Press release -
Welcoming The World – are you ready?
As Scotland prepares to welcome the world in 2014, the importance of events and festivals and the impact of effective digital marketing are amongst the subjects of discussion at this year’s Dundee & Angus Tourism Conference.
Representatives from tourism businesses in Dundee, Angus, Perthshire and Fife will attend this sell-out event in March, which has been jointly organised by VisitScotland, Angus Council, Dundee City Council and the Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce.
The next few years will see a dramatic change in the east of Scotland’s visitor economy. In 2014, Scotland plays host to international sporting stars at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and The Ryder Cup, as well as another year of Homecoming Scotland.
The keynote address at the event will be made by MSP Humza Yousaf, Minister for External Affairs and International Development, and Professor John Lennon from The Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University will also speak on the importance of events and festivals.
Delegates will hear from Vicki Miller, of VisitScotland, and Caroline Millar, from The Hideaway Experience in Angus, on the impact of effective digital marketing.
Dundee will welcome the opening of the V&A at Dundee, the only design museum in UK outside London, which is expected to see an additional 250,000 visitors to the region. Other developments will also contribute to increasing visitor numbers, including Dundee’s Waterfront Development and the Angus at Kingennie.
As part of Scottish Tourism Week in March, this free event brings together a range of speakers to inspire and encourage businesses to get involved in the visitor economy and to prepare themselves for future opportunities.
Speakers will cover world class customer service and successful destination marketing. It will give businesses the tools they require, ideas from case studies and valuable networking opportunities to facilitate collaboration. The afternoon will provide an opportunity for like-minded businesses and exhibitors during the ‘mini-expo’ part of the event.
Jim Clarkson, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “This event will enable representatives from various tourism businesses in Dundee & Angus, Perthshire and Fife to hear first-hand from a range of different speakers about how they can make the most of the exciting opportunities this unique year will undoubtedly bring. It also gives them the chance to discuss how we can all be prepared to welcome the world to Scotland, as well as networking.
“We are keen to hear local views and feedback through our conferences, workshops and talks, which are designed to explore how we can all help the industry grow. I am positive that this event will have a great turnout.”
Sandra Burke, Chief Executive of Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, said: “This event is a great example of the private and public sector working together energetically to help businesses make the most of the tremendous hospitality and tourism opportunities coming this way in the next few years.
“I’m delighted to be chairing this sell-out conference, the response so far has been amazing”.”
Ends
For further information contact:
Mon - Wed:
Kim Walton, Corporate Press Officer North, VisitScotland
Tel: (01224) 269187 or 07805 802508
Email: kim.walton@visitscotland.com
Wed - Fri:
Lorna MacLennan, Corporate Press Officer North, VisitScotland
Email: lorna.maclennan@visitscotland.com
Tel: (01463) 252432 Mobile: 07785 515469
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- corporate communications
- homecoming 2014
- ryder cup
- 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
