HOMECOMING EVENTS HAVE BEEN POORLY HANDLED BY SNP - SMITH

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Nov 2009

Commenting as organisers from the Homecoming Scotland celebrations have admitted that visitor numbers from the US have dropped by 20% in the homecoming year, Liberal Democrat Culture spokesperson Iain Smith MSP said:

"The Homecoming celebrations were a good idea that has been badly handled by the SNP.

"As Convener of the Tourism Committee I have written to the First Minister looking for an explanation over the handling of the recent Clan Gathering event.

"It is premature to call Homecoming a success, particularly as we have seen such a large drop in tourism from the US and Canada which were key targets for Homecoming Scotland.

"Attempts by the SNP Government to turn Homecoming into a rallying call for Independence have clearly backfired.

"Globe trotting SNP Ministers should focus more on promoting Scottish tourism and less on independence and nationalism if they want to reverse this trend in this vital market."