Scottish visitors get Japanese tips

People visiting Scotland on holiday will be heading via ferries from Belfast to Troon will not find themselves in a completely alien culture.
 
But any tourists they come across from Japan may be struggling to make sense of all they see.

A new guidebook by Edinburgh-based Luath Press is advising visitors from the far eastern country never to talk to people in football shirts and to avoid eating "weird" Lorne sausages, but should try honeycomb ice cream and ginger marmalade.

Discussing the reasons for the book being written the way it is, co-author Akiko Elliot said: "I believe more Japanese will find the nature and culture of Scotland interesting and fascinating.

"Until now the emphasis of Scottish tourism to Japanese was on visiting famous historical sites or playing golf, but younger people are showing a keen interest."

The book also advises on matters of etiquette, such as how to order drinks at a bar, the importance of not consuming soup easily and the vital matter of never referring to a Scottish person as English.

It even advises Japanese visitors not to be surprised that few Scots carry umbrellas even on wet days.

While the Scottish culture is very different form that in Japan, visitors from elsewhere in Britain may take Mr Elliot's advice and switch their focus away from golf and historic buildings.

Other attractions include the scenery for which Scotland is world famous.

This includes the Highlands, the Isle of Skye and also many attractive areas of hill and forest in the south of the country, with hiking, mountain biking and watersports among the adventure activities visitors can try, whether they are from neighbouring nations or thousands of miles away.

There is one Scottish subject on which the Japanese may be as knowledgeable as many from the British Isles, as Japan is one of the biggest export markets for Scotch whisky.

Posted by Mark Robinson

 

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