By Grant Smith

THE SCOTTISH Government has defended a decision to move Dundee’s tourist office, claiming visitors to its old site had fallen by almost a third.

But enterprise minister Jim Mather has promised the transfer will be reviewed after a year and said that other methods of providing local information to tourists will be explored.

In the meantime, VisitScotland will speak to the council about increasing the sign-posting directing visitors to the new office at Discovery Point.

Dundee Labour MSP Marlyn Glen said she planned to keep an eye on its performance because high-quality tourist information was important to the economy of the city and its surrounding area.

VisitScotland closed its office in Castle Street in June, prompting concerns about whether visitors would bother going to Discovery Point as it was some distance away and across busy roads.

Ms Glen asked the government why it felt the move was justified.

In reply Mr Mather said that the number of people using the office in January to May had been 20,609 compared to 29,117 in the same period in 2007.

The new location was seen as a “desirable option” because it was on one of the main routes into the city centre, was close to public transport links and had plenty of car parking.

The expected development of the waterfront in the coming years was also a factor.

He said, “The Castle Street location was not in fact on the main shopping thoroughfare and so missed quite a bit of impulse custom.

“It is also the case that a significant proportion of custom at the visitor information centre was very local, eg local people buying souvenirs rather than looking for information on what to do in the area.

“As such it was not in an ideal location to capture real visitors to the city and to therefore generate as much for the local economy.

“Administration issues were also a factor. The size of Castle Street visitor information centre was too large for the staffing component and combined with the high cost of the premises, a move to more modern premises boasting better technology to enhance the visitor experience allowed us to manage and deliver our responsibilities even more efficiently.

“We will be reviewing the success of the centre after a full year of operation and once all the directional signage is in place.

“We will also be exploring other ways to enhance information provision in the city through out-reach activity at city events, information points in the city and other on-arrival marketing activities, eg podcasts and bedroom packs.”

Moving the office cost VisitScotland £30,000, but the switch to smaller premises is expected to cut operating costs by more than a third.

Ms Glen said, “I shall be contacting Mr Mather for details of the assessment of the level of success of the centre’s relocation after its full year of operation.

“High quality tourism information and tourist services in Dundee are important because the city, with its large rural hinterland, is a natural base for tourism.

“Business tourism was estimated to have generated £46 million for the local economy in the period 2005-06.”