Edinburgh needs an international exhibition centre

NEW figures from the Edinburgh Convention Bureau tend to support the view that the capital city is weathering the economic downturn better than most had hoped, with the number of conferences and exhibitions secured in the year up to March increasing by 57 on the previous year.

While the overall estimated income of 74.2 million is highly creditable, attracting the business has not been easy. By a rough calculation the 57 extra events brought in an average of just over 12,000 each, a good illustration of just how tough it has been to make real money in this what is a keenly competitive marketplace at the best of times.

Little of it would have been possible without the foresight of the old Edinburgh district council to create the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, and plans to expand it cannot come soon enough. That there are discussions about a new 6,000-capacity venue in the west of the city should be welcomed, but the talks should have taken place years ago and the city enjoying the fruits of further investment now when it's needed most.

The majority of the events which came here were conferences but the city – and by extension Scotland – continues to miss out on the biggest exhibitions because there is nowhere for them to go.

Even in a downturn, business event organisers want to come to Edinburgh. The private sector, council and government must work together quickly to ensure that no part of the international market remains off-limits.