Homecoming- What Homecoming!

Last week as part of our ddiscussions at the Pride of Britain Conference I was able to raise my concerns regarding Homecoming 2009. Simply put this is a plan conceived by Visit Scotland and the Scottish Government to celebrate 250 years of the Birth of Robbie Burns and encourage all with links to Scotland to return. In principal a great idea especially for the tourist industry, should it work, and also a good concept for reconnecting families and communities that have been drawn apart in world where travel and communication seems to dissuade us from returning to our roots.

One of the speakers at our conference was the Chairman of Visit Scotland so I had the chance to raise concerns regarding the lack of public attention and see if there were any ways we could help. Then on Thursday I ws attending a meeting of The Whisky Coast, a collection of west coast parties woven together by links to whisky producers and suppliers and we were discussing the planned event next May at Inveraray Castle which will coincide with Homecoming and again we had the chance to talk to another Visit Scotland representative.

So imaging my pride when I got home last night and saw the news listing the item about the launch of Homecoming Scotland- it made me wonder if it simply showed how easy it was to influence the decision makers- especially if after two brief conversations a national campaign had been arranged! Seriously the whole plan I gatehr has got off to a slow start but if it is supported properly by those in the industry I am sure it will start to gather pace and will by next year become a success and may even create a longer term legacy as suggested.

My next project will be to get the government to cut red tape and legislation- wish me luck!!