The First Minister held a rally outside Ayr’s Gaiety Theatre on Tuesday night as campaigning for next week’s Scottish Parliament election continued. The crowd amassed was fairly large numbering in the thousands and probably drawn from all across Ayrshire.

Ayr, Good Evening, it might be a bit cold but that doesn’t mean we can’t campaign. Quitters never win, let’s not let the cold put us off any more than the Conservatives already do.

I’m here to talk about tourism because this town once excelled at attracting many more visitors than what we have done tonight. For decades this was the capital of the Scottish Riviera, attracting thousands upon thousands of workers down from Glasgow during the annual summer fair holiday. Times have indeed moved on from your hay day in the 1960s but that doesn’t mean that Ayr and places like it have to be left behind forever. Absolutely not, and our next government has the responsibility to ensure that you are not left behind.

We understand that your tourists can no longer be found from Glasgow or Paisley but to replace them why not try those from Gothenburg or Portland. This coast, the Ayrshire Coast is Home to some of the world’s finest golf resorts, even if the ownership of some is not ideal. This can be your regions star attraction to the world, you host the Open Championship at least once every single decade, this brings with it free advertisement the world over. We as a country, but you as a region, should make far more from this opportunity.

The Coast has its own airport, even if it is barely used showing how easy even a quick round of 18 would be here on just a weekend stopover. The government is encouraging visitors to pass through this southwestern corner of Scotland, we can only hope that they are seduced by its charms and decide to stay. This will do wonders for your local economy which should no longer be bleak seaside towns. There is a university here in Ayr, there is a young and energetic population we can revitalise and transform this space if we put our minds to it as one.

We should also stop seeing tourism as a battle between Scotland’s regions, rather we should work together to showcase all that our wee country has to offer. Your airport is unique in Scottish terms by having a railway station right on its doorstep this links it in perfectly with the rest of our extensive network, all the way right into Glasgow Central. This is why it is such an attractive airport for public ownership, both for tourism here but for connecting visitors to all of our diverse regions as seamlessly as possible. But unfortunately, train times don’t always match arrivals and departures, the convenience is not always there for those who need it the most. This takes rather a lot of the shine off what could be a jewel in our crown just waiting to be used again.

As ever, you do not have to fear. The Scottish Greens will create a Public Transport Authority with their remit being nationwide. The aim is to make connections quicker and even more carefree. Being publicly owned, Prestwick Airport would be at the heart of this system, being used not only as Glasgow’s second airport but also as one dedicated for Ayrshire. It is our next Homecoming year starting next month right here with our old bard. I’m expecting another influx of visitors to your wonderful home in just a few weeks time. This is yet another chance for friends and relatives to become aware of the beauty of this corner of the world and our proud cultural history.

We all need to get out and about sometimes though, and visiting two countries whilst you’re away only provides double the fun that visiting a single new land does. This region is so lucky in that regard being just over the water from Northern Ireland. That small country has its fair share of natural beauty just like ourselves, the Giant’s Causeway being but the pinnacle. We shouldn’t be looking to cut ourselves off from the world and simple services over our shared sea. The present services from Troon and further south can only be improved upon, an operator owned by Scotland serving with our public transport service will only encourage short hops over from the six counties. That can do Scotland, and indeed Ayrshire, no harm whatsoever.

It’s been a pleasure to be here Ayr, and I hope to be able to return next weekend with a new Scottish Green MSP for the south of our country. It will do this town the world of good.