Internet blamed as spending slumps at tourist info centres

Published on Saturday 4 July 2009 11:20

TOURIST information centres in the Lothians have suffered a slump in bookings as visitors scale back their spending.

In the three months to the end of May, the number of people using the centres fell by 4 per cent.

But bookings that came from these visits tumbled much more, sliding by 25 per cent to 1,248, suggesting visitors may be spending less than they did last year.

The Edinburgh Princes Street centre suffered an even higher decline in bookings, with 28 per cent fewer people booking hotels, tours or tickets to attractions through the centre.

And in Dunbar, East Lothian, there was not a single booking.

Despite the declines, tourism leaders say many of the Capital's tourist attractions are still doing better than last year and the decline in bookings in the information centres may be down to changing spending patterns.

Sinead Feltoe, VisitScotland's regional director, said: "Visitors are choosing different ways to book their holidays and many are doing this online.

"But visitor information centres play an important role as there is a real appetite for face to face contact and personal recommendations which is available from our staff working in centres across Edinburgh and the Lothians.

"Our staff not only take bookings but also recommend places to go and sell tickets to tours, attractions and events for more than 50 businesses in Edinburgh.

"This brings in more than 1.2 million worth of economic benefit to them."

She added that, as well as the information centres, VisitScotland was trying to focus on providing information at events.

A branded bus is to be used sell the city's attractions to visitors at The Gathering and Edinburgh's Festivals.

The decline in visitor centre bookings contrasts with the hotel sector, which has enjoyed two consecutive months of occupancy growth.

However, the average revenue room yield, or profit per room, has declined – which indicates that the hotels are having to cut prices to attract customers in.

Today's figures also show that there was an improved performance in May, with a 0.9 per cent increase in visitor numbers and a 16.8 per cent decline in bookings.

Last month, 11 per cent more people visited Edinburgh Castle than in May 2008, while the National Museums of Scotland saw visitor numbers rise by 17 per cent.

Cllr Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development leader, said: "These figures are only one indicator as to the vibrancy of Edinburgh's tourism industry – and one that is becoming less significant over time as visitors increasingly use web and mobile technology to access information about the city before and during their visit.

"I am reassured that other, more telling, indicators, such as hotel occupancy and visitor numbers to our main tourist attractions, remain buoyant.

"The council is working closely with a range of our partners, including the Destination Edinburgh Marketing Alliance and VisitScotland, to ensure that tourists have access to all the information they require during their stay and I am confident that Edinburgh is well placed to drive Scotland's tourism industry forward."