Tourism
We now come to the next statement, by Alasdair Morrison, providing an update on tourism support measures. There will again be questions at the end of the statement. I appeal to members who would like to ask questions to indicate that now, or during the statement.
Last Wednesday, Wendy Alexander and Angus MacKay announced a package of measures to address the serious problems that are faced by Scotland's rural businesses as a result of foot-and-mouth disease.
In the seven days since that announcement, the support agencies, working with the Executive, have moved quickly to translate words into action. That action will help hard-placed businesses throughout Scotland, and especially in the affected areas, to tackle the immediate difficulties that they face. I should like to outline some of the measures that are being taken.
Yesterday, along with the Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace, I attended Scotland's travel fair at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre in Glasgow. Despite the difficulties that some businesses have faced, there was a feeling of optimism and hope for the future.
The number of Scottish businesses exhibiting was slightly down on last year, from 250 to 211. However, the number of travel agents and tour operators at the event was expected to be up on last year, from 937 to 1,352; that is highly encouraging.
Yesterday, visitscotland announced how it would spend the £5 million that we have provided for an immediate marketing and information programme. In order to provide maximum benefit, the new chairman, Peter Lederer, has decided to spend an additional £1.3 million from the organisation's existing budget, which will enable it to provide cash flow relief for individual businesses and to mount a marketing and awareness campaign.
That relief will comprise two elements. First, area tourist boards will be allocated £1.5 million to enable them to discount membership subscriptions this year by at least 50 per cent. Almost 15,000 tourism-related businesses will benefit. Secondly, the 10,000 businesses that are members of the visitscotland quality assurance scheme will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount on this year's membership fees. The QA relief is estimated to be worth £0.7 million.
Visitscotland will use the remainder of its spend to undertake a marketing and reassurance campaign. The greater part of that spend will be in the UK. A total of £2.3 million will be spent. The aim is to get accurate information about Scotland into the marketplace and to build customer confidence quickly.
In addition to spend promoting Scotland, a marketing fund worth £1.4 million has been allocated to the ATBs. It will enable them to work with local businesses to undertake marketing and information initiatives that are appropriate to local needs.
When I visited Dumfries and Galloway on 16 March, I promised that there would be special assistance for the tourist board in that area. Dumfries and Galloway will need to undertake immediate customer relationship work to counter the long-term damage that might be caused to the perceptions of Dumfries and Galloway. Jim Wallace and I were happy to repeat that pledge yesterday afternoon. I subsequently asked visitscotland to ensure that some of the £5 million that we have provided was used for that purpose.
Last week, we learned that the area affected by foot-and-mouth had spread into the area covered by the Scottish Borders Tourist Board. As a result, £100,000 of the funding that visitscotland has allocated to the affected area will go to that board, and £300,000 will go to Dumfries and Galloway.
I believe that that action by visitscotland is a sensible first step. It will help to regain confidence in our tourism industry and will provide immediate relief to hard-pressed tourism businesses. However, it is of course only a first step. Visitscotland is also reviewing its proposed marketing activities for the rest of the year, including the content and focus of the major spring campaign, which visitscotland hopes to launch later this month.
In his statement earlier today, Ross Finnie made it clear that, if the simple guidance that we have provided is followed, most activities outwith the affected areas pose no risk of spreading foot-and-mouth. It is vitally important for our tourism industry that, where there is no risk, those who wish to take advantage of countryside activities should be permitted to do so. However, they must, of course, follow "The Comeback Code".
Ross Finnie announced the action that the Executive is taking to assist councils to move the process forward as quickly as possible, and I hope that councils will do so. I have written today to the Scottish Landowners Foundation urging it to ask its members to open up ground in Scotland to access where it is safe to do so. In doing so, I have drawn the foundation's attention to our latest advice about the risks of spreading foot-and-mouth posed by visitors to the countryside.
I can assure the chamber that we are very aware of the economic importance of informal access in rural Scotland, and I want to move rapidly towards the situation where only areas at genuine risk will remain closed to the public, and then ideally only with official signs that have been sanctioned by councils. I am convinced that that would help greatly to rationalise the situation and restore confidence in Scotland as a tourist destination.
The second main element of our interim relief package is additional support for the enterprise networks to enable them to provide advice and assistance for individual businesses. When she visited Dumfries on Monday, Wendy Alexander announced how the local enterprise companies across Scotland would target that support. Again, specific help is being given to Dumfries and Galloway to help the local enterprise company there to respond to the crisis. We have made £500,000 available immediately, and there will be further funding over the coming weeks to implement a local action plan.
As Wendy Alexander said on Monday, it is essential that companies have direct access to high-quality business advice and assistance if they are to survive this crisis. The enterprise networks have taken action to ensure that such assistance is readily available.
A Scotland-wide helpline for businesses has been set up, which is available for companies across all sectors through the small business gateway, and local enterprise companies are bringing in additional staff to deal with the expected increase in the number of inquiries.
Business advice and support workshops are being held in Dumfries and Galloway from the end of this week. Those workshops will then be rolled out in other areas of the country where there is a demand. The advisers will provide information and guidance on a variety of matters that are of immediate concern to hard-hit businesses, including cash-flow management, tax issues and employee legislation. The advisers will also be able to direct businesses to other sources of advice, which will include bodies such as the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise, which are administering the UK schemes of support that were announced by Michael Meacher on 20 March.
Although we are ensuring that additional, targeted support is provided to businesses in Dumfries and Galloway, we recognise that tourism throughout Scotland, especially in rural Scotland, is affected. That is why Highlands and Islands Enterprise has prepared, in addition to the measures that I have just outlined, a survival aid package for businesses in its area. That includes supporting individual businesses with discretionary grants of up to £2,000 towards the costs of business survival experts specifically recruited by those businesses to deal with issues arising from the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
A range of measures is now available to help affected businesses with their rates. The Executive is funding 95 per cent of the cost of hardship relief for the most affected businesses. The threshold of £12,000 brings in 80 per cent of businesses in all areas that are affected by foot-and-mouth disease and all rural areas that depend heavily on tourism, transport and subsidiary agricultural industries. We are funding 75 per cent of the costs of providing hardship relief to other businesses.
We are also encouraging councils to consider deferring rates payments for affected businesses, and councils can grant relief for premises that are not in use because of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Businesses can also apply for a reduction in their rateable value. We are issuing guidance to councils on all those measures, copies of which will be available in the Scottish Parliament information centre.
There is no doubt that the tourism industry is being hampered by inaccurate and sensationalist reports about foot-and-mouth disease in some of our international markets. Earlier this week, I visited the United States in connection with tartan day. I used the opportunity—as have Wendy Alexander and Henry McLeish during their engagements there—to dispel those myths and tell Americans the facts. My visit to New York followed up the visit a couple of weeks ago by Janet Anderson, the minister with responsibility for tourism at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. As I have said many times, foot-and-mouth disease is a UK problem that requires UK solutions. I shall meet Janet Anderson again in a couple of weeks' time, along with Michael German, the minister with responsibility for tourism at the Welsh Assembly, to review progress.
During my visit, I met representatives of the American media, the American travel trade and travel tour operators. At all those meetings, I hammered home the messages that the great majority of businesses in Scotland are open for business, that Scotland is a wonderful holiday destination and that there is no threat to visitors from the US or elsewhere.
I have said many times that what the tourism industry needs most of all is the sound of phones ringing and bookings coming in. Together with the support agencies, we are implementing a raft of measures, at both UK and Scotland level, to ensure that that is exactly what happens. I have been able to describe only some of the action that is being taken. Much more is being done—such as action to ensure that the access restrictions are eased and that the information is provided to businesses and customers through dedicated phone lines and websites. I assure members that we will keep the position constantly under review and that, if further action is needed, we will ensure that it is taken.
I appeal to members for brevity, as there is a long list of those who would like to speak.
Belated action is better than inaction, but two points require clarification. First, £2.3 million is to be spent on a marketing and reassurance campaign, with regard to access. Will that include an intensive television and local radio campaign, both here and south of the border?
Secondly, although increased marketing is important for businesses, they require to stay afloat. Eighty-one per cent of businesses in Scotland have a rateable value in excess of £12,000, and areas such as the City of Edinburgh are currently excluded from the relief. Given that the British Hospitality Association and the Scottish Tourism Forum, among other organisations, are arguing that that threshold is too low, will not the minister consider increasing the threshold to at least £50,000, as suggested by those organisations? Does he accept that all of Scotland is affected, not simply parts of it, and will he look to extending hardship relief to areas such as the City of Edinburgh, Midlothian and Lanarkshire?
The millions that are being spent on marketing will form an important pillar of the campaign to resuscitate tourism in Scotland. Quite rightly, visitscotland has determined that the English market is important. It is our biggest market, which is why visitscotland will do anything it can to gain access to it. Visitscotland is, of course, best placed to determine how the money that is being directed to it will be spent.
Along with the British Tourist Authority, visitscotland will undertake initiatives to target another important national market, the United States. I have to say that I was depressed by the level of ignorance of the issue among the American public that I realised existed when I was at the office of the BTA in New York on Monday. Listening to the questions that people were phoning in with, I became aware that they genuinely believe that foot-and-mouth disease is a public health issue. I commend the workers of visitscotland and the BTA for the excellent work that they are doing in exceptionally difficult circumstances. They are assuring visitors and callers that the outbreak is not a public health issue. That message is being followed up by the First Minister and Wendy Alexander this week.
On the issue of the cities being affected, I appreciate that the problem affects all of Scotland. However, we have put measures in place that will specifically target the places most affected. Rural Scotland is, of course, gravely affected and that is why, only last week, Angus MacKay and Wendy Alexander announced a package worth £13 million.
I thank the minister for giving me an advance copy of his speech.
I welcome the appointment of Peter Lederer as the chair of visitscotland and I also welcome the extension of short-term support for the membership of the visitscotland quality assurance scheme.
The minister will be aware that we have stated our wish that much of the public relations spin be directed at the important home market. I welcome his comments on that.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the Scottish travel fair in Glasgow. There, the full implications of the foot-and-mouth outbreak for Scottish tourism were detailed to me by many exhibitors from across Scotland, not simply from those in the contiguous areas. Those concerns are shared by all businesses that supply tourism businesses, particularly people who supply food, run taxi services and provide outdoor recreation facilities. Their concern is focused on the access issues that the minister raised this afternoon.
What plans does the Scottish Executive have to encourage landowners as a matter of urgency to use the risk assessment model and, where favourable, withdraw the access restrictions that are currently endangering the future of Scotland's largest industry?
What plans does the Scottish Executive have to allay the fears of landowners who have not yet used the risk assessment model in provisionally risk-free areas and who continue to restrict access to their land? Would reassurance by veterinary staff at a local level help matters to proceed more quickly?
How soon will the Executive's plans be implemented?
I thank David Davidson for his comments about Peter Lederer, who has been officially on the job for only four days. He has come at a critical time and, as David Davidson points out, he will be an excellent leader of visitscotland. He is, of course, ably assisted by his vice-chairman Mike Cantlay.
Yesterday's event at the SECC was important. It was heartening that the number of buyers of holiday packages had risen by some 300. That rise would be welcome in any context, but I and other politicians who attended the event felt that it was particularly so in today's context.
On the issue of access and the question of landowners, I have today written to the Scottish Landowners Federation to outline exactly where landowners can access the necessary guidance and assurance. At the end of the day, one landowner can ultimately determine access to other activities, whether it is walking or another outdoor pursuit. It is absolutely vital that all landowners take a global view and consider things in the round. There is no room for selfishness. Having said that, landowners can of course access the guidance that is published in Ross Finnie's name; Ross Finnie's statement today should also have assured a number of those landowners.
As for getting expert help in determining the risk posed by visitors or by movement across land, the person best placed to determine that is not a desk-bound official here in Edinburgh, or anywhere else, but the local expert—the divisional veterinary manager, who can ably assist and can determine whether any risk is posed.
David Davidson's point about access to land is very important. We know the importance of informal access to landowners, and the message to them is quite straightforward: please conduct risk assessments and use the expertise on your doorstep.
I thank the minister for his statement and also welcome Peter Lederer to his new post. I had the opportunity to meet him yesterday at the travel fair in the SECC in Glasgow—indeed, at the Shetland stand.
On the point that Mr Davidson raised about access, I would ask the minister for clarification on whether the actions of the rural affairs department and the enterprise and lifelong learning department will be completely joined up, to ensure that land managers have consistent advice across all activities that the Executive is carrying out at this difficult time.
I welcome the subscription and quality assurance relief for area tourist board members and the particular assistance for Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders.
On the £2.3 million of marketing spend, will the minister encourage visitscotland—and will he offer encouragement through his own offices—to use some of that money towards encouraging Scots to holiday in Scotland? Surely that is an opportunity that we should not miss at this time. Does he accept that, as constructive and practical proposals for assisting the tourism industry in Scotland come forward, the Executive should consider those as quickly as it can?
On Tavish Scott's point about a co-ordinated approach across the Executive, a joint ministerial group has been in place for some weeks now, and has been chaired, quite logically and sensibly, by Ross Finnie. It is joined by ministers across the relevant portfolios. Tavish Scott's point about the Executive working in a joined-up, focused way is very relevant—I am happy to inform him that that is indeed the case.
Mr Scott's point about giving direct help to area tourist boards is eminently sensible. I think that giving help to ATBs to do their own marketing will reap benefits. With regard to Scots holidaying in Scotland, I informed my friends in Dumfries and Galloway some two weeks ago—I was able to repeat this when I met them at their stall at the SECC yesterday—that I will be dividing my time this summer between the Isle of Skye, which I fully understand and know is definitely an island, at least from where I sit, and some exquisite corner of Dumfries and Galloway.
I will offer Alasdair Morrison a drink if he comes to the Dumfries constituency for his holidays.
I am pleased to hear about the minister's action to encourage residents of the UK to holiday in Scotland. I was going to ask him how we are to promote Dumfries and Galloway and get over the idea that it is closed. There is still plenty that can be done there. I hope that the minister will take all possible action to encourage people to go there.
What action is the Scottish Executive taking to encourage public bodies to hold events there? That suggestion was made by the interim chief executive of visitscotland. Is the Scottish Executive acting on that advice?
We cannot underestimate the damage done to the tourism industry in Dumfries and Galloway. I take on board what Elaine Murray says about the area. It is not closed; many parts of it should be and are open for business. I know that visitscotland will do everything in its power to work with the powers that be in Dumfries and Galloway to get that message across.
Visitscotland has taken direct action to break down people's perceptions, and its members are themselves to convene board meetings and other meetings in Dumfries and Galloway over the next few weeks. The Executive has made a plea to public bodies to consider having their conferences, seminars, awaydays and so on in rural Scotland, and in Dumfries and Galloway in particular.
Is the minister aware of the importance to the economy not only of Lochaber in particular but of the Highlands generally of the west highland way? A value of £10 million has been mentioned. I have met a number of people whose livelihood came to a halt five weeks ago and who have had no income since then because of the closure of the west highland way. Is the minister aware that there is no immediate prospect of its being reopened? If the last word, the responsibility and decision-making power rest with landowners, what happens if landowners refuse to carry out a risk assessment? If they do carry out a risk assessment, what happens if they refuse to act on a risk assessment that indicates that there is no risk? In short, what will the Executive do, given that it has passed all power to landowners, if a small minority of irresponsible landowners shows no enthusiasm to decipher "The Comeback Code"?
I am at a loss to recall the day on which the Executive handed over powers to private landowners, but I may have missed something in the past two years.
I agree with Fergus Ewing on the importance of the west highland way. Scottish Natural Heritage and local authorities are aware of the importance of reopening that very important part of Scotland. The key role of the shadow national park authority for Loch Lomond and the Trossachs demonstrates how right we were to pass the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2000. The authority has been able to co-ordinate work on the matter as a key priority.
As I have said in response to several members, I make a plea to private landowners to carry out a risk assessment. There is no reason in the world why, if a risk assessment determines that there is no risk, they would want to keep the keep-out signs up and the gates closed. I reaffirm what I have said in the chamber, in other forums and in the letter that I sent today to the SLF.
Mr Ewing said that there was no prospect of the west highland way reopening immediately. For obvious reasons, I cannot and will not give guarantees, but I sincerely hope that the west highland way will be open in time for the Easter holiday.
I welcome the minister's statement, particularly his commitment to effective marketing. I also welcome Peter Lederer's appointment as chairman of visitscotland. I met Mr Lederer recently in Inverness, where we addressed a fringe meeting on tourism at the Labour party conference. Is the minister aware that tourism operators in the Highlands and Islands are anxious to ensure that the Highlands and Islands tourist brochure is efficiently distributed to potential visitors throughout the UK, where our main market lies? Before the foot-and-mouth outbreak, Wendy Alexander initiated special plans to market that brochure. Will the minister assure me that it will be sent out to all those who respond to the visitscotland advertising campaign that the minister has just announced?
I think that members of all parties recognise Peter Lederer's international standing and I welcome the cross-party support for his appointment. He runs a little bed-and-breakfast up the road and has done very well over the past 18 years.
Maureen Macmillan asked about a brochure that has been produced. As I am not au fait with its contents, I can say only that I would guess that it would make eminent sense to use it as part of any initiative to attract visitors from within the United Kingdom. I am happy to discuss the matter further with Maureen Macmillan and those who are involved in tourism in the Highlands. The brochure is one of the many tools that we should use to promote the Highlands and Islands as a tourism destination.
I am a little concerned that some of the measures that are proposed may simply increase the number of consultants who are telling businesses what they already know.
Could some of the money not be targeted at interest rate reductions? The minister will know that the small firms loan guarantee scheme, which is run by the Department of Trade and Industry, charges a premium of interest on bank loans on which banks already tend to charge higher than normal interest rates. It would be of great assistance to firms if higher interest rates could be reduced or waived.
At least one firm in my constituency, which has employees whom it may be forced to pay off, wanted to retain those employees and put them on the skillseekers modern apprenticeship scheme but was told that they are not eligible because they are over 25. I understand that the minister's department was already thinking about changing that age limit. Could not that change be brought forward and made effective now?
Both Ross Finnie and I met the banks on separate occasions. They sensibly and responsibly intimated that they will treat tourism businesses sympathetically and that they are well aware of the difficulties and challenges that many people are facing.
I know that the companies that are worst affected by the disease and that have small business loans will be treated sympathetically. For example, recipients of the Scottish Enterprise network's rural business loan programme will be offered flexible terms, including a six-month repayment holiday.
I genuinely cannot give a detailed response to Mr Morgan's specific question about skillseekers and modern apprenticeships, but I am more than happy to obtain more details from him immediately after this item of business and to follow the matter up with officials.
We all want to support responsible measures to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of the Highlands and Islands and understand the difficulties of and want to provide support for tourism. I want to outline some of my concerns.
There is still no access to the Black and Red Cuillins on Skye. There are keep-out notices on every gate. I also understand that Forest Enterprise has a stricter code of access than other landlords. I was told today that the Scottish Crofters Union has still not signed up to "The Comeback Code" because of open grazing in the Highlands and other concerns. As Fergus Ewing said, the flagship walk in Scotland—the west highland way—is mainly open, apart from the Tyndrum to Kinlochleven section.
I ask the minister to do all in his power to ensure that the Scottish Executive rural affairs department guidelines are consistently interpreted and applied in order to send out clear signals to tourists.
The Minister for Environment and Rural Development announced this morning the convening of local access forums by local authorities. Will the same principle of consistency in the interpretation of the guidelines apply to those forums?
Mary Scanlon has raised several important points. I cannot for the life of me understand why the Black and Red Cuillins are closed and why people cannot readily gain access to them. That question comes back to—I use inverted commas—the private landowner.
I must declare an interest: I am a member of the SCU. It would be appropriate for me to speak to my colleagues and fellow SCU members about the matter Mary Scanlon has raised.
Mary Scanlon asked about the consistency of the message. The message is quite straightforward and clear. It was redefined today in Ross Finnie's announcement this morning and I know that all islands, including the wonderful island of Skye, will welcome Mr Finnie's announcement on animal movements. It will allow many crofters and people who are involved in agriculture to say, quite rightly, to people who are considering not implementing their holiday plans that they can come to the islands and to the Highlands.
Mary Scanlon's point about access to the Red Cuillins genuinely and deeply concerns me. It comes back to the private landowner, who must take a wider view. There is no room for selfishness in relation to this crisis. We are all aware of the importance of the tourism industry to the economy of the Isle of Skye.
Does the minister agree that there have been some positive factors in this crisis? The recognition of the importance of tourism to Scotland's economy has been underlined, despite the fact that many of the jobs associated with that industry are dismissed as not being real jobs. The success of tartan day—despite the crisis—and the historical and economic importance of links with America have all been highlighted.
Does the minister agree that we must look beyond the crisis and that we must build on those links with America? Is not it time that Scotland had its own immigration centre? Given that Greenock was the departure point for thousands of Scots, Germans, Poles and Russians, the town would be the ideal location for such a centre. Will the minister visit my constituency to discuss that idea and to view the site that has been earmarked for an immigration centre?
Duncan McNeil is absolutely right to say that the awful crisis that is facing tourism has reinforced the importance of the tourism industry. Over the past two years, the Executive has demonstrated its commitment to that industry by taking tourism from the fringes and putting it centre stage in its economic thinking. The Executive views tourism as an important component of the Scottish economy.
Tartan day and the events leading up to it have come at an ideal time. Through the American media, we were able constantly to make the point that foot-and-mouth disease is not a public health issue and that Scotland and the UK are open for business. I wholeheartedly agree with Duncan McNeil's assertion that we should build links with the United States. During my visit, I was impressed by the warmth with which many Americans meet us. Given that there are some 14 million Scots-Americans in the United States, it makes eminent sense to look at ways of developing genealogical tourism. The Executive is committed to so doing. We are sitting on arguably the best genealogical records in the world. They go back to the 1530s and are now in digital format. There is no reason for us not to build further links with our colleagues in the United States.
Greenock is important to the history of the clearances. During awful periods in our history, many tens of thousands of people left our shores from Greenock. That link with the past should be reinstated. I would be happy to visit Mr McNeil's constituency to examine what role Greenock could play as a centrepiece of genealogical tourism.
There are still several members who would like to be called. I remind members that decision time will take place at about 5.13 pm. The additional time that has been given to the debate allows for the disruption that occurred earlier this afternoon.
I welcome the minister's statement that the Executive sees the tranche of measures that he has announced as a first step. I also welcome the implicit, underlying theme of a concentrated strategy: the survival of small and medium tourism businesses. We may have to look beyond the current tourism season to regain markets.
We must also ensure that the people who we have trained do not depart the industry, taking with them their tourism skills. With that in mind, I draw the minister's attention to a survey that is currently being undertaken by Edinburgh and Lothians Tourist Board. The survey shows that 90 per cent of its members questioned so far say that their business has suffered as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, although only 30 per cent of its members so far questioned have laid off staff. We can see where that equation will lead us. Bearing that in mind, I will return to the point made by my colleague Kenny MacAskill. He asked whether many of the measures that have been directed towards very badly hit rural areas should be directed towards Edinburgh and Glasgow, for example. More than 50 per cent of people who visit rural areas in Scotland and tourist areas, if you like, start from Edinburgh. If we lose the key to Scotland, I am not sure how we can keep the door open.
I am happy to repeat the Executive's commitment to tourism in cities. Margo MacDonald is absolutely right when she says that Glasgow and Edinburgh are keys to our country. Many thousands of visitors come through those hubs.
Edinburgh and Glasgow will feature prominently in marketing within the UK and abroad. Both cities have done exceptionally well and have been a great tourism success story. They have done exceptionally well in attracting conventions and conferences. That is the result of the excellent facilities that have been built up over the years in both cities. It is important to ensure that conventions continue to be attracted. People have long lead-in times for conventions and conferences. Every step will be taken to reassure people who come to conventions and conferences in Glasgow and Edinburgh that they will not be affected by foot-and-mouth disease and that for the cities, the disease is not an issue in that sense.
The minister comes from a small rural community and will be aware of the concerns in such communities. Recently, I have made visits to Islay and last week I had discussions with the Dunoon and Cowal Marketing Group. There is real concern and fear about visitors coming into areas from infected foot-and-mouth areas. Much of that is based on complete misconceptions of the risk.
Will the Scottish Executive issue guidance to tourism businesses on how to deal with this extremely sensitive issue? The issue is sensitive because tourism businesses and farming exist side by side in much of my constituency and throughout the Highlands and Islands. Guidance needs to be issued on what the risk is. It is clear to me that there is no risk at all.
The minister has recently returned from America. He has painted a fairly black picture. Does he think that the American market will recover, or does he think that it is written off for this year and that we should concentrate on the home market—to ensure that we persuade Scots to holiday in Scotland and that we market heavily in England—to fill the gap?
The simple advice is that everyone should observe the guidance in "The Comeback Code". Mr Lyon appreciates that there is no risk. Every elected representative has a duty to transmit that message. If I recall correctly, arrangements are still in place in places such as Islay—Caledonian MacBrayne and Highlands and Islands Enterprise are disinfecting people and there are disinfectant mats on the way into the islands.
I sincerely hope that the American market is not written off, but we have to be realistic and appreciate that colossal damage has been visited on tourism businesses in the United Kingdom. The level of misconception that can be seen in some of the statements that have been attributed to Americans, and to the American media in particular, is quite breathtaking. They genuinely still believe that this is a public health issue and not just an issue that affects some animals.
I welcome the minister's statement and his comments this afternoon. A range of measures are being taken to address the problem in Scotland. However, foot and mouth does not recognise the border with England. Will the minister talk about what is being done to co-ordinate action with the UK Government to promote tourism at UK level?
Ken Macintosh is absolutely right to say that the virus does not recognise borders. As I said at the outset, this is a UK problem that requires UK solutions. At the Scotland level, a ministerial group is co-ordinated under Ross Finnie's chairmanship. There is a UK task group, chaired by Michael Meacher, on which Ross Finnie and I represent the Scottish Executive. We are working closely and sensibly with our colleagues at Whitehall. I believe I have a date for a conference at which I will meet Jenny Randerson and Michael German from the Welsh Assembly. If I recall correctly, we are due to convene on 25 April to take forward a number of the issues that Ken Macintosh and other colleagues have raised.
Does the minister recognise that Ayrshire—South Ayrshire in particular—is still classified as an at-risk area and still suffers a huge drop-off in bookings? Will he make available to Ayrshire funds similar to those that are being made available to the Borders, which is a similarly affected adjoining area? Would the minister care to visit South Ayrshire for himself to see the problems that we, as an adjoining area, face?
I am happy to accept invitations whenever possible. In the past few weeks I have, rightly, been engaging directly with the industry the length and breadth of Scotland. I will give due consideration to the invitation, time permitting.
We have announced additional support for visitscotland, which has outlined that places such as South Ayrshire will be given their own budgets to market their areas. It is important that visitscotland does that and markets large swathes of the south of Scotland that are not affected but, as Mr Scott says, are, by association, implicated.
I welcome the minister's letter to the Scottish Landowners Federation about the west highland way. I want to go further than Fergus Ewing did earlier and ask the minister to give an assurance that if we do not get quick progress on opening up the west highland way, he will intervene further. I gather that one of the issues is the three landowners north of Tyndrum.
There are other important walkways, particularly those around Callander and on east Loch Lomondside. I hope that the minister will consider them as well.
Many members have raised the importance of the west highland way. I have taken direct action today—as direct as it can be—by sending a letter exhorting the Scottish Landowners Federation to use its good offices to encourage its members to open the relevant tracks. I again refer landowners to the guidance that has been issued—and repeated time after time—by Ross Finnie and his department.
There are other walks of similar significance. Sylvia Jackson mentioned Callander and east Loch Lomondside. If the private landowners there have not conducted a risk assessment, I urge them to do so immediately. If there is no discernible risk, they should, of course, open their gates.
I want to ask about the minister's statement that certain businesses in certain areas will get £2,000 of consultancy support, that workshops will be run by business advisers, and all the rest of it. Does he recognise that organisations such as the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Federation of Small Businesses have made it absolutely clear that what businesses need is not consultants but cash? They need an injection of cash help; they do not need people coming in to tell them that they have no business, because they already know that. Will he review spend? Will he consider interest-free loan capital with flexible repayment terms for businesses? It is cash that they need, not consultants.
Alex Neil is absolutely right: it is cash that the businesses need. They need it in the form of tourists coming through their doors, booking into their establishments, eating in their restaurants, visiting their attractions and, of course, taking up residence in their bed-and-breakfasts and hotels. I agree with Alex Neil whole-heartedly that it is cash that businesses need. Everyone I have spoken to in the tourism industry says the same thing. We have to tackle the misconceptions that exist abroad and, in some instances, at home about the safety of travelling the length and breadth of the United Kingdom. That is why, last week, we announced a package of £13.5 million, a lot of which will be spent on marketing Scotland to get tourists back and on reassuring people that this is a safe country to visit.
There is a basic fact that the minister has to get hold of. His response to Alex Neil showed that he has not yet grasped it.
A question, please, Mr Russell.
Everybody believes in promotion, everybody believes in marketing, and everybody believes in overcoming the misconceptions, but that will take time. In the short term, people require help to get them through.
This afternoon, I asked about the cultural sector. Many of us are worried about that sector—the heritage and museums sector—because it is very fragile. Wanlockhead museum almost went bust last year. It was saved—not by the Executive but by a donation. That museum cannot open at the moment. It will have no visitors. The culture sector and every other sector need money to get them through. I am putting this as simply as I can. Will the minister understand and respond?
Michael Russell is right when he says that we have to tackle misconceptions. That is exactly what we are doing and we have allocated significant sums of money to visitscotland and the British Tourist Authority for that purpose.
The industry has been telling us to reduce its liabilities. That is exactly what we are doing at both a UK level and at a Scottish Executive level in the shape of the rates relief package that was announced by Angus MacKay only six days ago.
I know that is difficult for many of the nationalists to inhabit the real world. The Executive does inhabit the real world. Our solutions are co-ordinated, crystal clear and straightforward. We do not live in the world of thinking of a figure, adding £100 million, multiplying by two and magicking money out of the air. Mr Russell should appreciate that the Executive is doing what it can to help the tourism industry. That is recognised across the country.
That concludes the statement and questions this afternoon. There are no Parliamentary Bureau motions.
We begin the Easter recess tomorrow. I will be making full inquiries into what happened earlier this afternoon. I do not want to provoke any discussion just now, but one aspect that I shall consider is the behaviour of some members in the chamber who encouraged what was happening. We meet in this chamber to discuss our differences and resolve them. What members do outside by way of direct action is entirely up to them; but in this chamber we listen to debate. Encouraging disruption of the elected Parliament is a serious matter. I take what happened seriously and during the recess I will consider what to do.