PRESS RELEASE

January 28th, 2009

Sailing boost for Inverclyde

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil hopes a visit by a Scottish minister to Inverkip Marina will be the beginning of a new drive to attract tourists to the area.

Members of the local sailing and boating industry have contacted Mr McNeil with concerns over a lack of support from Visitscotland and the Scottish Government.

In response, the MSP was able to secure a visit by Enterprise Minister Jim Mather to Inverkip Marina next month.

And he hopes the meeting will allow both the Scottish Government and the industry to progress some ideas that will help promote sailing and boating in Inverclyde and throughout Scotland.

He said: “The river is very important not just to our past but to our present and future.

“So I am delighted that the minister will be paying a visit to Inverclyde to hear the concerns and plans of our boating and sailing industry.

“The importance of sailing and boating to our local economy cannot be underestimated - of the 15,000 yachts berthed in Scotland, more than 5,000 are on the Clyde.

“That supports a business with a £100 million turnover and more than 1,000 jobs.

“In Inverclyde, we have an excellent marina in Inverkip and we have plans to develop the Victoria Harbour in Greenock, so there are opportunities we can maximise for the benefit of Inverclyde and Scotland as a whole.

“It is important that the Scottish Government works effectively with the sailing and boating industry to enable this and I hope the minister’s visit provides a springboard for these exciting opportunities.”

Enterprise minister Jim Mather will meet with Duncan McNeil MSP and a group for Sail Scotland at Inverkip Marina on March 2nd.

ENDS