 The final item of business is a member's business debate on motion 1.6004, in the name of Stuart McMillan, on Scottish Tourism Month 2019. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I can ask those members who wish to take part in the debate to press the request to speak buttons now, and I call on Stuart McMillan to open the debate. Mr McMillan, please. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. First, I would like to thank every member who has signed the motion to allow the debate to take place today. I am delighted to be leading this debate as I am a member of the Parliament's Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee, as well as convening both the tourism and the recreational boating and marine tourism cross-party groups. Members will have heard the phrase that tourism is everyone's business, and it's not just a catchy soundbite, it's a fact. Whether it's the Sullheim Cup, it's taken place in Fife later this year, or the recent European indoor athletics championships in Glasgow, or to the rugby tourism that happens every year with the six nations, and the autumn tests. To the many, many local healing games across the nation, tourism plays a huge part in the success of those major events. There are also the million and one tourism opportunities across the nation that enthuse people to actually see them, including, in your own constituency, Presiding Officer, the Thirlstein Castle in Modderdale, as well as the Tempest Brewing Company in Galashields, and in Emma Harper's region, the Heads of Air, Farm, Down and Air. There is certainly something there for children of all sizes and ages, and also in Gillian Martin's constituency, Glen Geary, and I hope that I have pronounced that properly, which is Scotland's most easterly distillery. The reason why I mentioned Emma Harper and Gillian Martin's, because I knew also that they were speaking on behalf of the SNP group. Then, of course, there is the wonderful Lanlythgow constituency of the Cabinet Secretary for the Visit to Lanlythgow Palace or the Lanlythgow Canal Centre. Our country has tourism offers and abundance. It really has something for everyone. I particularly like the comment from the chair of Visit Scotland at Lord John Tholso. When he stated, Scotland for me is a land of innovation, based on our glorious traditions. Both sides of that are important. We should celebrate our heritage of kilts, shortbread and heather, along with our educational strengths and our inventiveness. I could not agree more. My motion highlights march as being Scottish Tourism Month, organised by the Scottish Tourism Alliance. I warmly welcome this excellent initiative, as it highlights many things. Firstly, the celebration of what tourism brings to the nation and also to local communities. Secondly, making more people in the nation and elsewhere appreciate what we actually have to offer. Scotland may be a nation small in size, but we more than make up for that in stature when it comes to our many USPs and what we have given the world. I want to thank the STA for its excellent efforts and work that it does all year round to promote Scotland as a tourism destination. I would also like to highlight the recent sales Scotland and Marine Tourism Conference in the wonderful Beacon Arts Centre in my own Greenock and Inverclyde constituency. The conference returned to Inverclyde and the location was very much fitting. Marine tourism plays a growing role in the tourism economy and the work of our cross-party group in helping to deliver the first marine tourism strategy is something that I am immensely proud of. It is only a small part of our country having a border, but the rest of the country has been surrounded by water. There really was a glaring opportunity to be worked on, and that is bearing fruit now. The absolute shameless plug that I am about to offer from one constituency could go on all night, but I will highlight just two examples. Inverclyde is Scotland's marine tourism capital. Whether it is the recreation of boating, Kip Marina is the home of Scotland's boat show in October, or the growing number of cruise liners arriving, we are delivering more every year. When the new cruise ship visitor centre opened in Greenock, it will include some of the works of the late iconic George Wiley, who lived in Gwyrwch. The even bigger opportunity with cruise tourism would be for more ships to use Greenock as a departure point, therefore encouraging more hotels to open up within the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency. That was touched upon in an article on yesterday's Greenock Telegraph, as there is an operator looking to invest in Inverclyde. The second example is this important year and the history and the legacy of one of Scotland's greatest sons, James Watt. The cabinet secretary will be very much aware of my efforts to create a James Watt festival in the bicentenary of the death of James Watt. What is a gift from Greenock to the world? The McLean Museum is to be renamed the Watt institution, and that will be reopening this year after it is refurbished and part-funded by Historic Environment Scotland, as well as in Inverclyde Council. Today, I was delighted to hear that James Watt commemorative tartan has now been agreed by the Scottish registers of tartans. I quite unashamedly focused on some of the positive elements of tourism in our nation, but I want to touch upon three of the challenges as well. Some will no doubt raise the issue of the transit visitor levy, and it is important that this issue is debated sensibly. The cabinet secretary was clear last week when she indicated that it would not be introduced until 2021 at the earliest, as well as local authorities. They will have that choice as to whether to use it or not. Understand the argument against it with VAT being so high. With that being the case, what would the financial impact be if VAT were reduced and the levy was brought in? A strong and logical argument could well then be deployed that it should be a national levy and not a local power. That would then fly in the face of evolving further responsibilities to local authorities. A second challenge is that of the environment. I have raised the issue with the Scottish Government before regarding some camper van drivers dumping their human waste at the roadside instead of the appropriate sites. A constituent who first raised this with me came back into my office and spoke about the issue yesterday and raised further concerns that he has on this as well as the caravan club on the matter. He has been a caravaner for over 50 years and is angry that some people, both from Scotland and elsewhere, think that it is fine to dump their human waste illegally instead of paying a nominal fee to keep Scotland clean. The third challenge is that of Brexit. When someone is respected as the travel writer and author Simon Calder states, the travel industry is in complete disarray. It flights from Edinburgh to Germany for £13 on 1 April or a week's package in Malta for £180. The Westminster is committing criminal damage against Scottish tourism. Politicians need to listen. Mr Calder stated this comment last week at the STA signature event. I want to conclude on a positive note, something that we can all agree on. Visit Scotland does an excellent job and it has helped to partner many organisations together. It has become such a widely respected international body and it has shown great leadership in the tourism field. The Scottish Government's themed years have certainly been a boost for them. I am particularly looking forward to next year's 2020 year of course in waters. I want to say happy 50th birthday to everyone at Visit Scotland. Thank you for what you have done and also for what you will continue to do and here is to the next 50 years. I congratulate my friend and colleague Stuart McMillan on securing this debate. The aim of Scottish tourism month is to engage, connect and inspire all of Scotland's tourism businesses and organisations and to celebrate the enormous contribution of our tourism industry to Scotland's economy. I would like to commend Stuart McMillan for his in-depth contribution. It is clear that you have a fantastic knowledge of the contribution that tourism brings for marine tourism as well as tourism to the economy of Scotland. Tourism is everyone's business. It is the driving message behind this month-long event and it is an opportunity for everyone to get involved in networking events and tourism conversations across our country. On Saturday, I attended a Cycling United Kingdom Scotland networking event held in Dolbyte in my south Scotland region as part of their national campaign to engage with community cycling groups across Scotland. The event was attended by Lee Craigie, Scotland's new active nation commissioner, and Sally Hinchcliff, who is founder of Cycling Dumfries and Jeff Frew, the local Cycling United Kingdom co-ordinator for Dumfries and Galloway. The main subject was how we can improve the cycling infrastructure across south west Scotland to better connect communities and to attract more active travel and active tourism to the area. Active tourism would benefit the local economy. Cycling and walking are key for our region. As members may know, we have many of world class seven stains mountain bike trails, we have numerous on-road cycle routes and now a new regional BMX track in Newton Stewart for people to enjoy. However, there does exist a need for the road routes pathways and cycleways and even the waterways for paddle sports to be better connected. That is something that is following representations from constituents and local organisations. I have written to the Scottish Government, Borderlands growth deal officers and Dumfries and Galloway council about. Across Dumfries and Galloway, we have a rich selection of micro and small food and drink businesses, many of which are known across the region for their excellent quality. Many of those businesses are working together with partners such as Visit Scotland and Dumfries and Galloway Food and Drink, managed by Lorna Young. In Dumfries, we have Palmerston cafe opened in 1969, offering a range of over 50 different flavours of award-winning ice cream from traditional favourites such as old-fashioned vanilla and some more exotic ones such as the rye and brew, bubble gum and my favourite jaffa cake. Lots of insulin is needed for that one, I can assure you. In Del Vite, the Galloway soup company cafe makes a wide range of soups using the finest local ingredients and has a shop loaded with other great food and drink from Dumfries and Galloway. In Castle Douglas, in-house chocolates by design and award-winning local shop offering bespoke chocolate treats is also doing great business. In Stranraer, Henry's Bay House restaurants serve Scotland's finest seafood, including the delicious Loch Rhine local oysters. We are also lucky to have the best produce in Scotland, Scotch beef, Scotch lamb, venison, gin, whisky and even Galloway grown chilies, made into great hot sauces. While I do not have time to talk about all the fabulous work across Dumfries and Galloway, I would just like to mention some of our world renowned visitor attractions, which I encourage all to visit and enjoy. The Stranraer Oyster Festival, now in its third year, is attracting more visitors to Stranraer with an economic input of around £1 million in 2018, and redevelopment of Stranraer Waterfront is another exciting project getting under way. We have the world-famous Wigtown Book Festival, which our First Minister spoke at last year, and the Luminear Festival in Carcubry, Dumfries and Carcubry farmers markets, Big Burn Supper, Dark Skies Park, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. The list is endless. In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to all the businesses, people and organisations working hard to make the region as attractive as possible to visitors. I asked the Scottish Government, particularly with the formation of the South Scotland Economic Partnership, ahead of the enterprise agency, to ensure that our infrastructure roads rail ferries and everything else, but don't let's forget that active travel, our cyclists and walkers, also need the best infrastructure to ensure that people come and visit our most broad and bony corner of Scotland. I thank Stuart McMillan for bringing this debate on Scottish Tourism Month, co-ordinated by the Scottish Tourism Alliance. I'm sure that everyone in this chamber will agree that Scotland is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and we are lucky to call it home. Earlier this month, I was delighted and not unsurprised to see that tourist numbers were up over 5 per cent in the north of Scotland. A press and journal reported that notable visitor increases were seen at various national trusts for Scotland properties, and significant numbers were recorded at distilleries and whisky-related attractions, including Royal Loch Nygard distillery in my constituency. Just this past weekend, I was up in Orkney and was lucky enough to visit Scarabrae. Catching a moment to read the local weekly paper of the Orcadian, I learnt that Historic Environment Scotland has noted that this heritage site has a record-breaking year in 2018 as the sixth most visited in the country, with nearly 112,000 visitors. At this point, I would like to note members to my register of interests in relation to a number of tourism businesses that I am involved with, from promoting local artisans to providing family-friendly accommodation. Tourism is a necessary and welcome part of our sustainable future, as we diversify economically from oil and gas, of which I am proud to pay my part. I am also proud to be part of Clann Burnett, which has seen many relatives from all over the world encouraged to come and learn about the history of our clan. Ancestral tourism has played an important part in drawing visitors to Scotland, and our clan is no exception. There has been a Burnett gathering at Crathys every four years since 1992, each one seeing a rise in numbers, with 2017 seeing over 200 Burnets visit D-Side from around the world. I am sure that such a volume of Burnets may not appeal to everyone, but joking aside, Clann gatherings have a huge potential for Scottish tourism, and I have seen first-hand the benefit that it can bring to the local tourism industry. Our own gatherings saw those who flocked from afar attend via boing games, take bus tours around D-Side, visit local national trust properties, with many going on to other places in Scotland, particularly Edinburgh and the Highlands, all resulting in a contribution to Scotland's economy of over £1.25 million. The north-east continues to build on its tourism successes, and 2020 we will see the opening of a £350 million extension of Aberdeen harbour. If one cook from Visit Aberdeenshire noted that this would be a game changer as it will allow ships carrying several thousand people to dock. That can only result in local tourist attractions boosting their numbers, and businesses across Aberdeenshire are eagerly anticipating the harbour opening. I thank Alexander Burnett for giving way. Does he agree with me that not everyone wants to come off the ship and immediately get on a bus, and it is important that there are attractions within walking distance of the new harbour at Nic Bay, including in Tory in my constituency? I thank Maureen Watt for her intervention. I very much agree. It is important to realise that, with so many visitors, not everybody is immediately going to jump on a bus and head up d-side. Obviously, we were hoping many will, but there will be many opportunities. I am sure that people in Aberdeen should be encouraged to do as much as they can to encourage them into Aberdeen as elsewhere in Aberdeenshire. On top of the harbour, we are also seeing the opening of our brand-new Aberdeen exhibition centre at Dice, and seeing its impressive size as I flew back from Auckland yesterday, there is no doubt that it will help attract bigger events and offer even more opportunities for businesses to engage. The Scottish Tourism Month aims to bring together and inspire all of Scotland's tourism businesses, and I am lucky to have seen the benefits collaboration can bring to local communities in the economy. I have no doubt that Scotland will continue to prosper and flourish, and I look forward to another successful year for Scottish Tourism. Thank you, Presiding Officer. This evening is a good opportunity for the Parliament to recognise and celebrate Scottish Tourism Month, and I congratulate Stuart McMillan for securing the debate and for his contribution. I would like to recognise the huge amount of organisation and preparation that goes into Scottish Tourism Month, and the benefits and opportunities that it brings to Scotland's tourism businesses and organisations. Tourism is important to Scotland's economy, involving many businesses and employing people directly and indirectly. Tourist to Scotland generates £12 billion of economic activity for the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to the Scottish GDP, representing about 5 per cent of total Scottish GDP. We have seen positive growth in people visiting Scotland, both from across the UK and internationally. We have seen particularly strong growth in visitors from Europe, and the sector is working hard to meet expectations and provide a quality experience. We can see from the breadth of advance taking place during Scottish Tourism Month that it is a sector working hard to play to Scotland's strengths and offer unique experiences for the traveller. As Stuart McMillan described, the Marine Tourism Conference is promoting this growth area and looking forward to the 2020 year of coasts and waters. Showcases and conferences such as ScotHot and the Wild Scotland Conference are important opportunities for the sector to network, to collaborate and ensure that their businesses remain fresh and relevant. Scotland is doing well, but it is a competitive market and we need to work hard to demonstrate our value. I went to a staycation discussion called, should I stay or should I go, a couple of weeks ago, with five colleges, travel and tourism students, over 70 students from across the campus attended. Those students represent the future of the sector and it was great to hear their ideas about what makes Scotland attractive and how to increase the number of people choosing to holiday at home. In comparing Scotland with travelling abroad, of course, the weather was a factor, but the discussion also included concerns about improving infrastructure, transport links and developing more tourist cards that should promote multiple discounts and promoting more of that to the whole market. Those young people were enthusiastic about the sector and they will be an asset to our tourism businesses. Tourism supports jobs across Scotland and is a significant employer in particular parts of the country. The future is unpredictable and until our relationship with the EU is resolved, there are many areas where we do not know what the impact will be on tourism. However, we know that whatever happens, Scotland will still have a story to tell. Our natural environment, our historic buildings, which are having a renaissance in popularity, helped by the enthusiasm for outlander among other things, our wildlife, our Scottish food and drink sector, those strengths and more will remain and we need to find ways to support the sector in whatever the changed landscape will be. There will be a pressure on workforce and skills and any new migration system must reflect Scotland's needs, but we also need to promote the sector as an attractive career. Charities such as springboard work to support young people and unemployed people and disadvantaged groups to pursue a career in tourism and gain new skills. An important part of attracting people into the sector is ensuring good pay and conditions and not allowing exploitative work practices. The fairer hospitality campaign with Unite Union is doing great work on that. I also welcome the launch of the manifesto of cooks and chefs aimed at putting good practice at the heart of hospitality. At the weekend, I was at Cacoddys Food and Drink Festival. Organised by Cacoddys Thrall as part of the Adam Smith Festival, it is a good example of businesses, charities and colleges all working together to promote their town, to showcase its strengths and to celebrate its history. This type of hard work helps to promote the area and deliver multiple benefits, including for the tourism and hospitality sector. This month, we are celebrating and giving a focus to the kind of collaborative working, which is so important to the sector, which is increasingly serving tourists who are choosing to come to Scotland for an experience that they cannot get anywhere else. I would like to wish Scottish tourism a successful month and look forward to a positive future. Thank you very much. I call Patrick Harvie to fall by Liam McArthur, Mr Harvie. I also congratulate Stuart McMillan for bringing the debate to the chamber. As he said, there will be aspects of the debate that will bring complete consensus across the chamber about the pride that we have in the country that we live in and the joy that it gives to people who live here to share what is great about Scotland with people who come to visit. Whether that is in relation to older traditions around what was it, heather, golf and whisky, or some of the newer aspects of food and drink strategy, for example, looking to grow our brewing tradition. There are people who will travel far and wide for excellent beer, and Scotland should be proud of what it is producing there as well. As Clare Baker said, if we see continued success in the sector, that will strip away any justification that some operators have for continuing to pay below the living wage or using exploitative contracts, we should be proud of a thriving and successful tourism sector that treats all its workforce with the respect that it deserves. There are also, as Stuart McMillan was right to point out, some challenges that we need to debate honestly. In particular, my colleague Andy Wightman has been working hard to say that there are good and bad practices in terms of accommodation, particularly in a place such as Edinburgh. The work that Andy Wightman has done on short-term lets offers us the opportunity to distinguish between good and bad practices. We can have great quality tourism, including the accommodation that is required, without having some of the negative consequences that that has created in some communities. One Edinburgh resident who wrote to Andy at the start of his campaign said, I live in a tenement block in Edinburgh. When I moved into my flat, there was a mixture of residents, old and young, single people and families with kids. Many were owner-occupiers while others rented. Now on my floor, the two other flats are run as short-term lets. One is a short-term let all year round. It is a residential flat purchased purely for commercial purposes. If we see more and more residential accommodation, part of our community fabric in places in both urban and rural Scotland turned over to short-term letting businesses, that will come with consequences that are not good for the places that we live in. We do not want to turn Scotland into a lowest common denominator tourism offering. We want to maintain strong, vibrant and enjoyable communities. That is the kind of place that people want to continue to visit and to return to. If people feel that they are not visiting those communities that are being well looked after, I fear that they would not return. There are other issues, and Stuart McMillan mentioned the issue of taxation. I am not entirely sure what he was talking about by turning the transient visitor levy into a national proposal. That to me would undermine the core purpose of it. That, for example, does not go to fund our local councils. Local councils invest in things such as streets, pavements, the urban environment, the built environment, just something as basic as having toilet facilities, which Highland Council in particular were keen to stress. That is really important for the quality of the experience that tourists have when they come to visit. Giving local councils the ability to raise revenue locally is a critically important part of maintaining an attractive place that people will want to return to and visit again. Stuart McMillan I thank Patrick Harvie for taking the intervention. I am sure that Mr Harvie, when you look at the official report, that was not what I was arguing for. I was just highlighting the fact that some people, if they were to argue for a reduction in VAT, would disagree with me, but some people could argue that the scheme should then become a national scheme as compared to a local scheme. Patrick Harvie I apologise if I misunderstood the point. I think that we have a commitment that what will be consulted on is a locally determined tax, and I look forward to the Government continuing to commit to that. Are there longer-term challenges that Scotland will have to face, including, as Mr Burnett mentioned, the diversification of our economy away from oil and gas? We are not just Scotland but globally facing a crisis of our very survival. Moving from oil and gas extraction into an economy that is still dependent on ever greater levels of aviation is not a solution to that. We need to be doing what we can to make sure that people have good, affordable, accessible opportunities to come and visit Scotland by surface routes. At the moment, for example, the idea of a big tax cut through air passenger duty or the air departure tax would give a huge subsidy to local flights within the UK. A huge proportion of that tax cut would be subsidising unnecessary short-haul aviation, which is not something that we can afford to continue to see grow. I would commend the work that we have done on the case for an aviation tax, which limits the environmental damage. Unless we look after the environment, which is the foundation of what makes Scotland such an attractive place to visit, we may see short-term growth but long-term decline, and that is not something any of us should welcome. I congratulate Stuart McMillan on securing a debate on a sector that does genuinely touch and have an impact on every corner of the country. I enjoy a good-natured rivalry over whose constituency attracts most cruise liners over the course of a season. Orkney set to have 164 liners this year, so I am quietly confident that we may still have the upper hand. That is not though, without its challenges—I will come to some of those shortly—but it is worth emphasising that the growth in tourism that we have seen is something that certainly Orkney is benefiting from, as indeed are communities across the country and Scotland as a whole. After Alexander Burnett's earlier spoiler alert, I can confirm that tourism in Orkney is on the up. The statistics from Visit Scotland suggest a 22 per cent increase in visitor numbers between 2013 and 2017, up to around £340,000, with an average spend up over that period. Overall, contribution to the Orkney economy of around £50 million by 2017 is not bad at all for a community of £21,000. That is a success story that has not gone unnoticed a decade ago. I remember referring to the reference in the Parliament to something that the Lonely Planet had said, suggesting that Orkney is the glittering centrepiece of Scotland's treasure chest of attractions. The shine has not come off that centrepiece in the intervening years. Orkney was voted best place to live by the Alhaffac Survey in 2019. Kirkwall was voted top of the stops by passengers in the prestigious Viking Cruises for North Europe and Scandinavia. Orkney was runner-up in countryfiles best UK holiday destination 2019. We have, of course, asked for a recount in that particular context, but it reflects the growing reputation of Orkney as a quality destination. That is important. It is not just a numbers game. It has to be about the quality and the sustainability of what we offer. Orkney has, I would say, natural assets in terms of its stunning landscapes and marine environment, internationally renowned UNESCO sites, world class food and drink, hugely creative arts and crafts sector and the list goes on. However, we have found a way of harnessing that, and I pay tribute to the Orkney Gateway project. It is testament to the efforts, the vision and the collaboration of many partners, Destination Orkney, The Council, VisitScotland and many more besides. With the upcoming year of coasts and waters in 2020, the year of Scotland's stories in 2022, we are playing very much to Orkney's strengths. I am also delighted that Orkney is due to host the international island games in 2023 as well. Again, it is another opportunity to showcase what Orkney has to offer. However, Stuart McMillan, Patrick Harvie and others will write to enter a note of caution that we cannot be complacent about this or, as I say, simply rest on a numbers game. That success has come with many challenges. It will require more active management of tourists coming to Orkney, taking pressure off some of the more busy sites and making better use of the wider assets that we have. The key to that will be our internal transport links, in particular the replacement of our ageing internal ferry fleet, operating between the smaller isles. That is something that the Scottish Government will need to step up to the plate on. Likewise, on road equivalent tariff, Orkney and Shetland routes require that to be implemented, not just in the interests of fairness but in the tourism sense to remain competitive. I have already said that VisitScotland has made real strides, but there is more that it can be doing in the dispersal of tourists from the central belt, promoting regions and promoting the diversity of the product that Scotland has to offer. We have in Orkney world-class heritage sites, as I have said, but still not yet world-class infrastructure to support that. I think that Historic Environment Scotland needs to keep working with local partners to deliver that over the coming years. In the Scottish tourism month, it is right that we recognise and celebrate our successes and what we have to offer. Given the importance of the success sector, not just to Orkney, but to all parts of Scotland, we cannot rest on our laurels. That is an opportunity during tourism months to remind ourselves of that. I thank Stuart McMillan once again and wish all those working in the sector a highly successful 2019s in the season. I still have four members wishing to take part in the debate. Due to that, I am minded to accept a motion without notice under rule 8.14.3 to extend the debate by up to 30 minutes. I invite Stuart McMillan to move a motion without notice. The question is whether the debate will be extended by up to 30 minutes. Are we all agreed? That is agreed. I call Jaleigh Martin to be followed by Tom Mason. I also want to put on record my thanks to Stuart McMillan for his security debate and my thanks to him for mentioning Scotland's most easterly distillery in my constituency. I might have to bring you another bottle. I have spoken a lot about the part that Aberdeenshire plays in our tourism offer. Last year, I used that opportunity to highlight the literary and cultural tour that you could do in Aberdeenshire east if you were so minded. However, this year, I specifically like to talk about Aberdeenshire's long-standing environmental and nature tourism offer, which is the potential to really take off given the right support. First off, I will go to my personal happy place, which is Newburgh beach and Farvey reserve. The reserve is home to a myriad of coastal bird species. It has long been the twitcher destination of choice in the northeast. People come from all over the UK to watch birds. In the last 10 years, the north side of the mouth of the river, Ithan, has become the resting point of the largest grey seal colony in the whole of the UK. We have seen a great surge in the amount of people coming to Newburgh just for that reason of seeing the seals. I am currently working with residents of Newburgh to assist them in improving the visitor access to the beach and resurface the carpark, which has been in a state actually for as long as I can remember. Again, there is an issue there about infrastructure. I take on what Liam McArthur was saying about infrastructure. Often, some of the roads and tracks that are leading to those areas of natural beauty are not managed by the council, so they cut the quality of disrepair and local community groups can find it quite difficult to maintain those routes. That is certainly the case in Newburgh, but we are hopeful. We also particularly want to make the beach more accessible to people in wheelchairs as well and to people whose mobility is not what it may be was when they were younger, who have enjoyed that experience in the younger days and should be able to continue off with it. We want to ensure great access to the south shore, the best place to view the colony. I have met people from all over the world who are making a detour from the more obvious two of the spots that Alexander Burnett has mentioned in the west of Aberdeenshire, like Bromard, the royal d-side trail, which I think people automatically associate Aberdeenshire with, but people are drifting towards the east to come and visit, specifically to visit our sails. Two summers ago, we gained more fans as a humpback whale in her calf came into the estuary low tide to feed over a period of two months, so we became the whale destination of the northeast as well. I agree with Maureen Watt that there is so much more to Aberdeenshire than the west, as beautiful as it is. It is a very well known area, but I am really hopeful that the redevelopment of the Peterhead harbour will be accommodating cruise ships. It is a huge opportunity for equal tourism in my area, as well as Stuart Stevenson's. Just along the coast from Newburgh, we have Hackley Bay, Collleston and Winifold, who have colonies of puffins nesting around this time of year to add to our many seabird populations. Sightings of dolphins are not uncommon, although Maureen Watt's constitutionally says that Torrey has the best place to visit. I congratulate our SPB on the work that they are doing with Dolphin Watch. Off the back of the coastal tourism offer, we have lots of businesses that have sprung up. That leads me on to the theme of the tourism event that I led along with Visit Scotland in Fivy Castle last July, where we spent a day talking about agri-tourism. It is a huge emerging market for agri-tourism and experience-type holidays. We heard from experts in the field effectively just talking about holidays literally in a field. We heard of farmers offering farm holidays. We are helping out the farms part of the experience. It is a great thing for young families to do. What better than your kids spending a weekend feeding lambs, collecting eggs and getting out in the bit in the environment that they may not have ready access to? Before I sit down, I would like to mention a family that has really grabbed the tourism eco-experience. That is the same family who have set up one of the few gin distilleries that make gin from scratch and make it use locally sourced materials. They are going to be expanding their business to include glamping, as well as tours around all our many stone circles that we have in Aberdeenshire. People are absolutely grabbing that idea of experience-agri-tourism in my area. I used to always say that Aberdeenshire east is the best-kept secret, but I think that I will not be saying that for much longer if people continue at this pace. Thank you very much. I call Tom Mason. We are followed by Jackie Baillie. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer, and thanks to Stuart McMillan for giving us the opportunity to debate this today. The Scottish toys industry is one of the most important sectors of our economy, not just in terms of jobs and revenue that is raised here, but also in promotion of Scotland overseas. With that in mind, I am pleased to join colleagues in welcoming the Scottish Tourist Month. Across the country, the positive interactive tourism for our economy is clear to see. 8 per cent of all Scottish businesses that are involved in tourism generate almost £4 billion in gross value added every year. We outperform the rest of the UK in attracting tourists, with Edinburgh being the top UK destination outside London. Not only that, but Scotland was voted the most beautiful and most welcoming country in the world in 2017 by the rough guide. Frankly, it is very easy to see why that is the case. Those are all remarkable feats and certainly worthy of celebration here in the Parliament and beyond. In my region, we have a wide variety of tourist attractions, but they are great for bringing people to the north-east. Visit Aberdeenshire has pointed out that, in its area alone, we have five ski centres, eight decideries, 55 golf courses and 263 castles, not mentioning Royal Deeside and, of course, the Camgon National Park. No matter what takes your fancy, we have got it all. Of course, as an Aberdeen local councillor, I must point to the sense of some of the new facilities that have either just been finished or are about to be. A refirmished musical, a refirmished and extended art gallery, a brand new 6,000-seat exhibition centre, achieved with a little centre of government support, and a harbour redevelopment will enable the largest crew sets to dock, allowing people from across the world to experience the best of our hospitality. Speaking of excellent art exhibitions and festivals, I would, of course, mention new art, an international public street and art festival that was recently voted best cultural event at Aberdeen City in Shared Tourism Awards. If you are quick, then tickets are also available at the jazz festival next week. I do have fear, however, that our friends in Dundee may be able to top that with the new Victoria and Albert museum. That has been nothing short of transformational for the city, and I urge colleagues who have not yet visited to do so as a matter of haste. All things considered, it is great that we have events like the Scottish Tourism Month, which is great for celebrating the successes that we have seen also for setting the challenges ahead. Working on how best to support the industry in the future. In terms of the work that we do here, Deputy Presiding Officer, the main issue that tourism organisers raise with me is the prospect of a transient visitor level or tourist tax. I must say that I have my doubts about whether or not it would be the correct approach for the north-east. However, there is still some road to travel in this respect, and I am sure that we will not be alone in keeping a very close eye on progress here in the months to come. With that said, Deputy Presiding Officer, we have a great deal to celebrate in our tourism industry, and I am delighted to be able to do so today. The Scottish Tourism Month is a great venture that I will focus our minds on how to put our tourism organisations in the best circumstances to succeed in the months and years ahead. I wish everybody involved well and look forward to seeing the progress that they are working so hard to achieve. Thank you very much. Thank you. I call Jackie Baillie, who is followed by Fulton MacGregor. Mr Weirager is the last speaker in the open debate. Ms Baillie, please. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer, and let me join with others in thanking Stuart McMillan for bringing this to the chamber. I have no whisky for him, but it does indeed give me an excuse to talk about my beautiful constituency, not that I need much of an excuse. My constituency, as members know, includes Loch Lomond, which includes that well-known seaside town on the Clyde, Helensbrough, the Arica Alps, Dumbarton Castle and so much more. I invite you all to visit, in particular, the cabinet secretary. Whether visitors are seeking nature, historical sites, cultural events or even thrill-seeking adventures, I think that we punch above our weight. Yes, we have whisky too and award-winning breweries. For those seeking history, Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Scotland, built on a volcanic plug that was formed hundreds of millions of years ago, overlooking the Clyde. The castle is a site to see and dominates the vista. In fact, I always used to say to Stuart McMillan's predecessor, Duncan MacNeill, that he had the better view, because he managed to look across at my constituency. Dumbarton Castle is, of course, home to several famous and important figures, such as Mary Queen of Scots, The Wizard Merlin and, of course, Napoleon Booneapart. I bet you didn't know this. Narrowly avoided being exiled to Dumbarton Castle, preferring Elba instead. I can't imagine why, Presiding Officer. However, let me turn to another major historical figure, and that's Robert the Bruce. Let me commend the campaign run by my local newspaper, The Lenox Herald, to recognise the contribution that Robert the Bruce made to shaping Scotland, and indeed, Dumbarton. Given that he lived some of his life in Renton and Cardros, and since surf's church is one of the burial sites for his remains, it makes sense for him to be commemorated here. I hope to engage the cabinet secretary in a discussion about how the Scottish Government could help that development in my local area. Of course, there is Loch Lomond, the largest Loch in the UK, by surface area, the second largest by volume. It is just such a tremendous peaceful place. However, if you are seeking some excitement, there are booting and water sports available, kayaking, water skiing, the great Scottish swim in August—it's a bit cold, Presiding Officer—but I do recommend it. If you prefer something a bit more sedate, we have the restoration of the Maid of the Loch, an award-winning Cruises on the Loch, by Sweeney's Cruises, Cruise Loch Lomond, and it is just tremendous. Of course, if you prefer climbing to the water, we have the Arica Alps and Highland Games in Ballach, Helensborough, Last Rose Neath, you name it, we've got it. If you want to get away from it all, we have several high-quality hotels that I would recommend to my colleagues. The award-winning, not-dairy-country house hotel, was built around 1846 as a summer retreat. It is now a picturesque hotel overlooking Loch Lomond and the Argyllshire hills. There are many others, too. Indeed, Patrick Harvie is a former local, I am sure, would add to that list. Patrick Harvie. Patrick Harvie, thank you very much. Rather than recommending the caves around the back of Dunbarton Rock as a favourite bunking-off spot when I was a kid, I am surprised that Jackie Baillie has not mentioned one of my favourite tourist attractions, the number of people who come to her constituency to the Faslain blockades from right across Europe and far beyond. Will Jackie Baillie join me in welcoming that kind of continued repeat tourism that her constituency gains from? Jackie Baillie. Absolutely not, Presiding Officer. Not least because they come, they block the roads, they get arrested, they spend no money in the area and they cause disruption for the genuine tourists who want to experience the beauty of my constituency. Let me press on, Presiding Officer, because, of course, much of my area is covered by Loch Lomond and the Trossach's national park. The scenery is beautiful, its breathtaking. If you need it further proof, the numbers of tourists are increasing. Everybody from daytrippers to weekend visitors and to those passing through on their journey up to the north. They come from Glasgow, Edinburgh and beyond. They come from all parts of Europe, Spain, Portugal, France and Germany. They come from America and increasingly they come in very huge coach loads from China too. We live in a beautiful country. I am pleased that others come to enjoy and experience our culture and our history. They spend money when they are doing so. They contribute importantly to our economy. We should welcome them and we should make sure that we keep them coming in the future. I finish by thanking the Scottish Tourism Alliance for their efforts in organising this month of tourism and hope that we continue to see many more visitors to come. I also want to thank Stuart McMillan for bringing this debate in the Scottish Tourism Month to the chamber. I will start by associating myself with Jackie Baillie's speech or most of her speech, apart from the fast lane comments perhaps. However, as a city boy just outside Glasgow I was always a tourist spot for him. My brother actually got married there last year. It was a beautiful setting for him to get married in. However, I am here to talk about my own constituency. I was not actually planning to speak, Presiding Officer. I know that folk around the chamber will be thinking that Colbaridgen Christon is not where you might think about for tourism, but as a local MSP I feel that it is my job to perhaps change some people's minds on that. I also cannot give other MSPs the opportunity to have the shameless promotion of their own constituencies that they have had without reply. For people to think about Colbaridgen, maybe Lanarkshire and more generally they think of a strong industrial pass. If you are looking for something to learn about the industrial pass of Scotland, visit some of the heritage museum that is run by Culture and El, an absolutely fantastic facility where you can go down a real mine. You can ride on a real tram—I mean a real tram by one from the past—or you can take a walk on the Vulcan, which is docked on the Old Monkland canal, and much, much more. It is great for kids and adults alike. We have also, of course, got the time capsule. Its quote is half ice, half water—a whole lot of fun. With my own wee boy we use the water park fairly regularly. There was, recently, some worry that its future might be in jeopardy, but a very strongly supported online petition has made sure that this speculation has been put to an end at least for now. While I would like to see it going back to its glory days and being open right throughout the week and being more accessible in that respect, I am glad that it is still open at weekends and on school holidays. I would recommend Saturday and Sunday nights when it is a wee bit quieter if anybody is planning to come along. Although, if you like, your water pool is absolutely mobbed, weekends during the day are your best choice. Outdoors in the area, you can go to Drumpilge Park, which is part of the fabulous Seven Locks Wetland project, which has worked hard at involving a lot of youngsters in local schools into getting the benefits of outdoor learning and outdoor play. You can cycle, walk, running groups, all sorts of stuff, and it is saying that there is also boating on the lock as well in the summer months. There is a lot to do, and it is great to have such a thing in, but it is mainly a very urban constituency. On the same vein, Gartcourt Nature Reserve is pretty nearby. It is an important site for a protected species. It is the largest colony in Scotland, and it is a very relaxed area, but kids from local schools and groups can go out and learn about it. What it does to the ecosystem and the environment is existence and being there. Those are just a few of the things in Coatbridge and Chrystian. It is a fabulous area to visit, and it probably does not get the credit that it deserves. We have lots of good food places, as well as the Madbatters Bakery. One example would be the Inn and the Lock. The coffee shop at Sunnyside station has lots and lots to do, and you can spend the whole day there. I have just been at Skye with the committee all over Scotland, and we have absolutely fabulous things. I think that every single constituency in regional MSP can stand up here and talk for minutes and minutes about that, but I think that it is a great debate. I did not plan to speak, and I am glad that I have taken the opportunity. I will just want to finish on, since the minister summing up. I tweeted her a couple of months ago there, because my constituency is not too far from my own. When we were looking for a wee adventure one day in my five-year-old and we went out and we found Blohorn Moss, what a hidden medium that is, if your MD is looking for something outdoor nature, run by the Scottish National Heritage. Absolutely brilliant. I thought I'd mentioned it since the minister summing up. Thank you very much. After a tour round most of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary, I ask you to close for the Government, please. I thank members for the contributions this afternoon for Stuart McMillan for bringing the debate. The debate and the many activities that are taking place throughout Scottish Tours and Month, which I and other ministers have attended, have highlighted to me the passion that exists for the country's tourism sector. I am pleased to hear about members' own activities in supporting this month. Tourism really is everyone's business and is everywhere, including, as we have just heard, Fulton MacGregor's constituency in the central belt. His boundary with my constituency also shows that you can have nature reserves and nature places to visit right in the centre of Scotland. It does not always have to be in the rural areas that we recognise. The debate today reflects themes that the forefront of the Scottish Government's approach to the visitor economy, delivering a successful tourism sector, enhancing Scotland's international reputation and looking to opportunities for the future. Scottish tourism has been doing well. The number of international visitors is growing strongly at a time when numbers for the rest of the UK have been decreasing. To help to cope with the increasing tourist numbers across Scotland, we have allocated £3.6 million to the first 21 successful projects supported by our rural tourism infrastructure fund, improving facilities in communities throughout rural Scotland. As Tom Mason pointed out, we saw the opening of the world-class V&A Dundee, which has contributed to significant increases in footfall at other visitor attractions in Dundee in the surrounding region. Last month, the First Minister announced our support for the Andrew Fairlie scholarships, which will provide a fabulous opportunity for two young chefs to further their careers, a further boost to our food and drink sector following the publication last August of the Food and Drink Tourism Action Plan. That is a key component of our tourism sector. Our brand, which is founded on provenance and heritage, including Robert The Bruce, as Jackie Baillie mentioned, is increasingly recognised at home and abroad. Alexander Burnett should be aware of the Scottish CLAN fund to support the tourism opportunities of CLAN and historical societies. I announced the latest funding round for that, along with the Hoïc Reavers just last week. Gillian Martin talked of tourists visiting Aberdeenshire for nature and beauty and of the new birth seals. I am speaking at the Visit Aberdeenshire event tomorrow morning as part of the Scottish tours a month. I am not sure if I can get glamping with gin in, but I will see what I can do. The global public appetite for our fantastic produce is growing every year, and Scotland's food and drink is now worth £14 billion, testament to the passion, dedication and entrepreneurship of the thousands of people working across the industry. Emma Harper shone the spotlight on the south of Scotland's fantastic natural lardar. Although we welcome the success, the tourism sector is fragile and we cannot be complacent. The international market is incredibly competitive and we must continue to work extremely hard to draw visitors to Scotland and ensure that they have an outstanding experience when they are here. Patrick Harvie referred to diversification of business to tourism, and we have heard about agricultural tourism and agritourism as part of that growing experiential drive in tourism. Liam McArthur talked about the competitiveness of the cruise market and the need for sustainability, which we are conscious of. Yes, visitors spend grew by more than 3 per cent last year, but that is not commensurate at all with the growth in visitor numbers, which means that visitors are spending less when they are here, so trying to encourage tourism and tourists that will spend in the appropriate places and the appropriate ways is an important part of how we market and attract visitors to this country. Rising costs to businesses will have exceeded that 3 per cent in some cases, so there really is real pressure in the industry. It remains a challenge in the impressive headline figures that mask some of the underlying pressures that Scotland's businesses are facing in trying to remain competitive. Perhaps the biggest issue facing Scotland is continuing to access labour under freedom of movement. In the year to June 2018, it was estimated that the Scottish tourism sector employed 21,000 EU nationals accounting for 11.6 per cent of employment in the sector, and the independent expert advisory group on migration and population has clearly outlined the harm that the UK Government proposals would have on Scotland, potentially reducing net migration by up to 50 per cent in the coming decades, jeopardising Scotland's economy, public service and future population growth. We are very clear that freedom of movement has enriched Scotland and must be allowed to continue, but it is really important for the tourism sector in particular. The sector needs our support. I am deeply committed to this and to enabling it to maximise its success, cope with those challenges and thrive in the future. As Clare Baker pointed out, it is also vital that the sector continues to have the skills necessary to provide a high-quality tourism product that gives Scotland that competitive edge. The industry in partnership with Skills Development Scotland is already committed to bridging the skills gap and encouraging new entrants through the tourism skills investment plan, through which over 2,700 modern apprenticeships new starts were delivered within the sector in 2017-18. We are encouraging those new entrants to see tourism as a career of choice with rewarding opportunities, and we are championing that as a commitment within our programme for government. It is important that those careers should be built on a culture of fair work. We are committed to increasing the number of workers being paid a living wage and we welcome the support of the tourism sector in achieving that. We have been sensitive to the needs of our regions, in particular the south of Scotland, where we are establishing a new enterprise agency and supporting the region through a dedicated marketing campaign and investment in infrastructure. Our themed years have been a great success in driving collaboration. The year of coasts and waters next year will showcase the many and varied water-based opportunities across the mainland and on our islands. It is a great opportunity for marine tourism, as so ably championed by Stuart McMillan in this Parliament. The creation of the new national tourism strategy is well underway and we will look at the new and exciting tourism trends that are emerging and what Scotland can offer the world in terms of unique and world-class experiences. Finally, building on the incredible success of the European Championships, yes, in 2023 we will have the international island games in Orkney and we are bringing the UCI world cycling champions also to Scotland in 2023. This will be the first time ever that 13 cycling disciplines have been brought together at the same time in one country, affording us the opportunity to use a prestigious major event to promote Scotland and also sustainable transport, active lifestyles, our environment and our economy. As we plan for the future of tourism, the challenges that it will bring are vital that we continue to engage and face them together with the tourism industry. The coming year will bring opportunities and we need to grasp those and show the world that Scotland remains an open and welcoming nation. It is through the passion and dedication of those who work in the sector that it thrives, but it is only by working together that we can ensure its future success.