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SLG
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Global poll says city is outshining major rivals | Quote: | Global poll says city is outshining major rivals
BRIAN FERGUSON - CITY COUNCIL REPORTER
EDINBURGH has been rated above some of the world's most glamorous cities in a prestigious new poll.
Iconic cities such as Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Hong Kong and Moscow trailed behind the Capital for its culture, beauty, quality of life and the friendliness of its people. Edinburgh Castle was also seen as a more recognisable icon than Hollywood, Rome's Colosseum, the Berlin Wall, Big Ben and Red Square in Moscow.
The high rating - which has also seen it outrank major cities such as Singapore, Johannesburg and Cairo - has emerged less than a year after a new official image for the city was unveiled.
City council leader Donald Anderson today hailed the findings as new evidence of Edinburgh's "world-class" status.
But he warned that the study also showed the extent of competition Edinburgh is facing to attract inward investment, as well as new workers and visitors.
The company behind the study, respected market research firm Global Market Insite, questioned more than 17,500 people across the world about 30 cities.
It said Edinburgh had scored extremely well in terms of public perceptions about safety, the friendliness of its people, the likelihood of finding work and the cost of accommodation.
But the Capital has been told it needs to find new and exciting ways to persuade people they wouldn't be bored living here.
The study showed there is room for improvement when it comes to raising awareness of what there is to see and do in the city, the kind of lifestyle on offer and its appeal as a short-break destination.
A spokeswoman for GMI said: "Edinburgh clearly has a very-well recognised brand, particularly in terms of being a safe and friendly place, as well as being attractive in terms of finding work there.
"Its cultural reputation registers very highly, although not as high as other cities like Madrid or Paris, but the Castle is seen as one of the most recognisable icons of any of the cities that were looked at.
"Edinburgh does have to improve on perceptions of the quality of life it can offer, the climate in Scotland and whether people would become bored living here after a while, so it does need to look at bringing in new things for people to do and see."
Edinburgh is now promoted as the "inspiring capital" around the world as part of a major rebranding exercise carried out last year.
It is touted as the UK's best city, with the strongest economy outside London, which has sparked the imagination of poets, writers, inventors, artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and scientists.
Research carried out during the Edinburgh re-branding exercise found that the city failed to register with many people overseas. More than half the people questioned in New York knew nothing about Edinburgh.
But this latest study appears to show that the "inspiring capital" logo has helped to boost the city's global profile again.
Councillor Anderson said: "Edinburgh is a fantastic city and has triumphed in no fewer than ten UK best city awards over the past six years.
"Achieving national success is something to be rightly proud of but, for a city the size of Edinburgh, to achieve recognition and acclaim in world terms is quite different. That is why I am delighted that Edinburgh ranked 18th in this survey.
"However, it does make clear that competition between cities for jobs, investment and recognition is intense and we cannot afford to be complacent."
A spokeswoman for VisitScotland said: "Holding its own against much bigger cities of the likes of Paris, Sydney and Rome, Edinburgh has a strong international reputation and brand and as a result is consistently listed with these sorts of places as a top travel destination."
• Of the top 30 cities, Edinburgh was rated the 15th most attractive to live in or visit, the 13th most physically attractive and the third most likely to offer good, affordable accommodation.
Edinburgh is perceived as the eighth friendliest city and the sixth safest, ahead of Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin and Madrid.
Weak points include the weather, with Edinburgh rated 27th, above only Stockholm, London and Moscow. In terms of the lifestyle on offer, the city is also rated 27th out of 30. But it was rated 11th when it came to perceptions about how easy it would be to find a job there and the city's cultural reputation earned it 17th place in terms of its contribution to the world over the last 30 years.
Of the 30 cities featured, Edinburgh Castle was the seventh most familiar icon, behind Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, the Golden Gate Bridge, the White House, the Pyramids in Cairo and the Statue of Liberty. |
http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/edinburgh.cfm?id=636252006
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stuarty
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edinburgh castle more recognisable than big ben, buckingham palace or the houses of parliement, surely a mistake or biaseed reporting.
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SLG
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| stuarty wrote: | | edinburgh castle more recognisable than big ben, buckingham palace or the houses of parliement, surely a mistake or biaseed reporting. |
Why? It depends where the poll was carried out. I'd imagine most Scots outside Edinburgh would recognise the London landmarks more than Edinburgh castle as we are bombarded with images from London through the London based media. The rest of the world doesn't have to suffer this to the same extent.
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Aventinian
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| SLG wrote: | | Why? It depends where the poll was carried out. I'd imagine most Scots outside Edinburgh would recognise the London landmarks more than Edinburgh castle as we are bombarded with images from London through the London based media. The rest of the world doesn't have to suffer this to the same extent. |
I don't think that many people overseas without some link to Scotland could identify Edinburgh Castle from a photograph as distinct from any other castle. The fact that it's a castle and of a certain design may well lead them to guess that it's in the British Isles, but that's about it.
The Palace of Westminster however is one of probably the top five most recognised buildings around the world - and is probably the foremost symbol the majority of people would think of when considering Britain.
Edinburgh is a very nice city... but how it managed to end up ahead of London on weather considerations is beyond me.
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SLG
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| Aventinian wrote: | | I don't think that many people overseas without some link to Scotland could identify Edinburgh Castle from a photograph as distinct from any other castle. The fact that it's a castle and of a certain design may well lead them to guess that it's in the British Isles, but that's about it. |
Well, this poll would seem to suggest that many of them can. It could well be flawed though.
| Aventinian wrote: | | Edinburgh is a very nice city... but how it managed to end up ahead of London on weather considerations is beyond me. |
I think that during the winter the weather is better in Edinburgh than London. Colder but drier. In winter London really is a miserable place.
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