By Steven Bell

DUNDEE EAST MSP Shona Robison yesterday described plans to disband a convention bureau which has brought millions of pounds into the local economy as “another slap in the face” for the city.

She said she would be writing to Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace, Tourism Minister Patricia Wallace and VisitScotland to voice her concerns at the decision, part of a review of the tourism body’s structure.

It emerged on Tuesday that a separate convention bureau for Dundee and Angus has been omitted from VisitScotland’s reorganised set-up.

The move comes in the wake of controversy over the Executive’s handling of civil service jobs distribution, particularly the drift of posts away from the Dundee area.

Ms Robison said, “I’m absolutely furious about this. I’m astounded that they are going to press ahead and do away with the separate convention bureau for Dundee and Angus.

“It is another slap in the face for Dundee, and I will be writing to Jim Wallace to find out how he thinks this will help the local economy.

“Why fix what ain’t broken? We keep hearing all these statements from the Executive about helping local economies, but here something that has been very successful is being taken away.”

Although it operates with just a handful of staff, the Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau has played a central role in bringing conference business to the area.

It is understood that the bureau has £6 million worth of conference business on its books.

However, in a second draft of the proposed structure of VisitScotland from April 1, a separate bureau for the Dundee area does not figure, while offices for Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow are set to be retained.

Ms Robison continued, “I think this decision will have a negative impact. I don’t know whether there is a hidden agenda here or if it is just incompetence.

“They don’t appreciate the impact the local bureau has had. It has delivered for Dundee and Angus, so what is the problem?”

The decision has already been strongly criticised by the area’s chamber of commerce and it is now likely that the city council will re-direct funds that would have gone to VisitScotland into its own convention organisation.

VisitScotland has said that while the Dundee and Angus Convention Bureau would effectively close at the end of next month, it would be replaced by a business manager and another member of staff in the local network office.

The staff would largely cover the same ground as that covered by the convention bureau, combined with “more mainstream tourism work.”