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?

funny story - we were in Truro last year and went into a small shop for ice cream. I only had Scottish notes on me and tried to pay with a Scottish tenner. the young girl behind the counter wouldn't take the money. Said the boss wouldn't like it. Meanwhile DH and DCs have already started in on the ice cream, so it was very much a 'take it or leave it' situation. we did offer to return the licked ice cream! I spoke to boss and all ended well.

^^ but it's those who live outside Scotland that are the potential tourists! Grr!

I used to have trouble with NI notes in Scotland. I remember the good old days when we had the pound notes and they ha got rid of them in the rest of the UK. Taxi drivers used to always ask for them particularly at the airport/train stations.

I won't be going back in the eventuality of a yes vote. Not until the Salmon and Sturgeon are off the scene. Cant stand the pair of them.

I agree entirely cogito and I think that a logical conclusion of the Scots moving towards greater powers under the effective 'Devo Max' is increased overall UK federalism which all the people of the UK could benefit from.

There is also a view to which I do not necessarily subscribe that at this point and if the vote tomorrow is for secession that being quite exceptionally tough with the Scots during any post referendum negotiations would be the best way for Cameron to survive in the light of UKIP and European pressures that it would in other words be a great distraction for his electorate.

As I said though I don't necessarily subscribe to that view because I haven't thought it through properly.

Bearbehind - whatever the vote tomorrow, I doubt that the 10s of thousands of English (Welsh and Irish too) that flock to the Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe Festival will stay away!

I agree sleepy, not all will stay away but the Scottish tourist economy relies on more than just the Edinburgh Festival and the general consensus on this thread has shown that many non-Scotland living people, ie the potential tourists, would think twice about going purely because of the referendum, even if they ultimately did decide to go.

People living in Scotland and saying English tourists will still visit as there's no anti-English sentiment up here, can't undo the damage already done IMO.

Well, I truly think the numbers of rUK tourists deciding not to come to Scotland will not make that big a dent in the economy. Yes, I don't doubt that we will still some decline, but the essence of what makes Scotland Scotland will still be a big draw to our overseas visitors and as a pp mentioned, if we do get independence, that will create its own surge as people one to see what the fuss is all about! We might even become more 'Scottish' iykwim!

And to be honest, if there are the odd pocket of folk out there that are a wee bit sensitive and boo-hooing because they think Scotland doesn't like them, then maybe just don't bother coming! I'm not a massive fan of London, but I don't cut my nose off to spite my face and still go and enjoy what it has to offer.

That's right bear its only your opinion.

"it's more anti-Westminster/Government and certain high profile individuals in the Government. "

sleepfergus has put it into context. THIS ^

I don't see people needing passports to travel between rUK and iScotland

The SNP has said that it intends to have laxer policies on immigration than the rUK. It's going to have to: Scotland's population is substantially more ageing than ours. Now obviously, if Scotland actually does have better benefits, better healthcare, more jobs and more milk and honey, people arriving in Scotland as immigrants won't want to leave. But just on the offchance that isn't the case, it is certainly not in the UK's interests for Scotland to operate an open-door immigration policy and then have people heading south looking for work. If an independent Scotland did have an immigration policy that was substantially different to ours, we would have to consider imposing border formalities.

And perhaps people are forgetting the subtle racism that greets Scots in England and has done for years.

Sorry, but that's utter nonsense. And I write as a member of a large Scottish family with several members who have lived in England for years, all of whom have distinct accents.

Not really nonsense. I used to get it at work when I first came but I am quite rude so a few 'piss offs' stopped that. Similarly with the odious 'see you jimmy'.

My sister used to get quite a bit when she lived in south London from her afro Caribbean neighbours too ('oi ginger jock'), and only recently I was told to 'go home'.

Holiday bookings are down because they were at 112% annual increase in 2012, they didn't have anywhere else to go.

Please tell me that wasn't intended to be serious?

nicename, I'm not disagreeing that you get odd bits of idiocy like that. But the post I was responding to suggested it was endemic which, in a country where countless senior positions in government, industry, public service and the like go to Scots, is manifestly not so.

Agreed - you get tossers everywhere.

Not endemic - everywhere I've worked (City and 3rd sector) it has always been the joke that its 'run by Scots'.

That's right bear its only your opinion.

I've never claimed it to be any more than that brighthouse.

The whole point of AIBU of to gauge others opinion on something on which you have a particular view.

It appears that the very vast majority of potential tourists, ie those not already living in Scotland, agree with me so I'm yet to be convinced my opinion is wrong.

It's very interesting that all you've posted on this thread is the above and support for 2 people who disagree with me- without actually offering your actual opinion or counter argument/ discussion- which is ironically reminiscent of the whole Yes campaign.

I'm Irish living long term in US. There is so much coverage on US news of the referendum - never heard Scotland mentioned so much in all my years here. The Scottish tourist board should really be running ads on radio at least about Scotland as a tourist destination as they are getting so much coverage - there is no negative to either yes or no in US.

'run by Scots'

I rather disagree with the 'odd bits of idiocy' dismissal. I think anti-Scottish sentiments have progressed, over the course of the referendum campaign, into something slightly more sinister than the 'see you Jimmy' and 'run by Scots' casual stereotyping. Obviously, to people's faces there's still the usual social politeness, but I think a certain resentment at the prospect of national rejection is going to have unforeseen consequences. I hope I'm wrong.

I think the biggest problem is that it is causing the English to dislike the Scots rather than increase anti-Englishness.

As an Englishwoman in Scotland, not been aware of any worsening attitude personally, but I am a bit worried of how things could pan out.

If anything, I think in some parts of the world they will see any split as a remarkable show of democracy relative to the usual war scenario when countries divide .

The 'run by Scots' comments where I have worked has been pretty much the case - a high proportion of Scots in senior management.

I agree that the ref has made it worse.

I think a certain resentment at the prospect of national rejection is going to have unforeseen consequences. I hope I'm wrong.

Totally agree with this- and the flip side is a No vote is going to leave nearly 50% of the Scottish population extremely aggrieved at being stuck with the union. Neither of which bode well for English people who might otherwise have been planning next years holiday in Scotland.

which is ironically reminiscent of the whole Yes campaign.
Bear how odd, are you assuming that posters' beliefs about the impact on tourism is connected to how they vote? or were you just taking the opportunity to show your own political bias in a more explicit way?

I know a number of businesses that rely on tourism. They're not frightened of the impact the vote will have on English tourist numbers or (to be more accurate) of the impact that negative media coverage will have on English tourist numbers. In the many referendum discussions I've heard and been party to, this isn't a cause for concern. Of course, English visitors are still welcome. However, if some choose not to holiday here then that's ok too.

There is going to be a period of transition whatever the result and I'm hopeful that the anti-Scottish animosity seen on some of these threads will not translate into negative actions in RL because actually the campaigns in Scotland have been largely peaceful and enthusiastic and the recent statement issued by the Scottish Police illustrates that fact.

or were you just taking the opportunity to show your own political bias in a more explicit way?

I've said before, I have no political bias on this situation. I don't live in Scotland so can't vote anyway but I don't understand how a decision can be made to vote Yes based on the facts (ie massive lack of them) given by the Yes campaigners.

I was simply making the point that all brighthouse has done on this thread is say I'm wrong and agree with 2 posters who disagree with me.

It's not exactly a convincing viewpoint is it?

You live in Scotland and are convinced that the tourism industry will be fine because the campaigns 'have been largely peaceful and enthusiastic' - my point is that isn't how it's been portrayed down here and this thread demonstrates it has put some people off so, even if you disagree with me, you're not a potential tourist therefore your views aren't going to affect the tourism industry.

I am American living in the US, and I have been following news coverage very closely. There has been a lot of news coverage here, but very little of it has focused on the "dark side" of Scotland. Americans will continue to visit Scotland in large numbers, whatever the outcome.