Sustainable Tourism Strategy

Cllr Martha Wardrop (Hillhead)

Glasgow's Green Councillors today questioned the lack of sustainable vision within the City Council's Tourism Strategy (1) which fails to prioritise public transport, walking and cycling as the best way for tourists to explore Glasgow and surrounding attractions.

Councillor Martha Wardrop said

We cannot afford to ignore the environmental impact of any important sector of Glasgow's economy, if we want it to be sustainable in the long-term.  We must make serious efforts to reduce the significant carbon emissions generated by visiting tourists and we could do this in a way that makes life betterfor the majority of Glaswegians who rely on public transport, walkingand cycling.

Visit Scotland's 'European Touring Campaign' (2) targets visitors from Germany, France and other European countries but is focused on visitors touring by car.  The £900,000 they plan to target in this waymust be shifted to promoting touring by cycling, bus and train and improving facilities.

Glasgow City Council must not miss this excellent opportunity to market the city's attractions for cycling and rail enthusiasts.  Both the Canal and the Kelvin Cycle Way are excellent off-road cycle paths and allow flexibility for cyclists travelling between Glasgow s west end, the city centre and the south side. (3)  Glasgow also has the most extensive urban rail network in the UK outside of London and is the perfect way for visitors to get around all the fantasticattractions the city has to offer. (4)

ENDS

Notes

1. Funding for tourism 2009/10: Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and VisitScotland
2. Pan European Touring Campaign 2009
3. Cycling Routes
4. Rail Maps