The SNP-Green government will be forced to explain why they are failing to support Scotland’s tourism sector in a Scottish Conservative led debate in Holyrood tomorrow.
Shadow finance and economy secretary Liz Smith will use her party’s parliamentary time to slam SNP-Green ministers for bringing forward a “slew” of measures that have discouraged a “vital” sector of Scotland’s economy.
Liz Smith is set to criticise policies such as the “flawed” short-term lets licensing scheme, as well as a general “anti-business agenda” from the nationalist coalition that has led to additional costs and red tape for the tourism industry.
The party will also slam the SNP-Green government for failing to address infrastructure weaknesses in Scotland’s rural and island areas, such as the ferry scandal and the lack of dualling on the A9, which has a knock-on effect for tourism in key hotspots across the country.
Liz Smith – who will also highlight that Humza Yousaf dropped a dedicated tourism minister from his team, yet added an independence minister, upon becoming First Minister in March – is urging his government to bring forward an urgent plan to address the concerns of the industry.
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for finance and economy Liz Smith MSP, said: “The tourism sector is absolutely vital to the future growth and success of Scotland’s economy.
“However, the industry is being failed at every turn right now by a SNP-Green government, who do not even have a dedicated tourism minister in place any more, but find room for a minister for independence.
“Those ministers picking up the burden continue to bring forward a slew of regulations that undermine tourism businesses and saddle them with additional costs and red tape.
“There is an anti-business agenda running through the heart of the SNP-Green coalition. They have failed to pass on 75 per cent rates relief to our leisure, hospitality and retail businesses which has left them at a disadvantage compared with their UK counterparts, and that impacts negatively on our tourism sector.
“Our rural and island communities in particular have been deeply damaged by their failures.
“From the ferry scandal, which has left islands without lifeline services, rowing back on promises to dual key routes, and failing to deliver on their superfast broadband programme, this is a government which is not on the side of our rural areas where many of tourism hotspots are.
“The SNP-Green government has been short-changing the tourist industry for years.
“They must now urgently provide a blueprint for how they intend to repair that damage, and begin by listening to the concerns of the local residents and tourism businesses that they have let down so badly.”