Friday, March 4, 2011

Councillor Shows Commitment to One Ayrshire...

What's the old saying about the proof of the pudding...

Well, little more than a fortnight after the three separate Ayrshire councils signed a declaration to work together in promoting a single destination Ayrshire message, what happens but one council already breaks ranks at the first big press and PR opportunity that comes around.

The cynics have argued that they heard this "joint working exercise" business spouted before and doubted the likelihood of seeing anything more than words. Do they have grounds for this scepticism? Make your own minds up...

This paragraph is lifted from the R & A press release announcing Turnberry as venue for the 2012 Seniors Open. (Which in itself is great news for Ayrshire and the rest of Scottish tourism.
"Councillor Bill McIntosh, Leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Turnberry is an iconic golf location and I am thrilled The Senior Open Championship is returning to South Ayrshire next year. We are, of course, the birthplace and home of Open Golf and we are also well-known for hosting major international events, so it’s going to be a fabulous sporting occasion.
“I look forward to welcoming players, staff, fans, family and friends to South Ayrshire for this wonderful event and will ensure a great time is had by all here on Scotland’s very own golf coast.”
So much for the value of that commitment and pledge then. They really just can't help themselves can they?

Martin Cheyne, Councillor David O'Neill, Councillor Bill McIntosh, Councillor Douglas Reid, and Jill Farrell sign the new Ayrshire Tourism Charter
Councillor McIntosh, just in case you forgot what you signed up for - there is only one Ayrshire.

1 comment:

Geoff said...

Arran needs to make up her mind: is she part of Ayrshire or not. I was led to believe she was included in north Ayrshire but how long have we seen: "Ayrshire and Arran" being advertised? Are there four Ayrshires involved: North, South, East and West - West being Arran.


If we're really serious in tourism, then why don't we use our main tourist magnet: namely Robert Burns? But to do that we would have to work with Dumfriesshire, creating a Burns Corridor, from his birth in Alloway through to his death and burial in Dumfries.
Include: Ayr, Kilmarnock, Irvine, Tarbolton, Mauchline, New Cumnock, Sanquhar, Ellisland, etc..
Burns Corridor is already here, why aren't we using it in a controlled way to its full potential?