| Scottish tourism is increasing and this year | | | | |
| is aiming to generate £6 billion. | | | | I have travelled the World many times and |
| Scotland's Tourism Minister, Frank McAveety | | | | visited many wonderful countries, I am still |
| thinks this can be sustained long-term so | | | | astounded at the natural beauty in my own |
| long as public and private sectors work as a | | | | country. It is great that we are working to |
| single team. We asked for your views. | | | | make Scotland an open area for all to enjoy. |
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| This year the Scottish Tourism Industry is | | | | Rory Macregor, Scotland |
| aiming to generate an annual visitor income | | | | |
| of £6 billion. Frank McAveety, Scotland's | | | | They could start by being more family |
| Tourism Minister is very positive. He | | | | friendly. For the cost of 2 weeks in |
| believes that over the next decade, the | | | | Scotland, I can take my family for a |
| industry can become one of the leading | | | | fortnight in France. So where is the |
| drivers of economic development north of the | | | | attraction? Accommodation owners need to get |
| border. | | | | some realistic prices. |
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| Mr McAveety has said that tourism is one of | | | | David Norris, UK |
| the fastest growing parts of the Scottish | | | | |
| economy, and the performance the industry had | | | | The staff are grump, days are rainy, hotels |
| turned in over the last two years could be | | | | of a poor standard and the food and drink are |
| sustained long-term. | | | | obnoxiously expensive and generally not very |
| | | | good. Would you choose this or a holiday in |
| We asked for your Scotland holiday | | | | the sun? As they say in the USA, "You do the |
| experiences, we received numerous comments | | | | math!" |
| about the good experiences, such as the great | | | | |
| hospitality and lovely hotels. You also told | | | | Stephen Kearney, USA |
| us about your bad experiences, including | | | | |
| dirty towns and bad food. | | | | Scotland is the most magical and amazing |
| | | | place on earth. I think the only thing that |
| Your Comments | | | | needs changing is the midges. My advice is to |
| | | | love it for what it is and don't make it into |
| Two years ago my wife and I had the pleasure | | | | what you want it to be. It doesn't need |
| of visiting Scotland. We enjoyed ourselves | | | | endless public loos, there are plenty of |
| and found the people to be friendly and | | | | rocks to hide behind! |
| helpful. We are planning to return again | | | | |
| soon, perhaps this Summer. | | | | Murray Motley, UK |
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| Richard Fay, USA | | | | I have just returned from the Scottish |
| | | | Highlands and I can truly say that it is one |
| We found the Scottish people to be some of | | | | of the most beautiful places on earth. I hope |
| the most welcoming, we have ever met. They | | | | that the rural areas retain their natural |
| were patient with my husband's English, | | | | charm and beauty. |
| suggested visits and stopped in the street in | | | | |
| the rain to answer our questions. | | | | Steven Kahn, England |
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| Marie Claire Delmas, France | | | | You could say I'm a Scotsophile or whatever |
| | | | the term is - I could up sticks and live |
| The tourism industry is performing better, | | | | there. It is in fact an option my husband and |
| but to ensure visitors continue to visit | | | | I are thinking about for when we retire. |
| Scotland year on year there are vast | | | | Visiting Cape Wrath on a small ferry, is one |
| improvements to be made. | | | | of my greatest memories - it was an amazing |
| | | | experience. |
| Noel Patrick, Scotland | | | | |