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Letter: Tourists welcome

Published 28 October 1995

From M. S. Mullay

In your article “Electronic crofting” (26 August), it was implied that Shetland does not want “boards of souvenir-hunting tourists” and one interviewee was quoted as saying: “We want their money, not them.”

On behalf of Shetland Islands Tourism, one of Shetland’s most important industries, I wish to repudiate any claims of negative feelings towards visitors. On the contrary, we pride ourselves on our famous Shetland hospitality, and strive to make all our visitors feel welcome.

Tourism is vital to Shetland’s economy, and we work very hard to market Shetland and increase the number of tourists who visit our islands. Our “electronic crofts” could also provide a new experience – and an added bonus.

The article extols the virtues of selling through the Internet, but after all a holiday is not something which can be experienced through the World Wide Web, no matter how technologically advanced the world is.

Issue no. 2001 published 28 October 1995

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