Edinburgh, Scotland -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/23/2012 -- Plans are in place to improve the management of Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site, including Signs welcoming visitors to the historic heart of Edinburgh, more maps and information showing points of interest in the city centre and new smartphone apps, highlighting often overlooked attractions. Clear boundaries marking the UNESCO area and better information for visitors will help address concerns the city is not making the most of the site. Council chiefs and Historic Scotland will also work to cut down the impact of traffic and encourage walking and cycling in the World Heritage Site. “It’s fantastic to see attention being paid to this issue,” said a source from ThinkMarketing, an Edinburgh-based sales and marketing company, “Recent news has shown us that visitors to Edinburgh may not be getting the most of the city, and it’s a real shame because there’s so much actually going on.”
The move comes after criticism by Professor Charles McKean, the recently departed chairman of Edinburgh World Heritage, who suggested there was little in the site to reveal its historic significance. “If you are curious about something here, there is nothing to tell you what it is,” he said, adding that aspects of the visitor experience were “among the worst in Europe”.
Councillor Jim Lowrie, city council planning leader, said the five-year action plan sets out how the site will be conserved and promoted. “Edinburgh’s World Heritage Site status is extremely important to the city,” he said, “as shown by over 250,000 Tripadvisor users last year who voted it the fifth most-recommended site in the world. So this focusing of resources in the Old and New Town areas will ensure the internationally-renowned appeal of Scotland’s capital city will continue to be enjoyed by future generations.”
Originally released in autumn, the document has been redrafted after a consultation with residents, heritage bodies and business groups. “They’ve really put the research into it, and consulted the local community,” said our contact at ThinkMarketing.
Adam Wilkinson, director of Edinburgh World Heritage, said the site was “crucial to the success of Edinburgh, attracting over four million visitors a year, as well as supporting the city’s quality of life and encouraging inward investment.” He added, “This action plan lays out the key priorities for the next five years, to ensure we conserve, promote and enhance the site effectively.”
Our source at ThinkMarketing noted that Edinburgh is a city that thrives on its tourism, and that “investing in the heritage of Edinburgh is something that really benefits all business in the city.
http://www.scotsman.com/edinburgh-evening-news/politics/five_year_plan_to_promote_city_s_heritage_site_1_2141261