A visitor attraction has highlighted the importance of Scots discovering more of what’s on their doorstep to the future of local economies.
The impact of people enjoying days out close to home and staycations across the country has been highlighted as part of the first Scotland Loves Local Week.
Tourism is a major employer in many communities, supporting not just jobs directly in visitor venues and attractions, but with other businesses who supply goods and services to them.
Mike Smith, of Linlithgow Canal Centre, spoke to Scotland Loves Local about the importance of regional support to that centre.
He took part in the launch of Scotland Loves Local Week with Scottish Government Ministers Joe FitzPatrick and Tom Arthur on Monday.
Talking about the experience of discovering more about local life and the difference that people can make by spending more time in their own area, Mike said: “People take great pleasure in finding out something they didn’t know they didn’t know.
“I’ve found out an awful lot about Linlithgow in the 50 years I’ve been here and I’m still finding out about it.
“For people who don’t live in the immediate community but come here, they discover all sorts of things going on that they would never have imagined would have existed in a small town like Linlithgow.”
Research earlier this year by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) – the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local – found that 73% of Scottish businesses said custom from tourists and visitors is important to their business.
The survey of STP members and supporters – encompassing shops, restaurants, pubs, cafes, attractions, and other local businesses on high streets up and down Scotland – also found that 75% buy from and/or sell to other local businesses in the community, demonstrating the multiplier effect money spent by visitors in communities across the country.
Scotland Loves Local Week is leading the national calls for people to choose local, shining a spotlight on the need to support businesses and services of all kinds to provide the foundations for a stronger, more sustainable future.
It is a message which is being highlighted with a variety of events being championed by organisations of all kinds.
At Linlithgow Canal Centre, the Scottish Government ministers were briefed on the attraction’s history, its popularity for trips on the Union Canal – as well as its tea room – and ambition plans for its future.
Mike, who is also on the board of One Linlithgow Business Improvement District, added: “The thing about choosing local is that if you don’t keep the locality alive, you lose part of your own identity. This is a community. I can do almost everything I can imagine I’d like to do in this community. Not just commerce, the social aspects of this town are very much built around it being Linlithgow. It’s great.”
Scotland Loves Local is supported by the Scottish Government.
You can shout about the great places to visit in your community on social media using the hashtags #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ChooseLocal.
Linlithgow Canal Centre is operated by Linlithgow Union Canal Society. Find out more at www.lucs.org.uk.
