Tour operators and travel agents from across the globe will come face to face with Battle Masters, foul smelling dungeon criminals and a tartan version of The Stig in Glasgow on April 2 at Scotland’s biggest tourism event.
Estimated to generate over £21 million worth of business*[1] over two days (2-3 April), VisitScotland expo, is the UK’s longest established travel trade fair with 35 years of showcasing Scotland’s world class tourism offering.
Around 6000 appointments have been scheduled across the two days as 250 Scottish tourism businesses – from historic heroes and world-class attractions to coach companies and accommodation providers – welcome around 700 buyers from all over the world to the SECC in Glasgow.
Among the new additions to the 2014 programme are Destination Stirling, Stirling Walking Tours, Clyde Cruises and the V&A in Dundee. The V&A will be one of the biggest museums to be built in Britain for decades, providing a permanent northern home for the collection outside of London. VisitScotland expo will give buyers a privileged insight into what is set to be a premier visitor attraction in Dundee in 2017.
In its 35 years, VisitScotland expo has helped add Scotland to the itineraries of tour operators from around 40 different countries, including key markets such as North America, Europe and the UK, as well as emerging markets like India, Russia and the Middle East.
In addition to the trade show, VisitScotland has also organised a series of ‘familiarisation trips’ to give those attending expo a real-life, first-hand experience of the types of holidays they will be able to provide to customers.
Fam trips this year include a German-speaking tour exploring clans and castles in the east of Scotland, a tasty food and drink themed trip around west Scotland, a Spanish-guided excursion of the Scottish Borders and a chance to learn about Scotland’s architectural landscape with a visit to some of the country’s most iconic buildings.
Tourism Minister Fergus Ewing said: “The VisitScotland Expo is a vital event giving our international visitors a flavour of all Scotland has to offer as well as providing a significant boost to the country’s world-class tourism economy.
“This is a massive year for Scotland with the second Year of Homecoming, the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup all putting our country on the international stage.
“During this time it is even more crucial to build and develop relationships with the travel trade to ensure Scotland remains at the forefront of the minds of tour operators and travel agents as well as with their clients, our prospective visitors.”
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland said: “Nowhere else would you find such a large and diverse range of tourism providers under one roof – we are literally cramming the whole of Scotland into the SECC! Expo is an excellent platform to promote Scotland’s tourism potential, It gives businesses that rare opportunity to come face to face with buyers from all across the world.
“2014 is an exciting year for Scotland with the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the Year of Homecoming, but our thoughts are now turning to what lies after the momentous events of this year. The conversations, discussions and business generated during the next two days will help ensure Scotland welcomes the world for many years to come.”
