A SCOTTISH Tourist Board claim that tourism has increased so far this

year by 10% was called into question yesterday.

Speaking in Edinburgh STB chairman Ian Grant said in the first eight

months of 1993 the overseas market had increased by 5%, the English

market by 10%, and the number of Scots holidaying at home by 20% --

giving an overall figure of 10%.

However, the Scottish Federation for Small Businesses said it felt the

figures may be overstated and did not gel with reports it was receiving

from Grampian and parts of the Highlands.

''We would feel it's optimistic,'' said a federation spokesman. ''It

certainly does not reflect the feedback we have had ... some areas have

had a really bad time. It's very patchy. The figures from the STB are

not area-specific.''

A federation survey of hoteliers last year concluded that trade had

declined by 6.25%, compared with the 1% national drop reported by the

STB.

However Mr Grant claimed that the increase in domestic tourism --

holidays within Britain -- was encouraging given that it accounted for

66% of turnover.

0 He added that the board was planning to extend its advertising

campaign to the South-east of England and Northern Ireland to tackle the

adverse effect of the Channel Tunnel on domestic tourism.