Impressed with the scenery and service? Disgusted by the food? Getting value for money? Do you have a point to make about tourism in Scotland? Your opportunity is at hand.
As another tourist season begins The Herald is again sponsoring the annual Scottish Tourism Supreme Awards as an incentive to what has become Scotland's biggest industry.
After eight years, the contest is firmly established as Scotland's premier competition for towns, regions and private enterprise in the increasingly successful tourist business.
The Herald is again being joined by Grampian Television and Caithness Glass and - for the first time this year - the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, as co-sponsors in the event which seeks to reward and publicise the best and most innovative and successful of the country's tourist attractions and developments.
This year, the ninth, again offers Herald readers the chance to nominate the tourist attraction which they believe most merits attention in various categories which this year will include Best Town, Best Village, Best Waterfront Attraction and Best New Attraction. At the same time, they are welcome to give us their experiences of how Scotland is coping with the demands of modern tourism and whether we are adapting to rising standards and expectations internationally.
Previous winners have ranged from towns and cities to individual enterprises such as Inveraray Jail and the Blacksmith's at Gretna Green to Deep Sea World at North Queensferry. There have been prizes for Best Castle, Best Old Attraction, Best Children's Attraction - and many more.
Local authorities throughout Scotland have already been sending in their nominations in the various categories for judging later.
But individual Herald readers will have the additional incentive of being rewarded for their contributions if they win the prize on offer to those making the winning nominations. Theirs will be a two-day break for two with dinner, bed and breakfast at the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh.
For those in the tourist business taking part in the competition the prizes can be much longer lasting, through priceless exposure and a consequent upturn in business as many past winners will testify.
Much of the success of the scheme is owed to Alistair Mair, chairman of Caithness Glass and a non-executive director of Grampian Television who gave the awards his personal support eight years ago after reading a Herald article on the problems of Scottish tourism. He will again be among the judges who will travel the country inspecting entries and making final recommendations.
The winners will be presented with their awards in the form of magnificent Caithness Glass trophies at a lunch in the Caledonian Hotel, Edinburgh, on October 26.
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