Tourism operator calls Scotland a third world destination

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An award-winning Scottish eco-tourism operator has called Scotland a “third world” destination for tourists, asserting that there are small business owners in the country that “wince at the thought” of serving “certain nationalities”.

David Woodhouse, who runs Isle of Mull Wildlife Expeditions and has appeared on television programmes with Bill Oddie and Monty Hall, has been extremely critical of Scotland’s “1970s Butlins” approach to tourism.

He suggested that incomers were not keen on getting involved in the tourism sector because they were often told to “keep their heads down”.

His outspoken comments, coming during Scotland’ Homecoming Year, were made in a submission to a Scottish Parliament inquiry that is looking into the possibility of a 50 per cent increase in tourism revenues by 2015.

The tourism operator claims that the country’s “social ambience” has created the image of a destination that is incredibly beautiful but definitely “downmarket”.

Woodhouse said: “We are our own worst enemies and seem intent on fuelling this perception with a 1970s Butlins-type approach to the product.”

He added that rural housing can be quite shocking and an “insult” to the natural beauty of the countryside. “This presents a rather downmarket attitude to the natural wonders here when new-build in places like Mull should surely blend beautifully.”

Thanks to news.scotsman.com for the above quotes, for more information on this article please visit their website.

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