EventScotland a Non-Event?

Whaddya mean you've never hard of EventScotland? Surely you have? It's the organization that, amongst other things, has been coordinating Homecoming Scotland – that mega event designed to bring Scots home in their droves during the course of 2009. You'll not be surprised to know that they have about the same abilities in their web site activities as their counterpart VisitScotland.

According to their web site "At EventScotland we are working hard, with our partners, to ensure Scotland remains one of the premier event destinations in the world." It's yet another quango who are sucking up money that could be better spent if it were part of a better structured situation under the tourism umbrella (although not VisitScotland of course). So inept are the numpties at EventScotland that they cannot even spell Britain in their literature (they think it's Britian!). They have also just paid a London PR firm £40,000 to undertake PR on Homecoming Scotland. EventScotland employs around 25 people with a staff cost of £4.6 million and last year they contributed almost £4 million to various events (not saying that's a bad thing but when their staff costs are higher than what they contribute it begs the question). EventScotland's other operating costs were almost £600,000.

By the way, still no word on how VisitScotland intend to run their online booking service following the debacle with eTourism. eTourism's cumulative losses to the end of 2007 were £12.4 million, VisitScotland have had to write-off a £2.7 million of loans and interest on loans in their last accounts. Meanwhile we still have a rubbish web site and no sign of things getting any better.

Big Wheel Turning?

Here we go again. One company’s money making venture is an anathema to vast numbers of other people and I think those who are worried have every right to be. It seems that ‘one of the nation's leading visitor destinations’ – don’t you just hate that term – is planning a giant 112ft wheel to be up and running by the summer. The Lomond Eye is expected to attract thousands of tourists courtesy of a unique perspective on the Loch Lomond landscape. The company behind the idea is Loch Lomond Shores, which believes the structure – equal in height to the Edinburgh Wheel on Princes Street at Christmas – represents a major tourist draw.

Let’s take this in shall we. They think that the wheel will be a tourist draw. No it isn’t! It’s Loch Lomond and the surrounding area that is the tourist draw this is merely a scheme to make money off the back of it. There’s certainly an argument to say that while they might make more money putting it up and charging a pretty penny to go on it, the numbers of tourists overall visiting the area could be hit. Certainly more people probably don’t want to look at one of these things on the bonnie banks.

It’s one thing having them in London, Edinburgh or York where they are sited among a built environment but quite something else in the natural beauty that is Loch Lomond. The proposal has yet to be approved by Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority, which governs the national park, but those behind the structure claim it would not be visually intrusive.

They would and they are barking if they think that.

Loch Lomond Shores attracted more than 1.2 million visitors last year, and Clare Gemmell, the centre manager, views the wheel as a means of increasing that figure. She said: "We have no intention of this attraction being seen as a funfair big wheel, and we will ensure the structure and the promotions surrounding this proposal will be seen as an educational, environmental tool.

The centre had 1.2 million visitors, it didn’t attract them and how can it be seen, as anything other than what it is. . .a bloody great wheel!

To cap it all those experts in all things tourism Visitscotland are hoping that the Lomond Eye could be as successful as the Falkirk Wheel, which last year attracted over 500,000 visitors. Do they not get it?

In an increasingly busy, built environment we need to protect the natural beauty that offers visitors to Scotland respite from the visual assault that cities provide. A few years ago the former head of Scottish Boarders Tourist Board said to me. “The trouble with the Borders is we don’t have a world class attraction.” This scheme is a result of that same muddled thinking. We have the best world-class attraction of all in Scotland. The beauty of the hills, mountains, lochs, views, seashores, moors and the fact that there’s not a lot of people.

Let’s not try to fix it, ‘cos it ain’t broke.

VisitScotland have done it again

Blimey....he's woken from his Christmas slumbers! Well actually I've been up to my neck in writing and barely had time to think of anything bar the day job. However, I did come across yet another of example of visitScotland's wonderful (?) out of date rubbish on their web site.

Under literary events in Scotland on visitcotland.com the most recent date for anything happening is 2002. They talk about signings in book shops, including Ottaker's. Well Ottaker's were swallowed up by Waterstone's 3 years ago and there are no longer any of their outlets on the high street.

They really are such a dim organization that are all flash and totally lacking in the basic tools to do the job.

VisitScotland, if you can find anything to do. . .

VisitScotland are without doubt one of the most inept tourism organizations in the Western world. Disaster after disaster seems to come their way and yet the people that run it sail serenely on as if none of it is their fault. The latest problem we hear concerns £1.2 million of visitScotland's money, which is mostly our money, as the Scottish Government is their biggest funder, is having to be poured into visitScotland.com to save it from financial ruin. Things are so bad that visitScotland are taking over the running of visitScotland.com (inmates & asylums). What I hear you say they don't already run it? No of course not, it's run by a public-private partnership, eTourism. This in turn is run by Marco Truffelli, chief executive of VisitScotland.com, who is expected to continue running the website, despite its failings.

Mad or bad? Well back in February we were told that visitScotland were revamping the web site to make it more exciting. VisitScotland.com, which has endured fierce criticism from hoteliers and racked up millions of pounds in losses since it was set up five years ago. It was shut down in favour of a new site designed with the approval of key industry figures including Jim Mather, the tourism minister. Here we are ten months later and it's gone from bad to worse.

According to Philip Riddle, the chief executive of visitScotland, work would be carried out within weeks to ensure the website had a "more inspiring" feel, but he insisted a widespread overhaul was not required. However, he admitted he was having to fund the £1.2 million bail-out from his budget. That's the same as what was said back in February. . .

Just go take a look at the visitscotland.com site. It is so dull and uninspiring. Then of course there's visitscotland.org which is run by visitscotland, not eTourism. It's all very confusing and all very dull. Back in May 2007 I said on this blog. "I'll spare you all by not going on about the numerous bizarre things on their site, the mistakes and the tortuous process of actually finding out information. The problem is simple, their web site is designed by geeks not by people trying to market Scotland. Until it's fixed it will continue to under perform - despite what they say."

I'll give you one small example of how bad visitScotland.com is today. Under Edinburgh events there are two listed for today...both are traditional folk ceilidhs. Under next week's things to do....another ceilidh. Under the next 90 days, there's more ceilidhs, the Hogmanay celebration, the St. Andrew's day celebration and the Sleeping Beauty ballet....that's it! If you click on the St Andrew's day celebration for more details apparently nothing is happening. This is the capital for God's sake. . .and that's it? Still lucky you're not thinking of visiting Dundee where the only thing happening is the Orchar Collection at Broughty Castle or St Andrew's Day. . .where again nothing is happening.

It is time for a change, of that there is no question. visitScotland has been roundly criticised by government, industry figures, hoteliers, the public, B&B owners, in fact just about everyone in Scotland. Yet Mr Riddle the Chief Executive continues to hold down his job, one in which he's paid about the same as the Prime Minister and none of it is his fault or the fault of his board of directors. There's no question, given the industries importance to the Scottish economy, that radical action is needed. Above all else visitScotland.com fails to deliver on 'Scotland the Brand'. It's time for a change otherwise soon no one will be visiting Scotland.

Get VAT Back When You Spend Your Dollars in Scotland – But Only If You're Russian

According to my travel advisor Ken in Bournemouth in the September issue of "Destination UK" whose aim is "promoting UK tourism to the world's travel trade" there's a whole mass of stuff on how visitScotland is doing its best to attract visitors. Amongst the articles is one about their efforts to attract Russian convention visitors via a web site www.conventionscotland.com/ru. Hats off to them for doing a web site in Russian of which this is the opening page .

Click on the dollar notes and it takes you off to another page which features a piece about getting your VAT back on your purchases. Now one or two things comes to mind. Either it's aimed at American visitors or they are confused about what currency Russians are using. Indeed I believe it is illegal in Russia to show prices in dollars. Would it not have been better to have a wad of Scots notes?

VisitScotland and the Real Definition of Green Marketing

It's either the silly season or VisitScotland have finally tipped over the edge. You'd think in this difficult times for marketing Scotland to the world, with a strong pound vs. the dollar and in these troubled economic times that the organization charged with increasing tourism would be focused on the main job in hand. Not a bit of it, they've now decided to introduce yet another marketing scheme. According to their latest scheme. "Hotels, guest houses, restaurants and visitor attractions will be challenged to change long-standing habits, adopt new energy-saving measures and promote eco-friendly initiatives. Guests will be urged to 'go green' on holiday by ditching their cars, hiring a bike or going on a walking trip, and cutting down on the amount of water they use."

Among VisitScotland's ideas to help businesses improve their environmental record are collecting rainwater for re-use, installing low-energy lighting systems, recycling all glass, cans and plastic, and installing water-efficient toilets. Apparently once a business has signed up to the new "Going Green" initiative they will be coached throughout the year by experts at VisitScotland, with the aim of securing accreditation to the organisation's Green Tourism Business Scheme. Then they will get a little green plaque to go with their VisitScotland rating's plaque.

This is madness! A plethora of initiatives continue to flow out of the national tourist organization from people who clearly have little idea how marketing tourism works. VisitScotland's much-vaunted web site revamp still leaves me, and probably many others, cold. Just take the Scottish Borders, forty one places are listed in their place guide to the region, of which nine, 22%, have in their description." A full description of this location will be added shortly." It's been like that now for years and still nothing new. But it gets worse. Under Kirk Yetholm there's this picture. It's probably closer to twenty years old than ten! The fact is that until someone gets a hold of visitScotland and addresses its fundamental weaknesses will continue to drag it down – they should start with their dull and boring, clunky website.

Duns Well and Truly On The Map...Well Almost

See what a little complaining will do. A few weeks ago I got on my hobby horse and complained about VisitScotland's shameful under-treatment of Duns on their web site. Well lo and behold the Duns entry has been rewritten and is now substantially bigger than most every one of the other Border towns. Sadly they haven't added it to their map on the web site, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time.

Unfortunately they've taken some of the information from I know not where as they claim Duns is near to Greenknowe tower. In actual fact it's 12 miles away and nearer to Melrose than Duns. VisitScotland also claim that the "small kirk at Ellemford" is nearby to Duns. The kirk at Ellemford was destroyed a hundred years ago and now all that remains are a few grave stones. I'm being picky I know but you'd think they could get it right.

Tourism For Dummies?

It gets worse. Yesterday at their Tourism Forum Jim Mather, minister for tourism, believes the industry should aim for £2.1 billion more every year over the next eight years by attracting high-spending visitors willing to pay for a higher-value holiday. He wants to expand tourism in Scotland by 50 per cent by 2015 despite VisitScotland repeating a warning that the figure is unachievable on current trends.

VisitScotland's chief executive Philip Riddle is now back peddling from what he was saying last year that 50 per cent was "an ambition rather than a target" and the genesis of the figure had been "less than scientific". Meanwhile John Brown the head of the tourism unit at the Scottish Executive, told the conference Jim Mather was still committed to the target - and could make it tougher. Mr Brown said growth could be achieved through events such as Homecoming Scotland, which will encourage thousands of expatriate Scots to return in 2009 for the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "The targets are ambitious. However, Scotland is an ambitious country and we will continue to work towards 50 per cent growth." We used to be the 'best small country' now they want us to be the 'best ambitious country.’

And where are the plans for all this growth, real action rather than "less than scientific" twaddle from VisitScotland and the Minister for Tourism? Meanwhile Mr Mather's expenses for last year to the parliament reveal he sent our money on a copy of ‘Statistics for Dummies’ and ‘Statistical Analysis and Excel for Dummies’.

If only there was a book called 'Tourism For Dummies', then again maybe they're better placed to write 'Tourism By Dummies'?

VisitScotland Under Attack - Again

Alasdair Morgan, the SNP MSP, has written to new tourism minister Jim Mather condemning VisitScotland’s web site as unfit for purpose and expressing concern that the public-private partnership behind its creation was approved despite "clear evidence of non-viability at many stages of the process".

Now whether or not the last statement is true or not I’ve no idea but he’s certainly correct about it being useless. God help us if we allow it to go under government control because it really will end up costing the earth. In the election campaign there was an almost deafening silence from all the parties. In early May Alan Rankin, the outgoing chief executive of the public-private Scottish Tourism Forum, was critical of politicians in their lack of perceived ambition for the industry. He is particularly worried about the SNPs proposal 'to abolish the national marketing body VisitScotland and bring it under the control of a radically restructured Scottish Enterprise.' This letter from the MSP to the minister could well be the first move in an orchestrated campaigb by the SNP.

Arguably much of what happens in Scottish tourism happens despite VisitScotland. However, the SNP's idea of putting it under Scottish Enterprise is equally flawed. There's no question, given the industries importance to the Scottish economy, that radical action is needed. VisitScotland's web site, which is dull, full of mistakes and inaccuracies, and it lacks sufficient accomodation to attract visitors to certain parts of Scotland. Above all else it fails to deliver on 'Scotland the Brand'.

Statistics Don't Make A Tourist Boom

I'm back on the warpath against VisitScotland in today's Scotsman.

There was an almost deafening silence from all the parties in the run up to this election in regards to tourism; all in all it is extremely worrying. Why would Scotland's second biggest industry be so low down the agenda - is it because they don't understand it? In the Scotsman on 3rd May Alan Rankin, the outgoing chief executive of the public-private Scottish Tourism Forum, was critical of politicians in their lack of perceived ambition for the industry. He is particularly worried about the SNPs proposal 'to abolish the national marketing body VisitScotland and bring it under the control of a radically restructured Scottish Enterprise.' Will this happen if the SNP manage to form the next administration?

VisitScotland has a media campaign that tells us just how well they are doing, many, whose livelihoods depend on tourism, would disagree with them. Arguably much of what happens in Scottish tourism happens despite VisitScotland. However, the SNP's idea of putting it under Scottish Enterprise is equally flawed. There's no question, given the industries importance to the Scottish economy, that there should be a tourism minister. At the same time a radical change in VisitScotland's approach is vital. In particular their web site, which is dull, full of mistakes and inaccuracies, and it lacks sufficient accommodation to attract visitors to certain parts of Scotland. Above all else it fails to deliver on 'Scotland the Brand'.

An article on the same day headlined 'Tourism boom as visitor numbers rise 6%' masks many of the issues. Visitor numbers don't make for a tourism boom. They like all statistics mask a myriad amount of detail, not least the fact that the Kelvingrove Museum accounted for almost 2.5% of that growth. Next year on a like for like basis the scenario will likely change, just as it has done at the Scottish Parliament visitor attraction where numbers were down 26% - the newness has worn off. Visitor numbers include a great many local people. VisitScotland are past masters at peddling statistics, perhaps they should concentrate more on the real issues.

Much of the problem with VisitScotland is that it is a business run on the PFU model, with investors all keen to see a return on the money. At the same time it gets a large amount, the majority in fact, of its money from the Scottish Executive. VS looks to make money out of everything it does - especially when it comes to booking accommodation. There's a gap in the thinking here. On the one hand you have the information arm of the business and on the other the moneymaking and it ends up falling between two stools.

There has been a major ‘spring into summer’ promotion for the Borders (I use the word major as that is what their press release said). When you eventually find details of the promotion, after numerous clicks on the web site, you find ten properties offering accommodation in the Borders, that's ten in 1,800 square miles - eight self-catering and two hotels. It's pathetic.

I'll spare you all by not going on about the numerous bizarre things on their site, the mistakes and the tortuous process of actually finding out information. The problem is simple, their web site is designed by geeks not by people trying to market Scotland. Until it's fixed it will continue to under perform - despite what they say.

Hopeless VisitScotland

Surprise, surprise VisitScotland have updated their web site for the Borders offering a 'Spring into summer' promotion to replace the autumn winter offer that was there until at least yesterday. However, Duns, the county town of Berwickshire, is still left off their map of the Borders. Try telling people locally that VisitScotland are trying to push us up ‘the value chain’.

The original story HERE

I decided to check out Duns on the VisitScotland site. Being the closest town to us I thought it would be interesting. Once you've found it on the alphabetical listing of places and click on it up comes this
According the VS this is 'a girl with a horse in a field near Duns' - right. Below is the description of Duns.

Robert the Bruce built a castle here in 1320 nowadays its grounds are a park and a bird sanctuary. Duns became county town of Berwickshire, thriving thanks to its livetsock market. The hill of Duns Law stands to the north of the town, topped by the Covenanters Stone.

Now I've no idea what a ‘livet sock’ market is, but whatever it is there isn't one in Duns. What a truly worthless description of a town, that may not be the tourist magnets that Melrose or Kelso are but it's far from that bad. I then tried booking some accommodation within five miles of Duns in late July. Up came one place. Now either everywhere is full or that is the extent of what is on offer through VisitScotland. There's also only one place to eat according to the web site, the Black Bull. While it's very good, people might be forgiven for not wanting to eat there every night of their stay.