MSPs have given their support to the third Scottish Tourism Week which takes place from 4th – 11th March.  The week is aimed at raising the awareness of tourism as Scotland’s most sustainable industry and this year’s theme is ‘Investing in Scottish Tourism’.

Bob Doris, MSP for Glasgow, was one of over sixty MSP’s that participated in a photo opportunity day at Parliament this week hosted by the Scottish Tourism Forum. The aim of the day was to highlight the importance of tourism within each individual MSP’s constituency and to draw attention to the opportunities open to individuals and communities alike to contribute to the overall tourism offer within Scotland.
 

Mr Doris comments: "I very much support the forthcoming Scottish Tourism Week. Tourism is a vital part of both Glasgow’s thriving city culture and its economy. Recently Glasgow's SECC was voted the UK's best conference centre and the SECC generated £346.9 million in 2007 alone. Tourism to Glasgow enhances our city's growing reputation as a destination of choice for tourists and conference delegates alike and attracts a growing number of related jobs for our citizens. Glasgow is in an excellent position to build on its strong tourism foundations. I look forward to building on our tourism success and work towards the 2014 Commonwealth Games when Glasgow will be the focus for many nations across the globe and athletes and visitors will flock to Glasgow in their droves. Their happy experiences when in the city will provide a lasting tourism legacy for generations to come.  I commend Scottish tourism week and believe it will assist our city further develop our  tourist economy".

To build on the increasing success of Scottish Tourism Week, STF will launch in conjunction with STW an exciting new online project which encourages MSPs to engage with tourism businesses in their local area. The project will run throughout the year and will give MSP’s the chance to highlight issues, events and activities relating to tourism in their area.

Iain Herbert, STF Chief Executive, comments: “Tourism is the one industry that can reach all areas across Scotland and STW is the ideal mechanism to highlight these opportunities. Scottish Tourism Week, which was initiated by the Scottish Tourism Forum in 2006, connects on a business to business level and encourages politicians to engage with tourism businesses in order to better understand the issues and to help unlock the true potential within Scottish tourism economy”.

More info on www.stforum.co.uk

Note:

• The Scottish Tourism Forum (STF) is an independent membership body which represents the interests of Scottish tourism businesses. It has members across all sectors of the industry, both small and large operators, associations and area business groups. STF seeks to be the voice of the industry and is involved in industry advisory panels and grants awards panels and lobbies on behalf of the tourism and hospitality sector.
• Tourism in Scotland contributes £4.2bn to the Scottish economy and employs over 210,000 people on over 20,000 businesses. World tourism is set to grow by 4% per annum and Scotland has a growth ambition of 50% by 2015. The ambition for growth is detailed in the Tourism Framework for Change which was jointly launched by the Scottish Executive and STF in March of 2006.