City rivalries inflamed as new index puts Glasgow above capital for tourism value

GLASGOW has emerged as a front-runner among UK cities offering best value to tourists, according to a new cost-comparison index launched today.

The city, one of eight key destinations surveyed in the UK, was ranked fourth of the five best-value cities, leaving Edinburgh trailing in second bottom position in Britain.

TripAdvisor based its inaugural TripIndex on the combined cost of one night's accommodation at a four-star hotel, a pizza, a dry martini and a five-mile taxi journey.

A night's stay in Glasgow, complete with the trimmings, came in at 131.40, while the bill for Edinburgh was 174.01. Belfast is the best value UK city for tourists, costing 106.54, while London is the most expensive UK city at 227.99 and was also the third most expensive city worldwide.

A total of 50 key tourist cities worldwide were surveyed, tracking them against the pound.

The cheapest city in the list was Bangkok at 69.46, while the most expensive was Paris at 268.

Emma O'Boyle, spokeswoman for TripAdvisor, said: "Cost, and in particular value for money, is one of the most important considerations for travellers.

"By examining the same four holiday items, TripIndex allows travellers to make an educated decision as to whether a destination is right for them."

Duncan Johnstone, co-chair of the Greater Glasgow Hotels Association, said the differing hotel accommodation costs between Glasgow and Edinburgh - which stand at 104.10 and 140.56 respectively - reflected the cities' varying clientele.

Mr Johnstone, general manager of the four-star 64-room Carlton George Hotel in Glasgow, said: "Edinburgh has an excess tourist market which pushes prices up and also benefits from more midweek leisure breaks covering Monday to Thursday and not just weekends.

"Glasgow relies a lot on corporate business, and in the current economic climate rates are under pressure, with companies looking for a good deal. This also benefits tourists visiting the city."

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said the price of a dry martini in both Scottish cities - 6.95 in Glasgow and 11.50 in Edinburgh - depended largely on the individual drink, but admitted that Edinburgh's tourist-heavy population could bump up prices.

"The price set for a something like a dry martini is a choice for the individual hotel, and even at top hotels the customer may be getting house brand gin or deluxe gin," he said.

"The cities are mostly catering for different markets."

Lucy Bird, chief executive of Marketing Edinburgh, said: "People decide where to go based on the overall experience of a destination, and Edinburgh has the distinct advantage of being an iconic and inspiring international capital city."There's an unparalleled mix of culture, setting, history, retail and leisure here and, combined with the likes of our Unesco World Heritage status, we represent fantastic value for money when compared with other European capitals, such as Paris".

Professor Paul Freathy, of Stirling University's Institute of Retail Studies, said: "Because Edinburgh has an exclusive air, it is able to charge more.

"It is primary tourism destination for history and culture and has managed to position itself as the "true" feeling of Scotland."