CalMac

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It is not just islanders. All the holidaymakers from all round the world are having their fares subsided by the Scottish taxpayers. This is why the ‘once size fits all’ Scottish Government flagship RET scheme is costing the Scottish taxpayers a lot of money.
Prior to the introduction of the RET scheme the Scottish Government handed over £37 million to Calmac to balance their books.
There are other costs involved.
The fares on the larger Calmac ferries could be lower if the crews did not receive full board and lodgings when they are working their two weeks on stint.
There are also too many staff employed at Calmac HQ in Gourock
I have heard people complaining about this for the past twenty years.
Last September (2021) a Calmac member of staff told me that there were 300 staff employed at the Calmac Head Office in Gourock with managers reporting to managers.
The Calmac staff are all Scottish Government civil servants as Calmac Ferries Limited is owned by the Scottish Government.

Is subsidising fares maybe not just some prudent investment to draw people into these areas (relatively) cheaply, enable their spending in support of local communities and, ultimately, the national income? Let's face it once a tourist lands on any island in Scotland they're a sitting duck for the local rip off merchants.

[islaydarkblue]

Is subsidising fares maybe not just some prudent investment to draw people into these areas (relatively) cheaply, enable their spending in support of local communities and, ultimately, the national income? Let's face it once a tourist lands on any island in Scotland they're a sitting duck for the local rip off merchants.

The local residents on the Scottish islands are also sitting ducks for the rip off merchants.
Last April (2022) my wife and I were in the Port Charlotte Hotel on Islay.
A pint of lager was £5 and an OVD was £4.50.
A can of Coca Cola was £3.
My wife and I were at the DSA Player of the Year dinner in the Invercarse Hotel ballroom last May (2022).
A pint of lager was £4.80 and an OVD was £3.75.
A can of Coca Cola cost £2.50.
Eating out on Islay is hopeless for local residents as the menus never change throughout the whole year.
That is OK for tourists staying for a week but no use for people living there all the year round.

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The local residents on the Scottish islands are also sitting ducks for the rip off merchants.
Last April (2022) my wife and I were in the Port Charlotte Hotel on Islay.
A pint of lager was £5 and an OVD was £4.50.
A can of Coca Cola was £3.
My wife and I were at the DSA Player of the Year dinner in the Invercarse Hotel ballroom last May (2022).
A pint of lager was £4.80 and an OVD was £3.75.
A can of Coca Cola cost £2.50.
Eating out on Islay is hopeless for local residents as the menus never change throughout the whole year.
That is OK for tourists staying for a week but no use for people living there all the year round.

I'm not disputing that things on the islands are a bit more expensive. As regards the menus the same can be said of most restaurants that are not Michelin star type establishments sourcing local, seasonal ingredients and devising daily menus based on availability.

I was in Knoydart a few months ago and a re4staurant there served what they had that day, it wasn't expensive but was excellent.

[islaydarkblue]

[QUOTE=Deeranged;40098446]I'm not disputing that things on the islands are a bit more expensive. As regards the menus the same can be said of most restaurants that are not Michelin star type establishments sourcing local, seasonal ingredients and devising daily menus based on availability.

I was in Knoydart a few months ago and a re4staurant there served what they had that day, it wasn't expensive but was excellent.[/QUOTE
There are no 4* restaurants on Islay. In fact the menus in the hotel restaurants are all basically the same with pub food charged at restaurant prices.