Inverclyde, Marine Tourism Capital of Scotland

The motion

That the Parliament recognises the importance of marine tourism to the Scottish economy; believes that this has been helped by the publication of the first Marine Tourism Strategy in 2015, which will provide an important blueprint for market growth and economic development; highlights the recent report from the Scottish Marine Recreation and Tourism Survey, which found that marine tourism is currently worth nearly £4 billion to the Scottish economy; understands that 23 activities undertaken at sea or around the Scottish coastline could generate significant income for local economies; recognises the potential for Inverclyde, as a coastal community, to develop a marine tourism business improvement district (BID) in order to stimulate economic growth; understands that a BID brings together groups of businesses to work collectively to invest in improving their business environment, to grow their market sector and assist local sustainable economic growth; considers that local businesses working together could significantly boost the marine tourism sector in Inverclyde and the Greater Clyde Region and help establish Inverclyde as a world-class marine tourism destination; further notes that there have are several examples of successful BIDs elsewhere in Scotland; considers that Inverclyde already has two top quality marinas, the headquarters of CalMac, numerous sailing clubs and over 100,000 visitors coming into the Greenock Ocean Terminal annually via cruise liners, which provide Inverclyde with the potential to be the marine tourism capital of Scotland, and further believes that the flexibility of the BIDs model allows businesses to develop partnerships and deliver local ambitions in a coordinated approach to make the most of the incredible marine sector and create lasting positive change and benefit Inverclyde.

No recorded vote on this motion. Most motions are never debated, and many that are debated are agreed without a division. Vote records are published from 2011.

SNP 11

Party shown is each supporter’s party when the motion was published.

No contribution in the Official Report cites S5M-00432 by reference.