Press release -

A reel holiday to remember

National tourism organisation VisitScotland has teamed up with Lionsgate UK to promote the country with a new comedy starring Billy Connolly and David Tennant.

The Scottish comedy legend and former Doctor Who star play a father and son in the aptly titled What we did on our Holiday, a film VisitScotland says is a perfect advert for the country’s stunning scenery and sense of fun.

Written and directed by Andy Hamilton and Guy Jenkin, the duo behind smash hit BBC comedy Outnumbered, the film sees Doug (Tennant) travel to the Highlands with his wife Abi (Rosamund Pike) and their three children to attend the birthday party of Doug’s father, Gordie (Connolly), where it’s soon clear that when it comes to keeping secrets under wraps, their children are their biggest liability.

Filmed in locations such as Gairloch and Loch Katrine, Callander, What we did on our Holiday hits UK cinema screens on 26 September.

The partnership between VisitScotland and Lionsgate UK will involve joint marketing and PR activity designed to showcase Scotland to the family market, and will include a social media campaign encouraging people to share “what they did on their holiday” in Scotland.

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “The production crew of What we did on our Holiday have done an amazing job of capturing the unique peace, tranquility and breathtaking landscapes of Scotland. Our partnership with Lionsgate UK gives us an excellent platform to make the most of this excellent opportunity. Scotland never fails to look stunning on the big screen, and I’m sure this feel-good film will encourage more cinema goers to come and explore this wonderful country for themselves.”

Ross Cunningham, Head of Marketing at Lionsgate UK, said: “We are delighted to partner with VisitScotland for the launch of What we did on our Holiday. The film is a truly fantastic, comedic heart-warmer, and really shows Scotland at its stunning best, with beautifully lavish landscapes that are breathtakingly unique to Scotland.”

VisitScotland research has shown that a fifth of visitors to Scotland are inspired to come here after seeing the country on film or on television.

What we did on our Holiday is released UK-wide on 26 September. Watch the trailer below. 

 

Topics

  • Tourism

Categories

  • corporate communications

Regions

  • Scotland

Notes to Editors:

  • Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
  • VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland. 
  • The organisation has three key roles:
  1. To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
  2. To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
  3. To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to exceed customer expectations
  • VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
  • The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
  • 2014 is the year Scotland welcomes the world, when it hosts the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and more than 800 Homecoming events throughout the country.For more information on Homecoming Scotland 2014, go to www.visitscotland.com
  • The VisitScotland Information Centre network is a unique face-to-face channel engaging with around five million visitors and locals each year. Everyone who uses a VisitScotland Information Centre goes on to spend an additional £5.35, generating over £24 million for Scotland’s economy. 
  • According to a recent Deloitte study, tourism employs 270,000 people in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the industry contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
  • Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
  • For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
  • For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
  • For more information on VisitScotland’s annual review please go to www.visitscotland.org/about_us/our_focus/annual_report.aspx

Contacts

Chelsea Charles

Press contact Scotland’s Themed Years Communications & Engagement Manager Contact for media enquiries on: Scotland’s Themed Years (i.e. 2018 Year of Young People; 2020 Year of Scotland's Coast and Waters; 2022 Year of Scotland's Stories) 0131 472 2067

Carrie MacWilliam

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - National Contact for media enquiries on: Travel media (Scotland); Year of Young People; UK Marketing; Dundee; Fife; Angus; Perthshire 0131 472 2052

Amelia Whittaker

Press contact Senior Corporate Press Officer - Regional Contact for media enquiries on: South Region; Edinburgh and Lothians; Food and Drink; Scottish Thistle Awards 01750 723806

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