Press release -
Hello Canada!
As the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in Canada - its last stop before returning to Europe - Scotland’s national tourism organisation has embarked on a week of activity designed to sell Scotland to one of the largest Commonwealth nations.
Canada is Scotland’s fifth most valuable international market, with 90,000 visitors in 2012 spending approximately £78 million.
In order to ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of visitors’ minds, particularly after momentous events such as the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles and the Year of Homecoming,
VisitScotland and partners including the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and a number of Scottish suppliers have organised a programme of events designed to strengthen the country’s tourism links.
The activity, which covers Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax and Toronto sees VisitScotland engage with travel agents and tour operators to encourage them to include Scotland on their itineraries.
As well as talking to businesses, VisitScotland representatives will also be meeting a number of Canadian media publications to promote Scotland’s world-class tourism offering to their readers, listeners and viewers.
The visit also coincides with the launch of a new airline route (29th April) that will take passengers from Halifax to Glasgow and Paris. Europe Airpost is debuting the direct route between July 3 – August 29, 2014.
Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “The QBR’s journey around the world has provided a perfect opportunity to promote the Games and sell Scotland to the world. Canada is an important market for Scottish tourism, many Canadians have Scottish ancestry or an interest in our heritage and culture, but we must work hard if we want to remain at the top of their travelling wish list.
“We need to ensure getting to Scotland is easy, affordable and worthwhile and that is what this visit is all about, building relationships, strengthening links and maximising the potential unique events like the Commonwealth Games, the Ryder Cup and the Year of Homecoming have granted us.”
Scotland is set to welcome the world in 2014 with three momentous events: the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the year-long Homecoming 2014 celebrations and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
For further information contact:
Louise Purves
Corporate Press Officer
Tel: 0131 472 2052
Louise.purves@visitscotland.com
Out of hours media enquiries: 07699 766986
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- glasgow 2014 commonwealth games
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:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to Scotland
- 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.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- 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
