Eyjafjallajokull has paused - no ash since 23rd May - only steam.  It may not be over yet, and there are lessons to be learned:  those travel companies who were able to communicate with passengers and recover the situation will do best, and we absolutely won't forget the companies who hiked prices.  For ASSC members, it is swings and roundabouts with some cancellations accompanied by visitors securing UK holidays, as flight plans still remain uncertain.

Anecdotal reports of 2010 range from good to very patchy for our sector, and the wonderful World Cup never seems to help us.    VisitScotland's analysis of trends suggests a slow drift away from 'staycations', but the economic recovery is fragile and the new UK Government seems to be taking a hard line to reduce borrowing.    With public pay increases set below inflation or frozen, there will be difficult times ahead. 

It is not all gloom and doom by any means:  self-catering is pretty resilient, and tourism is a sector poised to lead the recovery.  Homecoming did not result in the promised extra thousands of the Scottish diaspora flocking here from round the globe, but it did secure many more visitors, and Homecoming ran or badged a series of successful events during the year.  It brought in an extra £53.7m to Scotland.  Themed years are good news then, and we can expect more, starting with 2010:  the Year of Food and Drink.  Some Perthshire ASSC members are taking part in a pilot discount voucher scheme matching their visitors with outlets using local produce.

Tourism Intelligence Scotland has now launched its new website, and anyone involved in the tourism industry should sign up.  There is a whole range of useful information and best practice tips which will be genuinely useful to tourism businesses.  It really is free.   www.tourism-intelligence.co.uk  

David Smyth,