How we work
The Forum brings public and private players together, to encourage the voicing of opinion about problems, priorities and solutions and to lobby on industry's behalf - to improve political and public commitment to tourism.
The Forum operates right across Scotland, working with trade associations, area marketing groups and individual businesses. Our job is to listen to you and fight your case. We represent businesses from many sectors, both traditional tourism service providers and a broad range of supply and non core industries that indirectly benefit from tourism growth.
We represent your views to government and public agencies to ensure that they listen and respond. We offer you unparalleled access to government and public agencies, as we advocate your views to the Executive, MSPs, MPs and public agencies. Our media role is to provide a business perspective on tourism.
We can fulfil an independent role in highlighting business or product development opportunities within tourism and, through our contacts, facilitate business to business opportunities with both the private and public sectors.
View or download the Scottish Tourism Forum Annual Report for 05/06 (170 KB)
Who do you turn to when you want to be heard?
Ministers, MSPs and public agencies listen to the Forum. The Forum influenced the Scottish Executive's tourism strategy and changes at STB/VisitScotland. During Foot and Mouth Disease, the Forum briefed politicians, the media and the industry and contributed to the 'Comeback Code' and Scottish Enterprise and HIE's 'Survival Toolkit'.
The Forum is actively involved in the heart of the recent restructuring of the tourism landscape as a result of the abolition of ATBs and membership structures within the industry.
Key issues for Scottish tourism now
- Who represents the industry now that ATB membership has been wound up, to take the views of business forward to public agencies?
- Who has access to businesses leaders from sectors directly and indirectly involved in front line tourism activities?
- Are you confident that government, the Scottish Executive and the public agencies have your interests at heart when they legislate, regulate and plan for your industry?
- Do you want to be heard when decisions are being made that affect your customers, your business and your income?
The Forum's strengths
- The membership, who drive priorities and activities.
- Links to the rest of the industry, particularly through our e-newsletter which reaches an estimated 6,000 businesses and tourism professionals (and through association members to over 15,000 businesses).
- Links with agencies and other key organisations that have an impact and are effected by the tourism economy.
- Independence from government and public agencies.
- Our focus on Scotland-wide and business issues.
- The willingness to constructively criticise, when needed, as well as to mediate, contribute and support.
