 The next item of business today is the member's business debate on motion number 12520 in the name of Kenneth Gibson on the European Conference for Cold Water Island Tourism. This debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and I would be grateful if those members who wish to speak in the debate could press the request to speak buttons as soon as possible. I would also be grateful if guests leaving the gallery could do so quietly please. This Parliament is still in session. Kenneth Gibson, please to open the debate in seven minutes. I'm pleased to open the debate on cold water island tourism. I hope to reveal in due course the significant impact that Scottish island tourism can have and does have on the Scottish economy. I'd first like to take this opportunity to thank all those who signed my motion and the delegates who are attending and supporting Scotland's first cold water island tourism conference currently being held in Arn in my constituency, particularly Alasher Dobson of A Taste of Arran, who has worked so hard to bring the event to fruition and make it a success. More than 100 representatives from all in Europe have gathered to share their insight and experience of the successes and struggles facing the cold water island tourism sector. The conference will benefit to Arran directly as a fantastic introduction to one of the many alluring islands on the Scottish coast. It is a great way to promote the natural beauty of our cold water islands. An experience of Arran and its hospitality is a great way of stimulating international interest in Scotland's islands. Just before I came down to First Minister's questions, I was contacted by Alasher Dobson and he said that some of the key themes that are coming out of the conference are—I'll just touch on those—that islands go a long way to defining a nation, that the identity of each island is key to its success, that what is important is business-led joint and collaborative investment and that, as I'm sure many of us already know, islands are fragile but usually dynamic and innovative. This past year has seen Scotland play host to many prestigious events, to the international stage and amplifying interest in Scotland as a global tourism destination. With 2014 Commonwealth Games, Ryder Cup and even the independence referendum all contributed and built on earlier events such as the success of media productions such as 2012's Disney Pixar's Brave and the renewed international visit that is interesting in Scotland. Helping to propagate an idea of our country as one of beautiful landscapes, castles and coasts with good food and great people. Scotland's waters, our islands and mainland coastal communities offer to us a unique opportunity to experience Scotland on a more intimate scale. We boast the longest coastline in Europe with varied wildlife and unparalleled scenery. Each island is unique, with a proud identity of its own and offers its own rich heritage. With 88 per cent of island tourism generated through small businesses, our islands allow tourists to experience a different, very Scottish experience. The increased interest in Scotland, in common ace with the volpower that could see this Parliament in charge of an increasing number of key levers that determine the success of our tourism sector, creates a significant opportunity for the Scottish Government. 5 per cent of total Scottish GDP, generating £10 billion of economic activity annually and employing 200,000 people, 8.5 per cent of overall employment in Scotland. Supporting Scottish tourism affirms our commitment to developing and sustaining fragile communities that depend on the tourism industry. Our islands are particularly concerned, given that they are often relatively isolated from the main population centres on the mainland and the cost of doing business is significantly higher, even when road equivalent tariff and other initiatives are in place. Island communities have to work harder to earn their living in the modern world. The island conference seeks to create a platform for communication between cold water islands in Europe and in an attempt to share their ideas, experience and economic development in the tourism sector. Sharing insights is fundamental to growth. The European conference for cold water tourism creates an arena for island communities to talk about what works for them and to discuss innovative strategies to build a sustainable future for themselves. Of course, there are already several strategies under way in Scotland to promote marine tourism and sustainable island tourism. However, as this is a European conference, it seems appropriate to touch on the European Union's hugely ambitious blue growth strategy. This was developed by the EU in an attempt to promote sustainable growth in European island communities, with the aim of creating 5.4 million jobs and producing 500 billion euros of income per annum by 2020, along with mainland coastal communities. The strategy stresses the importance of renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed mining and blue biotechnology as the building blocks of sustainable development. The Scottish Government's target of producing 100 per cent of Scotland's gross annual electricity consumption and 11 per cent of Scotland's heat consumption by 2020 from renewables supports its initiatives and will obviously generate jobs in the process. I am pleased that EU Marey Directors Special Advisor Johann Gilley attended the conference in Arran to talk about the blue growth strategy in more detail and provide support on innovation and communication in cold water island tourism developments. The Scottish Government supports sustainable development for Scotland's island tourism sector, but rather provide details of that and to steal the minister's thunder. I am happy to wait for him to touch on those himself. In addition, the Scottish Tourism Alliance, working in tandem with tourism minister, Fergus Ewing, recently launched the marine tourism strategy, which, as the name suggests, aims to bolster Scotland's marine tourism, a hugely important sector, and an area that my colleague Stuart McMillian takes a keen interest in. I am sure that we will hear from him before too long on that. The five-year plan aims to improve the tourism experience, develop skills and facilities in the sector and promote events activities that are intended to bring much more focus to Scotland marine tourism. The ST hopes to achieve a 25 per cent increase in the total value of the sector by 2020, representing an increase of around £90 million in income per year. Tourism gains from events and, in many other ways, such as cruising. The Scottish Government is working with Cruise Scotland and Visit Scotland to continue to grow this market too. As we move forward, devolving responsibility for air passenger duty, if it happens, will give us the opportunity to end a burden that, since 2007, has resulted in £210 million less per annum being spent on tourism and 1.2 million fewer visitors. Money lost across Scotland, not just to our island communities, but being further away from tourists when they arrive in the UK does not help. I look forward to hearing how the Scottish Government will further promote island tourism and, indeed, from other colleagues in this debate. The European Conference on Coalwater Island Tourism represents an excellent example of the potential heralded by collaboration across similar islands to those in Scotland. I believe that the success of the ant conference will encourage countries to share their findings and promote sustainable prosperity for our islands for many years to come. Many thanks. I now turn to the open debate. Speeches of four minutes or so, Malcolm Chisholm to be followed by Stuart McMillan. I am very well qualified to speak in this debate, because it is 44 years since I have been to a warm water island, but in the last seven years I have holidayed in Arran. I mentioned that first, of course, for obvious reason, and I congratulate Kenny Gibson for bringing the debate in Arran, Tyree, Sky, Orkney and Harris. I contestify to the coldness of the water because of a little bit of swimming in some of those islands. Coalwater islands, particularly those in the North Atlantic, face common tourism opportunities and challenges, and the conference was set up. I am told, and Kenny Gibson has reminded us, to consider strategies for economic growth and using those islands' natural resources. Tourism is a mainstay of those communities and therefore plays an essential part in their sustained livelihood. Island tourism, and this is quoting from Alastair Dobson of Visit Arran, island tourism tends to focus on warm water locations such as the Mediterranean, the Caribbean and the Pacific Ocean, cold water island tourism. He goes on to say that it is vitally important to the economy for the island communities, but, importantly, cold water islands offer tourists a wonderful opportunity to get close to nature and to experience authentic island life, and for northern European markets, those experiences are much closer to home. It is certainly true of Arran, and Kenny Gibson will be glad to know that I was telling an American intern in the Parliament all about Arran this morning where she is going for the next couple of days. One of the case studies at the conference was under the banner Food and Drink, and one of the case studies was the highly successful collaborative venture taste of Arran. The joined-up approach of that initiative to the development and marketing of local produce provides a template from which other similar islands could replicate. It incorporates both the development of the product as part of an experience on the island and serves as a fundamental component of the branding, positioning and marketing of Arran. The success of the islands, both at the high and low season, is as dependent on their wider connectivity as much as on their ability to articulate a distinct brand. Connectivity is an integral part of developing innovative tourism strategies for islands, and I believe that that was reflected in the discussions this week. One experience of island tourism that we will all be familiar with is the trip aboard CalMac ferries on ships that have connected our communities for many years. They have recently announced plans to turn the journey into an opportunity to promote Scottish culture and products while using digital connectivity to encourage travellers to visit key sites of interest. The ferry company plans to introduce pop-up tastings, fashion shows and pop music to entertain visitors as they head to Scotland's islands. In a move designed to give tourists a flavour of what awaits them, CalMac will serve locally produced island food and drink, along with tourist information via free wi-fi. Details of places to visit on the island where the ferry is heading will be sent to passengers' mobile phones and via a smartphone app. This is in essence what maximising our island potential is all about. Key sectors working in collaboration to make sure the overall enjoyment of visiting the island leads to supporting the island economy and buying into the ethos. The sense of destination package will be available on ferries to the Hebrides. Clyde routes such as Arran will also be included. CalMac have also become adept in their use of social media to promote their various destinations. Their new blog site, for example, offers a glimpse of the various attractions that islands have to offer. For example, one family gives their account of their time island hopping and visiting bar. I do not think that I have time to give that account. I will just conclude by saying that our beautiful islands are there not to exist in isolation but to be experienced, lived in and connected to our mainland. They are to be appreciated for their vibrant and productive communities, their generosity and their hospitality. Meeting with other small islands, collaborative and sharing ideas and best practices is the best way to ensure that whatever business opportunities are pursued, they are pursued with and for the communities themselves. I believe that that is what this week's conference was about, and I congratulate Kenny Gibson for drawing it to our attention this week. I now call Stuart McMillan to be followed by Annabelle Goldie. Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I too congratulate my colleague Kenny Gibson on securing this debate. As I mentioned, I chaired the cross-party group on records, revolting and marine tourism. I am going to struggle to limit my comments to four minutes. One point that Kenny had mentioned was the issue of cruising. I believe that we will have a member's debate on the cruise industry to Scotland next week, so I am not going to say too much about that today. However, today's debate illustrates the Scottish Parliament's commitment and the interest to cold water and marine tourism in Scotland. It is also an appreciation for the vast benefits that are drawn from the important sector in our economy. The spending by tourists in Scotland generates £10 billion in economic activity and contributes roughly 5 per cent of the country's GDP. The tourism sector also accounts for over 200,000 jobs, and all those numbers continue to rise thanks in part to the efforts of organisations such as Visit Scotland and Visit Arran, and conferences such as the ones that we are discussing today. Scotland's islands have recently been recognised in the world stage for their breathtaking beauty and unique opportunities that they afford to tourists. Lewis and Harris, Labour-named number five on the trip advisers list of the top islands in the world, beating out much of its tropical, warm-weathered competition. It is also the highest-ranked cold water islands and is surrounded on the list by islands and warmer climates to the south. Although cold water islands might not traditionally be thought of as major tourist destinations, that accolade acknowledges the beauty of our islands and will hopefully lead to more tourism in future years. One of the issues that has come up time and time again within the cross-party group on reference of boating and marine tourism is just how important tourism is to the island communities across the country. The investment into the infrastructure that actually is there, particularly the infrastructure regarding marine tourism activities that are sailing or boating, canoeing, kayaking, etc. That investment into those activities certainly helps to stimulate and promote the economies in those island communities, and, as we know, those are cold-water communities. The cold-water islands offer a unique destination for tourists, which often includes marine-based activities, handcrafts, archaeology, the history of Scotland and the islands in habitants ac mae'n trafodaeth eich Llywodraeth neu ysgolwgol rwy'r ffordd i gael o'r amser. Mae'r gweld o'r lluniau i Gwladau Llywodraeth ac mae'n mwyafio arlaeddol, ac mae'n ffyniad yn ysgolwg i Gwladol. As rwy'n ffordd, rydyn ni'n gweithio o'r Gwlad, Llywodraeth, Llywodraeth a Ddeimarch o'r gweithgol arbennig ar yr unrhyw, a'n ddych chi'n mynd i gael i'r strategi to increase cold water tourism and I'm sure I'm looking forward to actually finding out the outcomes as a consequence of the conference. One of the points that my colleague Kenneth Gibson mentioned was in terms of the recently published strategy on marine tourism, the Awakening the Giant publication. This actually started off in this Parliament, started off in the cross-party group on recreational voting and marine tourism, when we held a symposium in March of two years ago. As a consequence of that activity, we've got to this point, I'm actually having an actual marine tourism strategy for the country. Certainly I'm going to take some credit for the cross-party group and actually helping to fashion some type of marine strategy and this is the first strategy, marine tourism strategy that Scotland has actually ever had. So I just certainly want to put on the record the work of the cross-party group but also the work of all cross-party groups in the Parliament in terms of the activities that they can actually bring to the table to also help to fashion a policy agenda going forward. Once again, I want to thank Kenneth Gibson for bringing the debate to the chamber and I'm sure that the conference will be a tremendous success. Many thanks and I now call Annabelle Goldie to be followed by John Mason. Deputy Presiding Officer, can I too thank Kenny Gibson for bringing this important motion to the Parliament and it's a very great pleasure to take part in this debate, loving Arran as I do. I shouldn't mention I'm currently registering an interest relevant to the debate on the 8th of March. I was a guest of the Arran Glasgow Society at their annual dinner when I spoke and I received hospitality and accommodation. The first annual European conference in cold water island tourism on the beautiful island of Arran is a triumph. It's a triumph for local resourcefulness and ingenuity and I join others who have mentioned Alistair Dobson and paid tribute to him and to visit Arran. The vision behind the initiative, as some have already mentioned, was making small cold water island destinations of choice, helping to make the island sustainable, economically, socially and environmentally and also making the islands attractive places in which to live and work. Deputy Presiding Officer, the conference organisers couldn't have picked a better location for their conference. Arran is unique, close to the mainland and yet far from the bustle of the mainland, diverse and scenery and recreational opportunity, noted for geology and tourism and abundantly provided with quality accommodation and places to eat. No wonder it enchants all who visit. The conference mission was ambitious. It was to create, and I quote, a unique network of cold water small island destinations in order to benefit from having a representative voice of influence and forging collaborative working and sharing practical solutions based upon successful actions and evidence, a very purposeful and relevant mission. Indeed, the conference prospectus describes the objectives as, among other things, sharing knowledge of successful practical projects, creating networks of expertise and information, discussing common issues and opportunities to grow the value of tourism, identifying solutions to underpin sustainable growth and developing a common agenda for support and development, among others. That reflects a very practical and sensible approach to the potential, as other members have indicated, the huge potential for cold water islands. I couldn't help noticing the conference prospectus as a stunning photograph of Macri Bay, on my regular visits to Ireland, where I used to swim. Cold water island is a good description. For many cold water maritime countries, their islands make a valuable contribution to the tourism experience and the country's economy. In terms of understanding the value, the market demand and the economic impact, there has been comparatively little research, as Stuart McMillan was talking about. Any aim to redress that situation and recognise and identify cold water islands as valuable tourist destinations is commendable. The whole initiative for Scotland is tailor made, and it is also relevant to all our island communities. Island tourism can work hand in hand with island businesses, which tend to be micro SMEs. Aran is not short of successful local businesses who have forged themselves as providers of niche products sold well beyond the shores of Aran. Not only are those businesses vital for the overall survival of island communities, they do in themselves and are enhanced by expanding tourism. I, too, am delighted that, this week, more than 100 delegates from across northern Europe have gathered in Aran to hear success stories, listen to experts who are involved in the economic development of islands and build networks and friendships. That has been a unique event, the first-ever conference examining cold water tourism. It is a feather in the cat for Scotland and it is a coup for the island of Aran. I congratulate all those who have been involved. I thank Kenneth Gibson for bringing the subject today. I also congratulate him on wearing the same tie as myself. For members who are not aware of that, it is the enable charity that is three of us, at least we are wearing the tie today. For me, the ideal place to go on holiday is an island. The fact that you are surrounded by water certainly gives me the feeling of being away from it all and really being able to wind down and relax. Today, I thought that I would be totally self-indulgent and talk about islands that I have visited. For example, last summer, I spent nine days on call and Tyree and had an absolutely superb time before the final few weeks of the referendum campaign. I am not sure exactly when my attachment to islands came from, but as a youngster I remember day trips to Millport on Cumbria. I had a teacher at school who took us weekend trips to Arran, which was also the last island that I visited when the finance committee was there in December. As a student, I remember also a group of us going to Islay, and that is due to be my next island destination when the Equal Opportunities Committee goes there right after the Westminster election. I certainly hope to be camping when we go there, if the weather is better, and I think that that is my ideal holiday of being in an island and camping. Of course, not only Scotland has great islands, but other countries do too. A name that I had always known from the shipping forecast was Lundy, which is off the north coast of Devon in England and is well worth visiting. Ireland, too, has a number of islands, some of which I have visited, including Arden with One R, Rathlin across from Kentire, and one of my most exciting island visits, which was to Clare Island, which is in my favourite Irish county of Mayo. The Irish allow competition on their ferry routes, and on a particularly windy and choppy day, we had two ferries racing across to the island together, and it was probably not safe, but it was good fun. When we think of Wales, we might think of Anglesey or Innes Mon, as I believe it is known. However, the question arises, is it really an island? It has two bridges, and that raises the question, how do we define an island? I am a fan of Hamish Haswell Smith's book on Scottish islands, and I agree with his definition that an island has to be surrounded by seawater at lowest tide and have no permanent means of dry access. By that definition, I am afraid that Anglesey is not an island, and neither is Sky. The use has been becular form one island, in my opinion, not three. However, the British Isles contain more than just Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. The Isle of Man was a traditional holiday destination from Glasgow, and its location is stunning with all four surrounding nations in sight. Being there, you realise how central it was in the past, and the seas were the motorways of that time, and the Vikings knew that man was right at the centre. If it is history that you are looking for, Jersey and Guernsey take some beating. The whole occupation story during World War II is absolutely fascinating, and many of the fortifications can still be seen, which made the islands the most heavily fortified part of Hitler's Atlantic wall. Continuing the war theme, the Faroe Islands were occupied by Britain in World War II, and it was the British who encouraged them to have and use their own flag, in contrast to the flag of Denmark, which, of course, at the time was occupied by Germany. When you stand at it, as I did a couple of years ago in the Faroes, the closest country is Scotland. However, it is disappointing to me and to think to them that there is no regular transport link, and I went by chartered plane, and I wonder whether the minister could look at transport links to the Faroes. Orkney perhaps grabs my attention because of its range of history, the Western Isles, Shetland and their councils, and although I am a city dweller, I support their having special treatment. I hesitate to say I have a favourite island in Scotland, however, the one place that I had long wanted to go and visit and which eventually I managed to was St Kilda. When I did eventually manage it, it was absolutely superb. If you sail out from Lewis or Harris, you are almost out of sight of land, and then out of the middle of the ocean, like some spectacular film, come these cliffs, the amazing sea colour and thousands of birds. The history and the evacuation in 1930, I find extremely moving, and there is a magic about the place. However, I do reckon that it is somewhat spoiled by the military buildings, and if I can finish with two suggestions, one would be to the minister to get rid of the military buildings, if he can do that. I think that it would be a good project for Scotland to repopulate St Kilda. Mr Mason, could I ask you to draw to a close? Perhaps we would like to come back to Arran if it is possible. I welcome this conference of islands coming to Scotland. The islands are one of our great assets, and let us do all that we can to encourage and support them. Many thanks. Can I now invite Derek Mackay to respond to the debate, minister, around seven minutes or so? Thank you very much, Presiding Officer. I am delighted to be able to speak in today's debate and congratulate Kenny Gibson on securing the debate on the Arran Cold Water Islands tourism conference and so to congratulate North Ayrshire Council for their vision in supporting this inaugural event. You might wonder why I am responding. Of course, it is because I have ministerial responsibility for the islands. It is not just that Fergus Ewing was not available as the tourism minister, but Malcolm Chisholm rather helpedfully made the point about transport connections and how we can make cultural connections through transport in the capacity that we have there, so it is a clear linkage. I would also not want you to draw any conclusion from the fact that I have been holidaying in Arran for about the last 10 years. I am not permitted to have a favourite island, but you can draw your own conclusions from the fact that I am a regular visitor and, as Annabelle Goldie has described it, I may have visits to declare, but I think that they are all at my own expense or in a couple of Government events being over there, too. What struck me as the entrepreneurial spirit in Arran and how people work together is certainly very impressive. In terms of the Cold Water Conference, it might conjure up an image that not all tourism partnerships would want having swam on the coast of Arran as well, but I can reveal a public health message. I have also been sunburnt, too, in Arran, so there is certainly warmth of hospitality in the sun. The sun does often shine as well, but this is about the conference, which is a fantastic event in bringing together partners and stakeholders to release the potential of islands. Of course, the involvement of visit Arran and the taste of Arran and the conference is further evidence of close working and highly successful relationships across the whole island and, again, commend the branding therein. It is also a conference on one of which is the support from Visit Scotland through their conference bid fund. I hope that that sends a clear message about how the conference bid fund can support businesses and conferences across Scotland, not just in the cities but in rural areas as well. The bid fund can be for conferences from 50,000 to 5,000 delegates, all of which play a vital role in boosting the visitor economy in Scotland. Acting as a showcase for all that Scotland has to offer is somewhere to live, study and learn from, invest, buy from and visit again and again. Of course, Arran has many attractions, stunning scenery and a range of activities for all tastes and levels of fitness, plus delicious, locally produced food and drink, including the local distillery at Lochranza and the Arran Blonde series of beers and a range of delights from chocolate to cheese and ice cream to rapeseed oil and show that Arran is a microcosm of what Scotland has to offer. Of course, Arran aromatics and many others, including that sense of destination. In terms of food and drink, that is why in this 2015 year of food and drink it offers so much for the industry to become involved in, building on the global exposure that Scotland has had in 2014. Let us capitalise on that. Of course, the conference recognises that, as well as our food and drink, Scotland is also doubly blessed with the asset of a great network of coastal assets in inland waterways to facilitating a range of routes. Marine tourism from the Nordics may take interest in the market potential and expanding that blue traffic has been mentioned by others through all seasons. The conference programme clearly recognises that Arran seizing the initiative and thinking about how to position all attractions and enterprises not only within 2015, but the other themed years from 2016 through to 2018. There is European attention as well, and as Kenneth Gibson has remarked, I am equally pleased that Johann Gili from Ecorys Consulting has been working closely with the European Commission, DG Mayor, speaking on the connectivity and innovative tourism strategies for Ireland's perspective. Scotland stands to benefit from an easy focus on marine resources. We have been active in shaping European thinking in those sectors. Stuart McMillan MSP has mentioned that, as a convener of the cross-party group on recreational boating and marine tourism, the potential that it has and has had good engagement with the commission officials as well. VisitScotland has also fielded a speaker at the EC Conference of Coastal and Marine Tourism in Venice last year. I know that the EC, DG Mayor, has been most impressed in their contacts today with Scottish activity around coastal and marine tourism. It is vital that Scotland continues to provide positive input such as this conference as the emerging pan-European approach to marine and coastal tourism is being actively developed. The potential for using marine tourism as a means of opening up coastal areas has been long recognised and features an approach in our work to date on the national marine plan and, of course, the national planning framework as well, which I was able to lead. The VisitScotland national tourism development framework shows an estimated £336 million worth of investment in tourism infrastructure impacting across all of Ayrshire and Arran over the next three years, further enhancing the quality of the visitor experience. The industry-led Scottish Marine Tourism Development Group launched a strategic framework for Scotland's marine tourism sector on 5 March and will put further energy into the right kind of infrastructure and the right decisions to support that work. Crucially, as the conference recognises, it is not about just how to grow the marine sector but to ensure that sustainable economic growth carries across to coastal communities, inland waterways and the wider tourism businesses to provide an authentic visitor experience. A conference to promote, celebrate and help tourism on small cold water island destinations around the world is visionary and timuous. The Scottish Government, for one, would welcome receiving further detail on the conference outcomes once they become available and continue to work in partnership. Clearly, the conference will help us to understand not only how we can further increase all that island such as Arran has to offer the visitor, but also what more is possible for all our islands in Scotland. Whether that is transport or tourism or marketing or infrastructure or VisitScotland, the partnership will all come together to learn the lessons from this conference. Clearly, key to successful delivery of sustainable economic growth via the various sectors within our tourism industry will be the partnership that Arran has showcased. I think that Arran has been an exemplar of developing an attractive model for all, in particular tourism, to ensure that our islands in Scotland have a long, sustainable and successful future. That concludes Kenneth Gibson's debate on European Co-Inference for Cold Water Island Tourism, and I now suspend this meeting until 2.30pm.