06/06/2007
Holyrood’s think tank, Scotland’s Futures Forum, will join forces on Thursday with VisitScotland’s Scenario Planning Group for Scottish Tourism to consider “Changing Worlds and Global Markets: Understanding the Implications for Scottish Tourism”.
The conference takes place at 2pm on Thursday 7 June at the Scottish Parliament.
The growth in the economic power of Eastern countries including China , India and Turkey will have a significant impact on Scotland and its tourism industry over the coming years.
The Futures Forum sponsored conference will consider this development with contributions from pre-eminent speakers including Geoffrey Lipman, the Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
It is forecast by the Future Foundation that international arrivals to Scotland from these emerging markets will grow at twice the pace of mature markets.
It is predicted that this will bring opportunities for tourism businesses as well as drive a need for more tour guides with specialist language skills and increase demand for translated audio tours of visitor attractions.
The growing middle class in these emerging markets will also drive demand for luxury breaks in Scotland, with opportunities for accommodation providers, retailers and activity operators.
Alex Neil, MSP, a Director of Scotland’s Futures Forum said:
"If Scotland is to be confident when competing in the global market place, it must both anticipate and understand emerging markets. This is exactly the sort of longer term thinking that the Parliament’s Futures Forum was set up to explore and I welcome VisitScotland working with us on this issue.”
The conference will consider the impact of the increasing economic power of Eastern countries and what this will mean for Scotland and world tourism as a whole.
Turkey’s proposed entry to the EU post 2015 and the economic power house of China will also be considered, as will the difference between Eastern and Western Consumers.
VisitScotland’s Chief Executive, Philip Riddle said:
"Tourism is Scotland ’s most important industry and it is crucial that we keep an eye on the future and debate what it may hold for us. We are delighted to welcome international experts to Scotland to give us their insight into the implications of global economic changes on our tourism industry.”
The programme includes the following topics and speakers:
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World Tourism as an Indicator of Changing Worlds and Global Markets - Geoffrey Lipman, Assistant General Secretary, UN World Tourism Organisation
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The Eastern European Consumer – Paul Flatters, Chief Executive, Future Foundation
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China – Economic Powerhouse – Michael Sherwood, Senior Global Economist, Experian Business Strategies
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The Importance of Turkey in 2015 – Michael Lake , Former EU Ambassador to Turkey
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A Response: Tourism as Scotland ’s Global Indicator? – Philip Riddle , Chief Executive, VisitScotland
The event takes place from 2pm – 5.45pm on Thursday, 7 June 2007 in Committee Room 1 at the Scottish Parliament.
Background
Scotland’s Futures Forum was created by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body in August 2005.
The forum aims to identify key challenges facing the nation and stimulate debate between MSPs, academics, civic society, wealth creators and international organisations on the ways of meeting them.
The Scenario Planning Group for Scottish Tourism sees leading tourism organisations working together to debate the potential future for Scottish tourism.
The group is made up of the following businesses: BT, Caledonian MacBrayne, Forestry Commission Scotland, Gleneagles, Highlands and Highlands Enterprise, Historic Scotland, Scottish Arts Council, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Executive, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Tourism Forum and VisitScotland.
The Future Foundation is one of the UK’s leading consumer think tanks enabling organisations to understand latest trends, and what they mean for products and services.
It has assisted the Scenario Planning Group over the last three years shaping ideas and thinking, including the shared tourism industry ambition to grow tourism by 50% by 2015.
VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.