VisitScotland loses the plot

Regional tourism board VisitScotland are, unsurprisingly, tasked with promoting tourism north of the border. It's not a difficult job, as Scotland has fantastic scenery, internationally renowned outdoor sports facilities and the whole Edinburgh festival thingie. It's also served pretty well by trains - although a high-speed rail link certainly wouldn't go amis.

So why has the QUANGO jumped into bed with easyJet? Eagle-eyed readers of the Times this week may have spotted joint adverts promoting cheap flights to Inverness. Now, flying to Inverness isn't exactly environmentally friendly, but it's not just about emissions. The UK has a £17 billion tourism deficit, mostly brought about by the ludicrous growth of cheap flights. Jumping into bed with an airline is just making the problem worse.

What does VisitScotland's website have to say about it all? "Flying is quicker than travelling by train or coach if you're heading out to the Highlands and Islands, though if you add on the time spent getting to and from the airport and checking in, the whole experience doesn't save you as much time as you might think, especially on journeys through the big London airports."

"Airfares are only competitive on popular routes such as London to Edinburgh and Glasgow, and, again, if you add on the cost of travel to and from the airport (and remember to include airport tax), the savings on the same journey overland are often minimal."

London to Inverness takes 8 hours by train, which isn't that pleasant (unless you're on an overnight sleeper). But how long does it take to fly? Gatwick to Inverness takes 1hr 45, and Luton to Inveness 1hr 35 - big time savings. But both airports are at least 45 minutes out of London and you have to get through security and check-in. You're probably saving a couple of hours, although if you're travelling for business, you'll get a lot more work done on the train.

It's also not that cheap to fly. The cheapest ticket is £29.99 each way, but GNER will sell you a single for £18. A saver return costs £118, can be bought at the station and gives you a month to make the return journey. A similar walk-up fare would cost up to £109.99 each way by plane - almost double the rail price.

So let's get this straight - it's not much faster, often more expensive, and killing the industry they're trying to promote. Sounds like an ideal sponsorship partner. Where do I sign?