Leading community figures in Arbroath say they are baffled by the town and Angus in general having to fight for tourism recognition.
Angus councillors this week raised concerns that the county could miss out after being given only a few weeks to respond to a VisitScotland tourism strategy document, which officials and elected members said they felt failed to give proper weight to the many and varied attractions of the district.
Their worries were yesterday echoed by the leader of Arbroath’s oldest secular organisation and the chairman of Arbroath Abbey Action Group, both of whom said they were surprised and disappointed at the apparent lack of awareness of just how important a tourism role the town and wider Angus could play in drawing visitors, particularly transatlantic tourists.
Dean of Arbroath Guildry, Ian Lamb, said the potential for attracting American visitors to Arbroath alone was considerable and, coupled with the many other attractions the district has to offer, it was “extraordinary” that the area was being overlooked.
“The Guildry has major plans to commemorate with statues three sons of the Arbroath area who all had considerable impact on the shaping of America as a nation,” he said.
“They are William Small, who tutored Thomas Jefferson who went on to draft the American Declaration of Independence, Thomas Moonlight, who was a Civil War hero and moved into politics during the era of the Wild West, and David Buick, who founded the car company which is now America’s longest established car marque.
“Coupled with Arbroath Abbey, where the seeds of American independence were first sown, these men surely provide good enough reason for American tourists to include Arbroath and Angus on their Scottish itinerary if they know about it. After all, Americans make up by far the highest proportion of overseas visitors to the area.”
Mr Lamb added: “Moving closer to Brechin, you even have the recently-refurbished cottage which was home to the Davidson family, of Harley-Davidson a totally iconic American brand.
“It’s extraordinary that VisitScotland appear to have failed to recognise a lot of the history and attractions the district has to offer.
“The whole reason the Guildry is working towards commemorating these men is to highlight Arbroath’s connections to the States and give visitors something tangible to see when they get here.”
Abbey Action Group chairman Harry Ritchie said the group had held what they believed to be positive discussions with VisitScotland last summer but, despite keeping in touch with the agency, he is unhappy at the strategy outlook for the area.
“As there are in the region of 25 million US citizens who claim Scottish ancestry, isn’t it about time that VisitScotland capitalised on the fact that the Declaration of Arbroath and Arbroath Abbey, the place where it all began, has the strongest attraction for American visitors?” Mr Ritchie said.
“We were extremely pleased to see the Scottish Saltire fly above the Washington state capitol, between the Stars and Stripes and the Washington State flag, for four consecutive days over the April 6 period.
“It isn’t often that the Saltire is accorded such recognition in a foreign country and out group’s thanks go out to the National Tartan Day Society of Washington State for this honour.”
In the council response to the draft strategy, authority chief executive Richard Stiff highlighted what he saw as failing in the “where to stay” section, which concentrated on city locations and south of St Andrews.
The council has suggested there is scope to build on what Angus already has, particularly beyond the internationally-recognised golf market.