To think the Scottish tourism industry is going to be hugely affected by the referendum, whatever the outcome

[Bearbehind]

Just been reading some of the indyref threads and it made me think about the affect on Scottish tourism, mainly from English tourists,

I know it's only one factor in the grand scheme of things but it seems damned to me whatever the result.

There is such an anti English sentiment at the moment I don't think many English people will be rushing up there for a holiday will they?

That you think it will all balance out Rita because more Scots will holiday at home is my biggest fear.

Divisions and borders. Narrow. Introspection.

I love the fact my Scotland welcomes international visitors, and national ones too.

What is happening when people think that this is all a GOOD thing.

I think you would see a lot more international tourism in the event of a Yes vote. I lurk on an American forum, mostly for TV, but many users on there are finding it all very romantic. Freedom! Just what Mel Gibson always wanted. (Joke!) But you will get an element of that...

I'm not in fear for our tourism on the back of a few anecdotal tales on mumsnet. I've spent many of my holidays in Scotland over the years. Not because I'm insular or closed minded, because it's a glorious country with so much to see.

Well, why did you say it would all be balanced out then Rita? That was a very strange thing to say.

But we have no control over the way Scotland and the independence debate is portrayed in the mainstream media around the world. So if people choose to believe what they see/hear and refuse to come to Scotland on the basis of that I'm not sure there's much that can be done about it? I also agree that much of this is temporary fear/resentment and will hopefully settle along with the dust when the vote is over.

I think the real eye-opener for me in this whole shebang has been the role of the mainstream media coverage. The power wielded by those who responsible for the bulk of the reporting in the papers/on TV. The fact that they can hold such sway over people's opinion all over the world with the way in which they choose to portray something. Even if that portrayal bears little actual resemblance to the reality faced by the a large swathe of people actually living with the situation. Or the fact that patent media bias can be presented as "neutral reporting" and that is just supposed to go unchallenged.

I feel like a total numpty for not appreciating this before now, and am re-evaluating where I get my info from in future in light of this. And I know I am far from alone in this, which I think can only be a positive thing in the long run...

Good for you Rita. Good for you and all of those who still continue to visit Scotland - Scottish, English, Chinese, wherever you are from.

However, there is a job to do to make sure that you are not alone, or finding places a wee bit emptier than this year. There is already an oversupply of cottages and hotel beds in some areas. In others, it is rammed all summer and in other holidays. But, I repeat, where businesses fail is not because someone doesn't arrive in August, or July, or at Hogmanay, it is when they can no longer fill a mid week in September, or they have to cut prices and then become unprofitable.

Rooner I'm musing, not stating categorical facts. Maybe being the operative word in what I said.

Now do yourself a favour and stop looking for things to get het up about.

I've already voted. Continuing to jump down my throat isn't going to take my vote back.

I live in a small golf town and the majority of our tourists are from North America, although we get a lot of British tourists too.

This week I did a couple of shifts volunteering for the local Yes campaign, and we had massive engagement from Americans and Canadians, they got it, were supportive and all took a sticker/ badge/ leaflet as a souvenir - Apart from the gentleman who told us he agreed with independence, but not the socialist way we were approaching it :)

We were pleasantly surprised to be approached by a Flemish couple, numerous parties of Catalans, and some Germans who all stated they had come to Scotland to see what was happening referendum wise, and were hoping for a big party. This was just a small town in the Highlands, they had all come well out of their way.

We spoke to as many of the English tourists as possible, a lot were wary at first, saying 'you won't want to speak to us.' Some had been told by the local Hotel manager they might not get out of the country after Friday if they hadn't taken their passports. But we pretty quickly were able to explain our position, and all intimated that they would continue to holiday in the Highlands in the future. Possibly it helps that about 50% of our volunteers are English or Welsh (area of high migration from the south.)

I've been involved in the Yes campaign for over a year. I have seen one incident of anti -English sentiment being expressed, by one person outwith any campaign group who said 'if you guys aren't going to vote yes, you shouldn't vote at all' and was called on it immediately. As I said before though, we have less Scots born campaigners than English/Welsh - so that may influence my experience.

My brother works in tourism in Skye, he has had his busiest ever summer. I don't think the referendum is going to damage tourism at all, it will almost certainly be the opposite.

I am Scottish living in England. My English DH and I with our English DS's just spent 3 weeks travelling round the Highlands and heard not one utterance of anti English sentiment. I am greatly saddened that the consensus is in England that ppl will be verbally abused if they travel north of the border. In my experience this is simply not the case. This horrible divisive referendum has resulted in so much vitriol throughout the whole UK whatever the outcome I feel there will be no real winners tomorrow. A very sad time in UK / Scottish history.

rita why do you continue to rant on about your Yes vote? This isn't a Yes/No thread despite the best efforts of yourself and others

I'm ranting?

You've mentioned the fact you've voted Yes at least twice today- what relevance is that to this discussion?

What relevance is me mentioning my vote on a chat forum on a referendum thread on referendum day, the day our country is taking to the polls on record numbers to make a historical decision?
I don't know. You tell me.

It's not a thread about which way to vote though- I said in my OP that the result is irrelevant IMO.

If it's a Yes they'll be great uncertainty, if it's a No they'll be a lot of bad feeling from the Yes campaigners because they came so close - your vote choice makes absolutely no difference to this particular thread.

There's other threads where you can wave your Yes placard until your heart is content.

I mentioned it once. I sang a wee ditty. I'm super energised and excited today.

Don't let it ruin your day.

I went to Scotland twice this summer and it just feels like a very different place, a different country to the rest of the UK. If there is a Yes vote I'll be back more often, not less.

Twice actually rita and it certainly won't ruin my day

There's an article on this very subject in the Daily Mail online

'English tourists are cancelling holidays to Scotland as they fear ‘ill feeling’ towards them after the referendum, regardless of the result.
Companies providing holiday accommodation north of the Border say dozens of holidaymakers have contacted them saying that they do not want to visit a country where the national feeling is one of division.
They say other English travellers have also cancelled planned breaks because they do not want to support a Scotland that has broken up the United Kingdom.
‘We have had numerous phone calls from customers stating that if we do become independent then they will no longer we willing to support Scotland and won’t be returning for a holiday,’ said Amber Swinton, property manager at Unique Cottages.
‘But of more concern is that people are cancelling holidays they had booked for next year, regardless of the outcome of the vote.’
She said her company usually had a number of English repeat customers who booked their Scottish holidays after returning from their last one, who had not done so this year. She added: ‘We have a lot of clients who holiday here every year, who have not come back yet. It is very worrying'

I mentioned that I voted yes, once.

Really? The Daily Mail?

Oh well, if the Daily Mail says we should worry. Because they don't have any sort of agenda and are obviously a bastion of free, fair and unbiased reporting...

Just because it's in the Daily Mail, doesn't necessarily make it untrue

But the chances are far, far greater though!

I wouldn't believe The Daily Mail. Yesterday's peaceful gathering in George Square (attended by adults and children alike) was reported as a riot by them, with a photo of the Police standing in front of Yes supporters.
There was a small group of No campaigners across the road, so the police stood in front of them and the Yes side as a precaution, which is wholly sensible, in my opinion. The only hint of trouble was when a No campaigner ran across the road and tried to get at the Yes side - the Police succesfully caught and held him back. Apart from that, no trouble from either side.

Is that right numanoid? That's shocking! Had friends at that it looked great

Outrageous reporting Numanoid, bad sadly absolutely unsurprising. Glad the gathering went off largely peacefully :)