SCOTLAND'S tourism boss says the industry is being held back by high taxes and tough visa restrictions which stop people holidaying in the UK.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland, said cuts are needed to VAT and air passenger duty to allow the Scottish tourist industry to compete on a level playing field with the rest of Europe.
The tourism chief added the UK is in danger of being overtaken by other countries unless politicians make visitor visas easier to obtain.
He said: "There's no room for complacency. Tourism is the most competitive industry in the world. Scotland is trying to shout above the noise from more than 200 countries, all hoping to woo the next visitor.
"This is an industry which touches every part of Scotland, every business and every person living here. To meet our ambition we need to address the barriers in our way – and to grow tourism we need to act quickly."
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