WE must see funding of tourism as a pan-Scotland issue (“Skye’s the limit if I am to be far from the madding crowd”, The Herald, August 11). In the last month I've had five groups of foreign tourists on multi-day trips from Edinburgh to Skye. In all cases, they flew from North America to Edinburgh in order to see Edinburgh and Skye. To be clear, Skye was part of their reason for coming to Edinburgh. They may not input as much to the local Skye economy as they do in Edinburgh where, for example, they may stay in more expensive accommodation, buy all their souvenirs and visit "big ticket" attractions, so we have to find a way of re-distributing taxes raised. Skye and the Highlands can't be left to shoulder the burden entirely.
As for toilets – this surely is a national disgrace? I am so embarrassed when I tell tourists who have spent tens or hundreds of pounds on souvenirs and meals in places such as Luss, Pitlochry and so on that they have to find 30p in coins to use the toilet, if they are lucky enough to find them open. It makes Scotland look so cheapskate.
Scott Macintosh,
4 Alder Crescent, Killearn, Stirlingshire.
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