CBI SCOTLAND wants to see migrant workers become ambassadors for Scotland and the Government to speed up planning reforms to avoid the damage the Trump golf course fiasco has inflicted on the country.
The business lobby group says foreigners now working in Scotland offer an opportunity to spread the word and encourage more visitors.
In a submission to a Holyrood inquiry, the CBI says: "Scotland needs to recognise that migrant workers do not jus
t undertake 'difficult-to-fill' positions in industry, but that they offer other economic potential too.
"Under the GlobalScots initiative, welcome efforts have been made to establish international networks of Scots to act as informal ambassadors. But surely the migrant workers who come to Scotland are potential ambassadors too, and a potential conduit for future tourism links. What similar plans are there to harness their potential and to encourage them to recommend Scotland to family and friends back in their home country?"
But the CBI, in its call for greater overall support for tourism, says the country faces increasing international competition and the discouraging impact of a strong pound and wants the Government to raise its game. It can play a key role, it says, by improving the transport network, removing red tape and over-regulation, and ensuring there is proper "joined up" government in such areas as marketing.
In an attack on the country's "sclerotic" planning system, it warns the economy, energy and tourism committee that the recent 'furore' over the proposed Trump golf resort is evidence of the need for politicians to support a more conducive planning environment for investment.
"CBI Scotland has consistently argued for reforms to the planning system which would make it encourage and facilitate, rather than discourage, economic growth," it says. "The necessary changes have yet to take effect, as the furore over the Trump International Golf Links resort proposal amply demonstrates. This is an important project, and it is right that it along with any other significant planning applications should undergo rigorous scrutiny."
A further risk, says the CBI, is that the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014 may provide only a temporary uplift in visitors and income.
Scotland could also suffer adversely from Europe's abolition of the air route development fund which has helped bring 52 direct air links to Scotland.
"We believe the Scottish Tourism Forum's proposal for the ARDF to be replaced with a wider access development fund has merit, and is a creative solution to the new EU rules which allegedly make it hard to provide cash support to airlines."
It regards the Government's forthcoming Strategic Transport Projects Review as an opportunity to provide the next tranche of road and rail investment.
The full article contains 458 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
