Visit Princes St

Re Brian Ferguson’s story “Visitscotland to create flagship tourism centre to capitalise on Royal Mile” (21 August), I have spent the past three weeks working as a Festival City Volunteer with Festivals Edinburgh, providing directions and giving out maps to visitors.

We volunteers consistently find the greatest demand for information is at the entrances to Waverley Station, on Waverley Bridge where the 100 Airport bus arrives, and at the foot of the Mound near the Princes Street tram stop. A team of four volunteers can easily speak to more than 200 people in a four-hour shift.

Visitors to Edinburgh need information close to these arrival points. They are seeking to orientate themselves in the city centre so they can go on to find their accommodation. Those exiting from Waverley station at Market Street are often aghast at the prospect of lugging their luggage up the steps of Fleshmarket Close to the High Street. They need local guidance to direct them to Cockburn Street or Jeffrey Street as luggage-friendly alternatives.

Festival City Volunteers currently operate only in August. Tourists need information all year round. Visit Scotland need to consider retaining a permanent presence on Princes Street, perhaps in an empty shop, close to these main arrival points.

DONALD MILLAR Lussielaw Road, Edinburgh