South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has hit out at plans to axe all VisitScotland information centres.

The Scottish Government’s tourism agency confirmed it will close its network of 25 centres including Jedburgh and Dumfries — known as iCentres -over the next two years.

The news follows the decision by the Scottish Government to cut the overall tourism budget by 10.8% to £47m for 2024-25, compared to £52.7m during the current financial period.

VisitScotland capital funding is down by 67%, from £7.9m to £2.6m, due to a reduction in funding available for the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund and their revenue funding is down 4.5% to £38.6m compared to £40.4m this year.

Colin Smyth said, “These are the very last remaining information centres in Scotland, and it is shocking that VisitScotland have made this decision with no consultation whatsoever and no discussion with local partners in each area.

“I am sick and tired of public and private bodies closing services without any discussion of possible alternatives, including shared hubs where you bring several services together under one roof to share costs. The timescale by VisitScotland makes that option very difficult and we face having yet more empty buildings in our town centres, which are already on their knees.

“In Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders, these are not pocky little shops with a few leaflets. They are major buildings in heart of the towns affected, providing services and jobs. My thoughts are very much with those who will face the loss of their job as a direct of this decision. It’s all very well saying there will be no compulsory redundancies. But where will those who work in the centres find alternative work with VisitScotland in the local area?

“There is no doubt that the cause of these closures is the savage cuts to VisitScotland’s budget by the Scottish Government at a time we should be trying to grow the offer to tourists, not cut it back”.