International travel trade can now sign up for VisitScotland virtual event
Tour operators, DMCs and travel agents* can book their place to connect with Scottish businesses and destination management organisations next year.
Registrations for The National Tourism Organisation’s Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022 open on December 1, providing an exclusive opportunity for the international travel trade to connect with the industry in Scotland.
The latest consumer sentiment indicates that responsible tourism is a consideration for many travellers across the world, with nearly two-thirds of visitors saying they considered sustainability and the environmental impact when planning future holidays. Those saying they were comfortable using public transport within the destination, for example, had risen 10% to 61%, between December 2020 and September 2021.i
VisitScotland’s virtual event programme takes place 5-7 April 2022 and will offer a mix of pre-scheduled and ad hoc meeting appointments between Scottish exhibitors and international buyers, on-demand content and virtual experiences.
The focus of the event will be driven by new responsible product development by enabling Scottish businesses to showcase their commitment to make Scotland a leading destination for sustainable, accessible and inclusive tourism.
To complement this focus, the event programme will include round table panel discussions – discussing the opportunities and challenges of responsible tourism, promoting sustainable products and encouraging responsible product development.
The virtual event will cater to different time zones, thus making business with Scottish exhibitors very accessible.
International visitors are vital to Scottish tourism and in 2019 people coming here from outside of the UK made 3.5 million overnight stays in the country, spending £2.5 billion, which is 43% of the total overnight spend in Scotland. VisitScotland has continued to engage with international markets throughout the pandemic, hosting two online travel trade events, Scotland Reconnect, in 2020 and in 2021. The event this year saw 390 buyers from 26 countries connect online with almost 300 Scottish suppliers.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “International visitors are incredibly important to Scotland and our industry has been longing to welcome them back to our shores.
Discover Scotland 2022 promotes Scotland and enables Scottish businesses to connect virtually with travel agents and tour operators from the globe to help attract visitors, from near and far, to Scotland and help rebuild Scotland’s valuable tourism industry.
VisitScotland is committed to working with the industry to create a long-lasting sustainable tourism destination that will protect the natural and cultural environment and benefit visitors and residents alike. Discover Scotland 2022 will support this aspiration by showcasing responsible tourism products to our international colleagues.
Tourism is a force for good and makes Scotland richer, economically and socially, and without it Scotland would be a much poorer place.”
*Businesses should visit www.visitscotland.com/discoverscotland and consult the FAQs when considering registration or contact discoverscotland@visitscotland.com to discuss eligibility and other development opportunities
