Some of you may have noticed an article in the Berwickshire News today about tourism and VisitScotland. I've followed it up with a letter to the Scotsman.
The VisitScotland web site has come in for a fair amount of criticism over the last few years, criticism that appears to go unheeded because it gets no better. On the VisitScotland.com home page there's a section headed 'walking', clearly something that attracts many visitors to our country from around the world. It proudly announces - 'Scotland. Created for walking'. There follows a paragraph that seems to have been written by someone for whom neither English or Scots is their first language, then again it is marketing-speak. On the same home page there's an offer to 'sign up for our E-newsletter and a chance to 'view the current newsletter'. You, like me, will probably be amazed to know that "Spring is underway..." The latest newsletter is so out of date that it's promoting spring 2007. There's even a chance to enter a competition that closed on 30th September 2007.
I could catalogue countless failings, mistakes and other crass things that are to be found on the VisitScotland web site - but even if I do, will it get any better? In the meantime they spend close to £30 million of our money on marketing Scotland. They need a lesson in getting the basics right and need to start paying attention to detail. The fact is their site is a joke - the only problem is it's costing Scotland and our tourism businesses millions of pounds while no one seems to care enough to do anything about it. VisitScotland had close to £50 million in 2005/6 from the Government, does anyone think we're getting value for money?
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Standing up for the Scottish Borders
About Us
The Borders Party is the only party dedicated solely to the well-being of the Scottish Borders and its people. We have evolved out of a combination of campaign groups, business people, community councillors and many others who do not feel that the region's best interests are currently best represented.
The Local Plan which proposes massive changes to the Borders has been drawn up without meaningful consultation. Against this background we successfully contested the local elections in May 2007 and two councillors from the Borders Party were elected.
We are not affiliated to any political party as we believe that national politics have no place in local government. Our members come from all walks of life across the Borders.
The Local Plan which proposes massive changes to the Borders has been drawn up without meaningful consultation. Against this background we successfully contested the local elections in May 2007 and two councillors from the Borders Party were elected.
We are not affiliated to any political party as we believe that national politics have no place in local government. Our members come from all walks of life across the Borders.
The views expressed on this blog are not official Border Party Policy. They are the opinions of individuals, which are posted for the stimulation of discussion and the exchange of views.
3 comments:
No, of course we don't get value for money, especially in the Borders, which is last on the list of Scottish regions on the VisitScotland home page.
An while I'm moaning, the VisitScotland brand name annoys me. Why do people think they have the right to mess about with the usual conventions for word formation and capitalisation in written English? (How are we supposed to deal with things like se7en?)
Perhaps we're supposed to say 'visitscotland' very quickly without pausing for breath. I doubt overseas visitors will pause to have a serious look either.
I tend to say 'visitscotland' in a Tommy Cooper kind of voice....
This just confirms what everyone involved with tourism knows - VisitScotland is a complete waste of money and shockingly badly run.
Why is it the government pays so little heed to what must be one of Scotlands most important industries? Could it be that because the industry by its very nature is fragmented, it therefore lacks a strong, united voice with which to lobby the Government. A factory opening (or closing) gives politicians the opportunity for press coverage. Lots of small businesses losing out is a lot less noticeable.
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