Draft National Tourism Development Plan Public Consultation 2013 Tourism Development Plan for Scotland Questionnaire We would like your views on this Plan and, in particular, your comments on opportunities which you are aware of to help stimulate growth in the visitor economy. Please review the following questions. 1. Comments on the Plan: Please briefly raise any issue(s) you may have regarding the Plan and, if relevant, propose solution(s) which you consider would remedy the issue(s). It would be helpful if you provide any text changes you would like to see in the Plan, making reference to the relevant paragraph number. You can provide your comments in a separate statement and attach it to this form if you wish. A National Development plan for Scotland is a welcome support mechanism to the Fife wide Local Development Plans. However it is not clear within the document how the Tourism Development Plan for Scotland fits with Local area Development Plans. It should be made explicit that Local Planning Authority processes must be used and that the National Development Plan is in no way providing permissions for development to take place. It is also of concern given Fife s relationship with VisitScotland that it does not mention Fife Tourism Partnership. The Plan refers to a previous Fife Tourism Strategy and therefore has not captured some of the relevant context for Fife. This is a major issue as the draft plan focuses on St Andrews as its core tourism destination, while the Fife Tourism Strategy recognises Dunfermline as Scotland s Ancient Capital and other areas for their food and drink etc. The Plan also states that Further research on the value of the visitor economy for each council is needed. Fife Council, in partnership with VisitScotland and other Scottish Local Authorities is in the process of tendering for the volume and value research, this research will provide economic return for the Scotland level and at the local level. The National Development Plan needs to refer to this work. Transport partners such as Sestran, who represent a huge proportion of the East of Scotland local authority partners should also be consulted on this document. The document recognises the importance of private sector investment to drive future tourism development, however it does not comment on how the Scottish Government will stimulate the private sector to kick start this. The Fife Tourism Partnership and the Fife Golf Partnership feel that this is a fundamental flaw to the document and it should be addressed as a matter of urgency or the point of the document may be lost. 2. Comments on the Spatial Framework: Do you have additional actions which will impact on growth in the visitor economy at a strategic (area wide) level, and should therefore be included in the Spatial Framework to 2020 (Table 1)? You can provide your comments in a separate RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM 1
statement and attach it to this form if you wish. In doing so, please make reference to the relevant part of the Customer Journey, set out in Chapter 2 of the Plan, that you are commenting on. It would be useful if you can provide this commentary in the following format topic; description of the action required; reference to the overall area within which the proposal would apply (if you can attach a plan this would be helpful), as well as an outline of the benefits arising if this action is acted on (e.g. the expected increase in jobs). There are a number of high profile/national context elements that need to be included for Fife: Travelling to and within Scotland 1. Upgrade to the A90 is important to the East of Scotland for ease of travel to and through the area. If the East of Scotland is to make a step change then transportation routes through and around the area are of utmost importance. The National Development Plan outlines plans for the west of Scotland with very little impact for the East of Scotland. 2. The A92 should also be included in plans as the development of the Dundee Waterfront and in particular the opening of the V&A in Dundee will have an impact on demand for this road link with visitors potentially staying in Fife and spending a day in Dundee. 3. There is also an opportunity to develop a cross Forth Ferry which will add to the visitor experience and provide additional transport options. 4. The new Forth Crossing is mentioned in the plan but it should be made explicit that the new crossing will provide a better link to the East of Scotland as well as to the west. 5. Fife Tourism Partnership in conjunction with the South Queensferry Bid Company has developed a partnership with Forth Ports to develop the opportunity for additional cruise liners into Rosyth and South Queensferry. This could be acknowledged within the National Development Plan for Scotland. 6. Fife s coastal offer is a main attractor for Fife and this should be mentioned in the Plan both in terms of its impact on What to see and do, but also as an alternative walking or driving route through Fife. 7. Fife is host to internationally significant events, for example the Super bikes at Knockhill, the Open Championships, Dunhill and other golf events at St Andrews, RAF Leuchars Air show. These events put pressure on the transport infrastructure in Fife. 8. The draft Development Plan for Scotland also sets out the need to provide visitors with well defined public transport options, this would include Fife, particularly when large events occur, such as the Open Championships or the RAF Leuchars Air Show where road and rail networks are congested. 9. A proposal to develop a commercial rail halt at Methil should be considered for tourism also if this goes ahead. Where to stay Fife Council has undertaken a Hotel Demand Study for the whole of Fife, this could be referred to when discussing options for Fife. The study sets out the opportunities for St Andrews and the other urban areas of Fife, taking into consideration the type of accommodation required. 1. Dunfermline does not currently have a five star accommodation though its proximity to Edinburgh Airport and the upgrade to visitor facilities should provide demand for RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM 2
such a hotel. 2. With the development of the new Forth Road Crossing there could be an opportunity for a resort type location such as the House of Bruar in Perthshire. 3. Business tourism in Fife is important but an emerging offer out with St Andrews where the destination is already attracting high level conferences. However, if the National Development Plan is about a step change process then this needs to be included. 4. The Hotel Demand Study identifies areas in Fife s towns where a hotel would be appropriate. St Andrews and Dunfermline are seen as a priority followed by Kirkcaldy. What to see and do The draft development plan does not recognise Fife s heritage credentials or its outdoor offer and it would be beneficial if this could be addressed. The Fife Tourism Partnership tourism strategy 2010 to 2020 sets out a number of key niche products for Fife: Golf Pilgrim tourism ( feasibility study for a new route being developed) Cruise development Food and drink Outdoor Fife including on and off water activities, land based activities etc. Business Tourism Heritage Tourism particularly around Dunfermline as Scotland s Ancient Capital, opening a new Museum & Art Gallery in 2016, ancestral tourism work and strong offer for Homecoming 2014. Kirkcaldy Galleries opening in June 2014 Cultural tourism, including internationally significant Fine Art collections, theatrical and musical performances Creative industries development In addition to this there are some high level opportunities: Forth Rail Bridge World Heritage Status application If the Forth Rail Bridge achieves it designation as a world heritage site it will have an impact on the number of visitors it will attract as a tourist attraction. Infrastructure works will need to be carried out to support the increased number of tourists that will be attracted to North Queensferry. Fife Earth Project Scottish World At Junction 4 of the A90 is a large-scale land art project which will provide an outdoor destination for people travelling through Fife and those living and visiting Fife. The V&A in Dundee As an international brand the V&A at Dundee will draw visitors from all over the globe. This is by far the biggest tourism opportunity for the East Coast of Scotland. It is intended that the Local Authorities on the East Coast will collaborate to jointly market a series of the bigger tourist attractions to coincide with the V&A launch year, there is potential to add significant value to each of the Local Authority areas which will in turn complement the work that Dundee and the V&A are doing. Development opportunities for Fife s coastal tourism offer recognised as the Number 1 destination for outdoor recreation, the Fife Coastal Path will provide a significant draw for future tourists to Fife. An number of activities are currently be planned which will complement and enhance the work of the Fife Coast and RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM 3
Countryside Trust. Emerging Pilgrim tourism product Fife has a number of important pilgrim sites, work is being undertaken in 2013 to achieve landowner approval to promote a defined route through Fife which will include both Dunfermline and St Andrews. Once this has been achieved it is most likely that new visitor businesses will emerge to support visitor needs along the route. The draft National Development Plan should also include Fife when discussing Sailing, kite surfing, diving, coastal activities, sea angling etc. 3. Comments on Development Opportunities: The Plan is seeking to list key opportunities and actions which would help make up a local strategy for the visitor economy for each planning authority in Scotland (refer to Annex 4 of the Plan). Any information about additional opportunities is welcome and the following would be useful - a brief description of the project; its location (attach plan if possible), its timescale to deliver; its indicative capital value (to the nearest 100,000); the additional jobs which could be created; and any key action which is needed to secure this project. You can provide your comments in a separate statement if you wish. 4. For planning authorities only: This Plan is seeking to secure substantial growth in the visitor economy up to 2020. In addition to your comments on the above questions, any comments on how the development plan process could provide support to stimulating growth in the visitor economy would be welcome. You can provide your comments in a separate statement if you wish. A key role will be for the Scottish Government to clearly reflect the tourism strategy in a spatial manner in NPF3 and show how it relates to the other development plan issues. This is particularly important in relation to the delivery of new infrastructure. The development plan can continue to identify key infrastructure requirements and investigate mechanisms to allow them to be realised. While support for St Andrews is welcomed, the Plan would be more reflective of Fife Council s wider strategy if it focussed on new accommodation (Table 1 2ii) being Fife (including St Andrews). All the other areas mentioned are wider geographic areas and this close focus on St Andrews misses opportunities of those in the wider Fife area. While it accepted that the Plan is a national strategic document it still has too much of a focus on some major locations which already have a wider presence and does not use their international recognition to foster a wider interest in the surrounding areas. If the aims of the Plan are to be achieved and the higher spend achieved it is unlikely that this can be done through simply promoting places that have existing recognition. This wider approach could be developed through the development plan process. The development plan can also assist by identifying key location for tourism development and link these allocations into the wider strategy. Green Networks will be key elements in development plans to progress the recreational tourism and encourage a greater use of the wider countryside. These and related Forestry Strategies can RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM 4
assist in promoting a greater use of the countryside, promotion of the rural experience including the food/produce element and also bring a greater attention to local historic sites. The other key element is design and if the Plan is to succeed then it is important that the existing heritage is protected and that new development is of a high standard. The development plan can assist in this but these principles must be key in all development decisions and reflected in appeal hearings and other strategies. On a detailed point, the planning process has to ensure that development requirements are necessary and proportionate. Paragraph 2.8 highlights the need to avoid unnecessary development requirements and provide flexibility in meeting planning requirements. While support for the tourism sector is inherent in Fife councils Plans and should be promoted through NPF3, SPP and development plans across Scotland it is important that the needs for infrastructure are seen in the wider picture and potentially negative impacts of development are addressed early in the development process. As the Plan points out it is important that there is good access to tourism related activities. RESPONDENT INFORMATION FORM 5