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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