Edinburgh Tourism Chief Admits Rethink Is Needed on How Its Festivals Impact on the City

Donald Emslie, chair of the Edinburgh Tourism Action Group, said a better “balance” had to be found in future to ensure that some parts of the city do not “suffer” again during peak seasons.

And he suggested Edinburgh had to focus on “building forward better” rather than trying to rebuild the cultural tourism industry that reaped more than £300 million for the city every year.

Speaking during an online conference on the future of the festivals, Mr Emslie said a new strategy for the tourism industry would be a “clear departure” from a previous era which was focused on growing visitor numbers.