There was strong growth in overseas visits and spend to the UK’s nations and regions in the first six months of 2017, latest figures released by VisitBritain show. international visits to Scotland in the first half of the year were up 14% to a record 1.3 million. Continue reading They love it here: international tourism surges ahead
Figures released today show that July was the highest month ever for inbound tourism to the UK since official records began in 1961. Continue reading July breaks all UK tourism records
VisitBritain is tempting tourists to come and discover the exciting, secretive and adventurous side of Britain in a new film tourism campaign ahead of Kingsman: The Golden Circle in cinemas this month. Continue reading I Spy: VisitBritain lifts the lid on the secret side of Britain
Extra £1 million per year to ensure ‘future success’ of Edinburgh’s festivals
The City of Edinburgh Council is proposing to create a legacy funding package for the city’s Festivals in their 70th anniversary year. The Council has agreed to invest an additional £1 million every year for five years to protect the legacy and strengthen the future of the city’s 11 major festivals towards a joint fund proposed to Edinburgh’s Festivals and the Scottish Government. Continue reading Thanks a million: Council finds more cash to support city festivals
The number of people working in tourism in Edinburgh has increased by 12% in one year, new figures show – with Scotland as a whole seeing an increase of 11%. The statistics produced by Visit Scotland show that tourism supports 34,600 jobs in Edinburgh, 11% of total jobs in the area. Continue reading Jobs boost for capital as tourism booms
Numbers are up for fourth successive year
Scottish tourist attractions have recorded a 3% rise in visitors, confirming the fourth consecutive year of growth. The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) analysis found a total of 6, 246, 846 people visited member sites up to April, an increase of 201, 988 from April, 2015. Continue reading Visitors flock to Scottish tourist attractions
‘If I had to name one world event that I wanted to attract to Melbourne it would be The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’ – Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Robert Doyle
The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo will take place in Australia and New Zealand next February.
The Tattoo is a major fixture in the global events calendar providing upwards of £100m into the UK economy every year. Last year marked the Tattoo’s sixteenth successive sell-out season at Edinburgh Castle, generating approximately £10 million in box office receipts.
The news that the Tattoo will be on the road next year has already received an overwhelmingly positive reaction in Australia and New Zealand. Ticket sales for Melbourne and Wellington are already breaking expected targets, with 50% of tickets sold in the first week and an additional Melbourne show announced yesterday. These two offshore Tattoos are expected to draw millions into their respective local economies.
Brigadier David Allfrey MBE, Chief Executive and Producer, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo said: “The Tattoo provides a wonderful excuse for people to come together for an enjoyable and inspirational evening and to reflect on where their interests and influence might coincide. We are so proud to play our part in these international endeavours.
“Our project to take the Tattoo to Wellington and Melbourne has been more than three years in the planning. It has involved a huge number of partners across all three countries, never mind in those nations getting ready to contribute to the Show. It is, however, a much wider story than us doing a show. The Tattoo’s integrated approach provides our wide ranging stakeholders with an exciting, high profile platform which can deliver a plethora of interesting and beneficial opportunities.”
Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: “The UK enjoys a very close international relationship with Australia and New Zealand across a wide range of areas including an extraordinary shared heritage in culture, history and military alliance. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo overseas programme represents an exciting platform in this rich relationship.
“It brings together a unique blend of music, ceremony and entertainment that showcases a stunning array of Scottish heritage & culture and the precision and expertise of the British Military combined with a colourful mix military and cultural groups from around the world.”
Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: “This is great news for The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and for Scotland. The Tattoo is a firm favourite in Edinburgh’s world famous festivals and I am sure the Australian and New Zealand audiences will be delighted by the unique blend of music and entertainment that only The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo can provide. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a world renowned Scottish brand and reaching out to people who are interested in Scotland and our heritage is important to tourism and our image overseas.
Kerry Prendergast, Executive Chair, New Zealand Festival, said: “The New Zealand Festival and the Tattoo, with the support of the New Zealand government, sought to bring this iconic event back to Wellington because we were sure Kiwis would come out in force to support it. We’re thrilled that audiences have responded so enthusiastically, and can’t wait to welcome the Tattoo to what’s on track to be a sell-out season in Wellington.”
The Right Honourable, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Robert Doyle said: “If I had to name one world event that I wanted to attract to Melbourne it would be The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and we are delighted to be hosting it for the first time in 2016. Melbourne is renowned for our world-class events calendar and I’m delighted that Melburnians have embraced the event and that it will have major flow-on effect for our tourism industry.”
Two hospitality students from Edinburgh College travelled to a prestigious hospitality school in Switzerland thanks to a scholarship.
Rebecca Sinder and Merce Just are both first year students on the HN Hospitality Management course, and were the first students from Edinburgh College to win a Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland (HIT Scotland) scholarship.
The HIT Scotland scholarship paid for them both to travel to the prestigious École hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) for a two day programme titled ‘A Practical Approach to Customer Service’. Founded in 1893, EHL was the world’s first trade-school to focus on hospitality education. The school offers bachelor and master degrees in hospitality management and administration.
While on the scholarship Merce and Rebecca took a trip to the five star Grand Hotel au Lac and dined in the hospitality school’s gastronomic restaurant. Rebecca said: “This scholarship has opened my eyes and mind to the hospitality industry and what Scotland is missing in terms of customer experience, and also to customer service skills that everyone working in hospitality should be taught.”
Rebecca Sinder said: “This was a great trip and an opportunity to learn in depth about customer service skills. Not only did we learn about multicultural habits, current technology trends, how to dress to impress and also the crucial non-verbal and verbal communications skills, we were also shown what real hospitality feels like to experience. The professors and students of École hôtelière de Lausanne were an example of the most professional workers in the industry. They were welcoming and they showed us great customer service first hand.”
Richard Morris, Edinburgh College Food and Hospitality lecturer said: “Merce and Rebecca have returned to College inspired and motivated to continue with their studies whilst at the same time getting valuable Industry experience.
Rebecca has since joined me working for the Scottish Rugby Union Hospitality at the 6 Nations, whilst Merce is interested in joining the world famous Witchery restaurant following a recent visit. Ultimately what this scholarship has given them is the confidence to progress in their chosen industry realising what the ultimate rewards can be.”
HIT Scotland is a charity whose mission is to assist people to achieve their potential within hospitality. HIT Scotland enables young people in the hospitality industry to be inspired about what the industry has to offer and all the opportunities that exist in a multitude of sectors. It also sets steps to making dreams come true all over the world in many incredible organisations such as Virgin, Hilton and Mossimans.
Edinburgh College students worked at the Annual HIT Scotland Lunch at The Sheraton that Richard Morris has been coordinating with the College for the last few years. From this they gained an insight into what the organisation were all about.
There are many examples of young people who have gone on to achieve their career aspirations through HIT Scotland many of who were represented at HIT Scotland’s recent Emerging Talent Conference in Edinburgh.
Applications are currently open for hospitality and professional cookery courses starting at Edinburgh College in August. More details can be found at:
http://www.edinburghcollege.ac.uk/courses/food_hospitality_and_tourism.aspx
Edinburgh Western MSP Colin Keir has welcomed comments by a senior airlines executive that Air Passenger Duty (APD) is having an adverse effect on trade.
Following comments by David Thomas, a regional director of American Airlines, that Air Passenger Duty is ‘stifling demand’ on flights between Scotland and the United States, Colin Keir, Edinburgh Airport’s MSP, said: “Mr Thomas’s comments are most welcome and further validate our position that the Scottish Government must have control over Air Passenger Duty.
“As Edinburgh Airport’s recent report showed, reducing APD in Scotland by 50% will initially support 800 new jobs and create millions for the economy, is most welcome and must be taken seriously by the UK Government.
“The tourism tax, that is particularly damaging to Scottish airports, should be cut at once. Devolution of APD would be a game changer for Scottish airports.
“The Scottish Government has committed to cutting Air Passenger Duty once it is devolved and that responsibility cannot come soon enough for passengers and Scotland’s airports. Only a strong team of SNP MPs elected on May 7 will ensure Scotland gains the powers it has been promised – including APD – to create jobs and build a more prosperous and fairer country.”
Flights from Auld Reekie to Big Apple next summer
Colin Keir, the MSP whose Edinburgh Western constituency covers Edinburgh Airport, has welcomed the news that American Airlines will be launching daily flights between Edinburgh and New York’s JFK Airport.
Mr Keir said: “This is great news for Edinburgh Airport and more widely for Scotland. I congratulate the management of Edinburgh Airport for securing this direct service to one of the world’s leading financial centres. One of the benefits of direct flights is that the Air Passenger Duty (APD) is less for travellers who don’t have to fly to another UK hub airport such as Heathrow or Gatwick. It will be a huge boost for business and tourism and I am sure this will prove a very successful destination.”
The new service will launch next summer and run between May and September.
