VisitScotland, that bastion of all things Scottish, the main promoters to the tourist world of our hills, glens, shortbread, whisky and bonnie lassies dancing the Highland fling, are all set to spend yet more taxpayers' money.
Somewhere within its corridors of power, someone has decided they didn't like the word 'tourist' in the title of information centres. It's not really appropriate to call these places Tourist Information Centres is it when it sounds so much better to call them VisitScotland Information Centres - VICs for the likes of you and me. Tourists will fully approve I'm sure. VICs, TICs, it doesn't really matter much but what does matter is that the change is going to cost £500,000.
This is an organisation funded from the taxpayer and their client group the tourist industry. Their client income has been reduced this year and in 2008 they received £48,351,000 from the Scottish government.
At a time when businesses are being careful with their finances there are no such attempts from the promoters of our culture. VisitScotland states, "Buildings (internally and externally) are in the main tired and there is no synergy in terms of signage, branding and themes." The centrepiece of the changes is a logo designed by the Glasgow-based Curious Group - a stick with a round end. It is described as: 'This mixture of form and the chosen purple gives the logo a personality that is both masculine and feminine and a mark that is distinctive and approachable.'
Have you ever heard such nonsense? So there we have it, Scotland's promoter of tourism has a new logo of a stick with a round end. Just what everyone wants and many would like to beat them with.
Until a few years ago the Perth office was in the High Street, right in the heart of the town. It always seemed to be a busy place. Suddenly and without explanation, it was moved to the perimeter of the main shopping area, into an old mill which cost an arm and a leg to renovate. This present office is tucked away off the main road down a cul de sac and sandwiched between a hotel and large car parks. No wonder their footfall numbers have dropped radically, it's nearly impossible to give directions to it even if you know the town well.
It's time the Scottish government looked carefully at the funding for this quango. Their decision makers leave a lot to be desired.
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12 comments:
SR,
I had to laugh at this reason being and I will inform you by email but it is one hell of a story.
Try the following 2 links and you can maybe work out the story yourself.
http://www.visitnormalscotland.com/
and http://www.cromasaig.com/
Thanks for the links LotF. Innovative indeed. :)
What an interesting new logo - it sounds a bit phallic to me - in fact due to the nature of the way this outfit, VisitScotland, has been sabotaged by outside influences and is suckering those who join up - would two balls on the end of a stick not have been even more appropriate? Just asking.
oh dear! What a shame!
I was just trying to be nice about them too... but I have serious concerns over there leadership and I have enough experience of the world to know how little effect this 'rebranding' exercise will actually have.
Hmm - a big purple rod.. sorry, stick.
From your directions SR, I would surmise that the Tourist office is right by the car park I used to park in when I worked at the Rep.
Two balls on a stick Clarinda? I never thought of that. Problem is there are so many who would wish so many balls on the one stick if you get my meaning.
I wonder if they'll use it as a logo on their website. Must keep an eye on it.
Jim, I doubt if it even one tourist will spend £1 more just because of the new logo etc.
In fact I can see problems. There are tourist books printed every year in many languages. People aren't going to buy new books every time they visit Scotland and therefore they will be looking for the old logo. It could take a few years for the new one to drift into print and of course, by then, someone will have decided removing the word tourist was a mistake.
Alan, you're a wee bit from the Rep (if you mean Perth theatre). The tourist office is the building opposite the car park of what used to be the Stakis Hotel. Know where I am? Along that narrow one way street N Mill Street, off N Methven Street. I think the address is Mill Wynd.
Aye, that's the one. It's the closest parking to the theatre where you can leave your car at 9am and pick it up again at midnight.
Ah right Alan. I would have thought the multi-storey was nearer as it stays open until the theatre and concert hall close.
Of course there are a few car parks right by the theatre but few spaces right enough.
Strangely enough they moved our Tourist Information Office from the heart of the shopping area to round the back of a new car park.
A year or so ago I was in conversation with a senior bod from VisitMyRegion and we turned to what was happening. He started to explain how they were shifting emphasis from offices in one city to another before I stopped him.
No, not your administration, what are you doing to promote Tourism in the region itself ? All he could think of was a tie in with Red Nose Day to promote the idea of visiting as a "fun thing to do ". That was it.
It's quite a few years ago they did it in Perth banned. I think the reason given was the rent was too high in the town. That didn't make the slightest sense as they're funded by government and the council were the landlords so it was money all swirling round in the one pot.
Then then spent a fortune doing up the old mill to make it suitable for their needs. Naw, someone was playing silly games, still are by the sound of it.
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