FM says tourist centres ‘have a place’ – despite closures
TOURIST information centres “have a place” in Scotland, Humza Yousaf has said – despite plans to shut every one of them.
The First Minister’s comment came as he defended VisitScotland plans to shut all of the 25 tourist information “iCentres” when quizzed by MSPs on Holyrood’s Convener Committee.
Yousaf was appearing before the senior group of MSPs yesterday when Labour’s Claire Baker raised the issue.
Baker, the convener of the Economy and Fair Work Committee, said: “VisitScotland have announced that they’re going to close the remaining 25 iCentres. That was after 39 closed back in 2017-2019.
“So I’d be interested to know: did the Government know this announcement was coming this morning, what discussions you’ve had with VisitScotland about the closures, and if there’s any evaluation being taken of the impact.
“Looking at where the centres are, five of them are in the islands and the majority of them are still in rural locations.”
Responding, Yousaf said he “completely” understands VisitScotland’s argument. The public body has said that people are using online services more and a “digitalfirst” approach to tourist information would be better moving forward.
However, Yousaf also said that tourist information centres “have a place” in Scotland.
The First Minister told MSPs: “We have obviously regular discussions with VisitScotland. I fully accept that there will be some level of concern around the announcement.
“I think there’s also, though, a recognition that the way in which we seek information when we travel to tourist destinations has changed. Most of us here will use an app or we will go online.
“That is not to say that visitor centres, information centres, don’t have a place. Among some people, they will find the use and interest of them. But the way in which people seek information, find information on tourist destinations is rapidly and vastly changed.
“My expectation of VisitScotland, and they know this, of course, would be to engage with the communities based in these tourist destinations, to ensure that they fully reassure them about what is in place in order for people to seek information about those destinations even when information centres are closed.”
He added that there “should be appropriate levels of engagement and consultation with the local communities, because there will be a number of more remote rural and island communities that may well be concerned about the announcement that’s been made, but I understand the rationale and reasons for it”.