This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Parliamentary report on tourism
29/01/2003
A report into tourism was published today by the
Parliament's Enterprise and Lifelong Learning
Committee.
Tourism Minister Mike Watson, who gave evidence during
the committee's eight month inquiry, said it would play a
useful role in the continued development of one of the
country's biggest industries.
He added that politicians appreciated how tourism had a
vital role to play in the Scottish economy, and he welcomed
the fact that the Committee had identified that the
industry itself should take a prominent role in driving
forward tourism growth.
Mr Watson said:
"Throughout my time as Tourism Minister, I have stressed
at every opportunity - including in my appearances before
the committee - that tourism is Scotland's biggest business
sector, that its economic performance matters greatly to
the largest cities and most remote communities. In short,
tourism is everyone's business.
"I will now study the ELL Committee's Report on Tourism
with great interest. My immediate impression is that it is
a very thorough piece of work.
"I will give a more detailed Executive response on
February 13 during the planned debate that day on the
Committee's Report, and we will respond fully to the
Committee's recommendations in due course.
"I have made clear that the challenge facing us all in
Scotland is to reverse the long-term decline and
re-establish tourism as a growth sector in the Scottish
economy.
"This can not be done by any one tourism player. It will
require a sense of common purpose within Scotland's tourism
industry, taking a 'one-team' approach to building an
Scottish tourism industry that is internationally
competitive."