General
The Scottish Tourist Board (STB) has responsibility for developing tourism in Scotland. Section 1(1) of the 1984 Act provides the power for STB to market Scotland overseas. However, the British Tourist Authority (BTA) also has responsibility, under the Development of Tourism Act 1969, for marketing Scotland overseas. The STB powers are used to supplement BTA activity. Because of this secondary nature of STB’s overseas marketing, section 1(2) of the 1984 Act requires the Secretary of State’s consent to STB’s marketing proposals, following consultation with the BTA.
Following devolution, legislative and executive powers for tourism rests with the Scottish Parliament and Executive. Overseas marketing is simply one of a number of STB activities for which the Board will be accountable to the Scottish Ministers and through them to the Scottish Parliament. The requirement for consultation with the BTA is incompatible with this position. The requirement to obtain the consent of the Secretary of State, which would also have passed to Scottish Ministers, is unnecessary. Such consent is not required for any other STB activity and is removed.