Homecoming leaves tourist chief cold

Published on Wednesday 1 April 2009 22:10

THE long-term benefits of Homecoming Year have been dismissed by one of the leading figures in the Scottish tourism sector.

Bob Downie, the chief executive of the Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh, attacked the Scottish Government yesterday for investing in promotion for only one year and not looking at improving "the quality of Scotland's tourism product".

Speaking to Holyrood's Economy and Tourism Committee, Mr Downie likened Homecoming 2009 to the MTV Awards held in Leith in 2003.

"All big tent, big party and nothing afterwards," he said.

His comments struck a chord with some of the committee members who raised concerns that the expected influx of tourists was not coming in because of the recession despite a prediction of 100,000 extra visitors this year.

Conservative committee member Gavin Brown went further, suggesting that Homecoming lacked appeal.

"Homecoming is like the MTV awards without Beyonce," he said.

But SNP members were angered by the remarks, especially as their party has been previously credited by industry insiders with reviving Homecoming and preventing it from turning into a disaster.

Rob Gibson, the committee deputy convener, argued that encouraging people to come this year and creating new events to support existing ones was providing exactly the sort of development that would have a long lasting effect.

However other MSPs wonder if a new strategy should be considered.

SNP MSP Chris Harvie said: "More concentration should be placed on Homecoming for people in Europe not North America."

Mr Harvie, who has spent much of his working life in Germany, said the problems of the recession will prevent Amercians from spending thousands visiting Scotland this year, but the low value of the pound against the euro would make it attractive for Europeans.

David Smythe, chairman of the Association of Scottish Self-Caterers, also suggested that more should be done to promote Scottish holidays to Scots.

This is the second inquiry in two years by the committee into tourism because of concerns that Homecoming may not be living up to its billing.

However in a recent speech First Minister Alex Salmond said that not only had Homecoming reversed the downturn in visitors but that it had provided "a boom" for the Scottish tourist industry.

Responding to Mr Downie, a Scottish Government spokesman said: "The views of an overwhelming majority of contributors at the committee were exceptionally positive. There was widespread understanding that Homecoming is about making maximum use of a unique asset for Scotland – the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns' birth, an opportunity which, by definition, comes around only once in 250 years."