Growth of tourism the key to region’s economic fightback
Tourism expansion is “the key” to South Ayrshire’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, according to one MSP.
Sharon Dowey insists more spend in the sector can drive success throughout the region.
It follows her meeting with Visit Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.
The Scottish Conservative List MSP for South Scotland received an update on tourism strategy and discussed South Ayrshire’s appeal within the Scottish tourism landscape.
She then took a tour of the museum, Poet’s Path and Burns’ Cottage, meeting with staff and hearing first-hand about how the attraction – voted the Best Heritage Tourism Experience at the National Final of the Scottish Thistle Awards in 2020 – had coped with the challenges of Covid and their plan to attract more visitors to Ayrshire.
Large scale digital and marketing campaigns are underway to try and drive more visitors to the region.
And Mrs Dowey has offered her support to the campaigns to try and encourage more tourists to visit South Ayrshire.
She said: “It was great to meet with Visit Scotland and the National Trust to hear more about the important work they do.
“In South Ayrshire we’ve got so much to offer: golf, history, food and drink, natural beauty and even TV and film locations, it’s all here and we should be showing that off to the world.
“There’s still a way for the sector to go though. COVID slowed things down but there’s a huge amount of potential here.
Ms Dowey added this week: “I was really encouraged to hear about Visit Scotland’s plans to attract more visitors, particularly for longer stays, and I’ll be supporting that work however I can.
“I’m also keen to champion the efforts of the National Trust and I’ll be hosting them in the Scottish Parliament next week as they meet MSPs.
“I was really impressed by the Burns Birthplace Museum too, I’d urge anyone who’s not been to head along and check it out as it’s well worth a visit.
“The guides and volunteers do a fantastic job and it was great to meet them and hear more about that.
“It’s clear tourism is key to growing the South Ayrshire economy and will play a huge role going forward. South Ayrshire already is one of the best places to live, work and relax in the UK but we need to do all we can to grow and develop this sector.”