VisitScotland says protect tourism cash

The new chief executive of VisitScotland has insisted that tourism must be protected from budget cuts.

In his first interview since taking up the post, Malcolm Roughead said he has made a strong case to the government for his organisation's 40 million budget to be frozen, arguing it is "right at the heart of the Scottish economy".

He spoke as new figures revealed that Scotland has outperformed the rest of the UK as a result of success in attracting "staycation" tourists.

A 2.5 per cent increase in visitors around Scotland throughout 2009, compared to a 6.8 per cent drop across the rest of the UK, was largely put down to Scots holidaying at home and the 5m Homecoming campaign. Mr Roughead said: "The early evidence is that our new campaigns are having an impact and we would obviously want to do more, subject to resources."