I MET a couple at the Rue End Street bus stop a few weeks ago.

They were fresh off one of the cruise ships and asking directions to Devol.

So, more tourists are indeed visiting Inverclyde and not just to see the Lyle Hill.

Which is a cause for celebration, though hardly a surprise considering the international increase in cruise tourism since the pandemic, linked to the new facilities on the Greenock waterfront.

Inverclyde Council, in partnership with the Scottish Government, will, I am sure, collect statistics on the percentage of tourists in the area for a few hours, what they are doing and how much money they are spending.

Hopefully, comparisons will be available to historic figures. This will add to the research base on the cruise industry.

Some research suggests that cruise tourists spend only 30 per cent of the amount spent by land-based tourists. If we can verify this, it raises doubts about the public investment in the Greenock shoreline.

Will most of the economic benefits accrue to Peel Ports shareholders rather than to Inverclyde?

Local politicians and the media should be alert to the danger of appearing as cheerleaders for the vast faceless corporations that own these ships.

As well as ‘talking up’ the area, they should pay attention to the pollution these companies cause, and to ensuring a regulatory framework that protects crew, passengers and communities from the ravages of shipping’s contribution to the climate crisis.

The cruise centre is an achievement, but it is public money supporting a commercial venture.

Not all the profits should end up in the deep pockets of shareholders.

The catering and leisure jobs created on the waterfront support consumption, which is at the root of the crisis that is withering the world.

We need a laser-sharp focus on creating jobs that support a sustainable environment, not destroy it.

 

John Moody

Port Glasgow