Tourism body defends its marketing

Published on 31/08/2012 12:00

TOURISM agency VisitScotland has hit back at criticism over its failure to promote Edinburgh’s festivals during the Olympics.

Fringe promoters were furious at the lack of support from VisitScotland when shows started half way through the London Games.

But the agency decided against a promotional drive similar to one mounted by Ireland.

William Burdett-Coutts of Assembly Theatre said: “We knew years in advance how big a deal the Olympics was going to be. I think it’s been an issue for several years that VisitScotland could be doing more for the Fringe.”

But a VisitScotland spokesman said: “Our marketing is some of the most sophisticated in the world. It isn’t about employing a last-minute, scatter-gun approach. All our research shows the value of carefully targeting the markets that will bring the best economic impact to Scotland.”