EDINBURGH and Glasgow's business leaders are at loggerheads over whether the Scottish government's ambitious target of increasing tourism revenue by 50% by 2015 is achievable.

Edinburgh's Chamber of Commerce claims the objective is unrealistic in the current unstable financial climate, while its Glasgow equivalent thinks the city and country are on track, especially with major events, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup being staged in Scotland.

And in an apparent turnaround, VisitScotland has swung behind the Glasgow viewpoint after reviewing scenario planning work it had undertaken. It comes only three months after chief executive Philip Riddell told a tourism conference in Dundee that Scotland was not yet in a position to deliver.

In a written response to the Scottish parliament's economy, energy and tourism committee, Graham Birse, deputy chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "The high-level growth ambition is looking increasingly difficult to achieve Macro economic factors, specifically the strength of the pound versus the dollar, the rising cost of oil and the slowdown in the world economy is placing pressure on consumers' discretionary spending.

"Clearly, tourism expenditure will slow as these trends impact in global and regional economies; thus Scotland's tourism sector can expect a slowdown, particularly from overseas."

Speaking to the Sunday Herald, Birse added that the 50% growth target, which followed a 2006 report into the Scottish tourism industry by the then Scottish Executive, was driven by political ambition with insufficient analysis.

"Politicians like to make ambitious declarations but it needs to be connected with delivery. Jim Mather minister for enterprise, energy and tourism needs to understand how stretching the target will be for many small businesses. He also needs to know how the industry itself will step up to the plate."

He stressed that while the target was not necessarily impossible, it would not require the support of the whole of the industry if it was to be achieved.

However across the country, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dr Lesley Sawers is happy with the level of analysis. She said: "We believe the Scottish revenue growth target of 50% is highly achievable. The Scottish figure was set by VisitScotland and the Scottish government following detailed analysis, consultation and thorough comparisons.

"Tourism is a highly competitive market, but we need to set ambitious goals as an industry and at a national and city level."

VisitScotland shares Glasgow's optimistic outlook. A spokesman said: "The ambition is achievable, but we recognise that some areas might struggle to achieve the 50% growth ambition for a number of reasons.

"VisitScotland believes that although tourism is thriving, the industry holds a lot more potential than is currently being realised."