Don’t let personal gripes distract from our shared Yes goal
I CAN see both sides to this. On the one hand, VisitScotland’s argument makes sense. Tourists are increasingly planning trips online, using platforms like TikTok and YouTube for inspiration, and then booking tours and accommodation through travel websites. A digitalfirst approach allows VisitScotland to target these travellers early on in their decision-making process and convince them to choose Scotland.
However, there’s also a valid concern about accessibility. While many people can easily access travel information online, visitors with disabilities may require in-person assistance that physical information centres provide. This could include anything from help planning an accessible itinerary to finding wheelchair-friendly accommodation.
In its press release, VisitScotland mentioned working with local stakeholders to discuss “local arrangements.” This could potentially mean partnering with local businesses or organisations
I can see both sides to this
to provide some level of in-person support for disabled visitors, even after the physical information centres close. Yes, strive to improve the services and modernise, but don’t leave the most vulnerable behind who have just as every right to see how wonderful Scotland is.
James Murphy thenational.scot
YOU are going on holiday, you look up info online but when you arrive in a foreign city, you head to the tourist office to get a map, usually free, and ask any questions you have. Why does Scotland want to be different and shut down all its tourist information offices?
Even with the internet there is no substitute for a friendly person with direct knowledge when you arrive somewhere new. It also gives the first impression of a country. Sometimes you have to think Scotland shoots itself in the foot!
Susan Grant
Tain
WITH all due respect to Brian Lawson, his letter of March 27 (“Haudin yer wheesht …”) appears to be based on some fundamental misapprehensions.
The first is his apparent belief (seemingly shared by Glenda Burns) that the SNP could and should be faultless in government, not only in achieving financial and operational perfection but in introducing policies that would always appear to be welcomed by the majority of the general public, regardless of the principles on which the party was founded and in spite of a grossly hostile UK mainstream media.
Certainly the Scottish Government has made mistakes, but there is no perfect government anywhere on this planet and at least our government is free of the blatant corruption we have seen evidenced around the awarding of PPE contracts by Westminster and, while seeking to prudently manage Scotland’s finances, is sincerely attempting to do the right things in terms of alleviating poverty, protecting the environment, furthering egalitarianism and building a better society for all.
The second misapprehension is that the electorate can objectively assess the performance of the SNP (and Scottish Green Party) in government without the provision of appropriate comparisons to consider, especially when the UK mainstream media (including the BBC) appears generally intent on only providing comparisons with England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and beyond that show the SNP or Scotland in a poor light.
The third misapprehension is that independence can be achieved without conveying a positive vision of the future and without convincing a clear majority of Scots that it’s time to withdraw from this failing Union and, on a new constitutional basis, determine our own destiny. Rather than keeping quiet, more independence supporters need to “speak out” beyond already sympathetic ears and together help to convey that inspiring positive vision.
If all who support independence become narrowly preoccupied with divisive personal gripes against the SNP, the Greens, Alba, or any other pro-independence groupings, not only will we fail to convince the undecideds whom we are each capable of personally influencing to support independence, Scotland will not regain its independence in the lifetimes of even the youngest supporters.
We may not comprehend all the factors considered in making key SNP decisions, but that does make them the wrong decisions with regard to furthering selfdetermination, both in the short term and the long term. We may not personally see the logic behind recent actions taken by the new SNP leadership, but that does not mean they were illogical.
We may not convince all of our family, friends and acquaintances to get out and vote in the next General Election (perhaps only six months away), and to vote for an independence candidate (and in my personal opinion preferably an SNP candidate), but the more people we can convince in this election, and any future election or referendum, the faster Scotland’s centuries-old journey to regain its independence will reach a successful conclusion. Stan Grodynski Longniddry, East Lothian
M ROSS (Letters, Mar 28) misses a very important point about why complainants names are kept confidential. I am sure this is not true of Murdo Fraser, but you cannot guarantee that the person complained about will not take some type of retaliatory action.
The safeguarding against vexatious complaints is the legislation around wasting police time, attempting to pervert the course of justice etc.
Alan Thompson via thenational.scot