Tourist trauma

The creator of Edinburgh’s Hogmanay celebrations, Peter Irvine, has warned that the city is in a grip of an “over-tourism” crisis comparable to Venice, Barcelona and Dubrovnik.

I’ve been to Edinburgh in early November 2017 and it was quite comfortable and the weather was also good for that time of the year. I chose to go there after the peak season and before Hogmanay. I wonder what is causing this mass influx of tourists into one special place? I can imagine that the Outlander series have given Scotland a boost in tourism over the past years. I can also imagine that Brexit might be a game-changer that will affect Scotland as well.

Thomas

Need to consider visits by cruise ships – visitors on the streets who contribute very little to the local economies.

Kenny Spinks Nothing’s going to change. There is now a large vested interest in accommodation and restaurants which need business year round to maximise capacity (ie profits), that the council would be scared to reverse their scorched earth policy in the town centre. The city is no longer for residents – perhaps we should protect the ‘hidden treasures’ on the outskirts, such as Portobello and Cramond Island.

Davee

I find it hilarious that Mr Irvine, the man who instigated Edinburgh ‘Fakemanay’ and pushed local Edinburghers out of their own city, is now complaining about overtourism in Edinburgh. Edinburghers haven’t had a proper Hogmanay in over 20 years because of you, Mr Irvine.

yamayama76 Edinburgh is becoming a dump. Even in the hotspot tourist areas the place is filthy. What other international city (outside developing countries) would allow stinking, overflowing waste bins to sit outside restaurants?

Pox Vomitus

They must be easily pleased. ‘Bring plenty money and don’t expect much’ should be Edinburgh’s motto. Oh, and get some bleach and cleaning products as the place is filthy.

sheeps

This is a problem that is very easy to solve without affecting the number of tourists turning up with much-needed cash to help Scotland’s failing economy: 1 Make the festival six weeks rather than four thus spreading out peak demand; 2 Move all the people with flyers for their shows off the Royal Mile, freeing up space for tourists to wander around the closes if they want; 3.Disperse the venues further round the city, reducing the pinch-points; 4 Fix the roads, which would allow people to get around more easily.

Damian Thirsty Fewer tour guide books might help. Or perhaps a period where locals can have peace when they are off work, eg over the New Year, which would allow the city to be enjoyed.

andrew b dickson Couldn’t agree more. Tourism used to be a festival