Emma Harper MSP used her speech in a Parliamentary debate marking Scottish Tourism Week to promote some of Dumfries & Galloway’s best food and drink producers, including businesses in Dumfries, Stranraer, Dalbeattie and Castle Douglas.
The debate was brought before Parliament by Stuart McMillan MSP to celebrate the enormous contribution that tourism makes to the Scottish economy, and Ms. Harper used the opportunity to highlight the South West’s food producers and restaurants which attract visitors to the area.
The South Scotland MSP also highlighted the impact the Stranraer Oyster Festival has had on the Wigtownshire economy.
Speaking in the debate, Ms. Harper said:
“In Dumfries, we have the Palmerston cafe, which opened in 1969. It offers a range of more than 50 flavours of award-winning ice cream, from traditional favourites such as old-fashioned vanilla, to more exotic flavours including iron brew, bubble gum and—my favourite—jaffa cake. I assure members that lots of insulin is needed for that one.
“In Dalbeattie, the Galloway Soup Company cafe makes a wide range of soups using the finest local ingredients and has a shop that is loaded with other great food and drink from Dumfries and Galloway.
“In Castle Douglas, In House Chocolates by Design, which is an award-winning local shop that offers bespoke chocolate treats, is also doing great business.
“And in Stranraer, Henrys Bay House restaurant serves Scotland’s finest seafood, including the delicious local Loch Ryan oysters. We are also lucky to have the best produce in Scotland: Scotch beef, Scotch lamb, venison, gin, whisky and even Galloway-grown chillies, which are made into great hot sauces.”
Speaking about the Stranraer Oyster Festival, she added:
“Although I do not have time to talk about all the fabulous work across Dumfries and Galloway, I will mention some of our world-renowned visitor attractions, which I encourage all to visit and enjoy. The Stranraer Oyster Festival, which is now in its third year, is attracting more visitors to Stranraer, with an economic input of about £1 million in 2018.”
