Former north Lib Dem MP named VisitScotland chairman
Thurso to promote "iconic national brand"
Former Caithness Sutherland and Easter Ross MP John Thurso has been appointed as the new chair of the board of Scotland's tourism agency. The VisitScotland appointment will last from April 2016 until March 2019. An experienced hotelier, Mr Thurso has managed hotels and leisure firms in Paris and the UK, and served on a number of public company and charitable boards. He sat in the House of Lords until 1999 and was a Lib Dem MP from 2001 to 2015. He is the current president of the Tourism Society. Tourism minister Fergus Ewing said: I am delighted to welcome John Thurso as the new chair of VisitScotland and wish him well in his new post"Scottish tourism goes from strength to strength and I'm sure VisitScotland will benefit hugely from John's experience and expertise in the industry to grow and develop Scotland's visitor economy.'' Mr Thurso said: Scotland is an iconic national brand with a world-class tourist offering and VisitScotland does a great job promoting both"I look forward to joining the team where I hope the skills I have learnt in my hospitality career combined with my career in public service will make a useful contribution.''