businesses will be affected depending on what steps Westminster, and in turn Holyrood, decide to take.
When asked about his views on the introduction of an online sales tax, Chief Executive of Marks & Spencer Steve Rowe said the move would be “morally bankrupt.” Sainsbury’s CFO Kevin O’Byrne, on the other hand, welcomed the suggestion.
I think Colin Borland at the Federation of Small Businesses put it perfectly. He said while he welcomes measures to level the playing field between online and bricks and mortar retailers, an online tax is not the best way to do so, and now is not the time to introduce more taxes to small traders who are facing a cost-of-doing-business crisis.
It Made Me Laugh
Bidding Against Yourself
A Derbyshire man believes he’s set to make a huge profit on a unique sculpture by Scottish artist Malcolm Robertson which he won in an eBay auction.
But I did have to laugh at his bidding war, which didn’t exactly go to plan.
Gareth Palmer bid on the 4m tall stainless-steel sculpture, but didn’t realise he was unwittingly bidding against himself after drinking a bottle of wine and getting confused by his two accounts – one connected to his tablet and one to his phone.
The artwork, which was originally commissioned to sit in the grounds of a business in Rosyth, was sold for £20,000, but optimistic Gareth believes it could fetch up to £100,000 when he sells it on.
Fingers crossed he does end up quids in – but I still wouldn’t recommend competing with yourself as a business strategy.
It Made Me Weep
Bin Lorries and Bus Chaos in Lanarkshire
The latest installment in the never-ending list of things we can’t seem to get right as a country has come in the form Lanarkshire’s school bus mayhem.
It’s a poor show when more than 1,000 school pupils in North Lanarkshire are left with no way of getting to and from school. Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) failed to implement a number of school bus contracts in time for the new term.
As a result, bin lorry drivers were drafted in to transport kids to school.
It solves the school bus problems but also means some bin collections are being suspended in the middle of September, so we’re just robbing Peter to pay Paul. Credit to the waste fleet for stepping up and helping out but it’s utterly ridiculous that it came to this in the first place.
