Tartan Week comes home to Scotland

Published on Sunday 9 March 2008 21:13

TARTAN week may become a national celebration, despite moves by the Scottish Government to rebrand the event.

An attempt to capitalise on the success of Tartan Day, celebrated in New York on the anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath, aims to expand the event at home.

A feasibility study carried out by Angus Council, which is home to Arbroath, found the event could boost tourism and benefit the economy.

Angus and neighbouring councils hope the week of events, from 29 March to 6 April, will become Scotland-wide by 2020, the 700th anniversary of the Declaration.

The initiative is funded with 151,000 from the European Regional Development Fund, cash from Angus and other councils and commercial sponsorship. The actor Brian Cox has been appointed by the event as Scotland's first International Ambassador.

However, as The Scotsman exclusively revealed last week, the Scottish Government has outlawed any mention of Tartan Week, amid claims that Scotland's image was being tarnished by the New York event.

The American event was instigated in 1998 after the US Senate designated Tartan Day in honour of Scotland's contribution to America.

It has been traditionally marked by a parade, a fun run and a fashion show.

Philip Riddle, the chief executive of Visit Scotland, said: "The celebrations will help extend the tourism season, something essential if we are to achieve the industry ambition of growing tourism revenues by 50 per cent by 2015".

Tartan Day Scotland 2008 is being celebrated in Angus, Dundee, Fife, Perth, Stirling, East Lothian, West Lothian and East Renfrewshire.