Caithness tourism businesses reach out to potential customers around the world at VisitScotland online travel fair
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More than 40 Highland tourism and events businesses, including Dunnet Bay Distillers and John O' Groats Ferries Ltd, will connect with tour operators and travel agents from around the world at a brand-new travel trade event next month.
In a first for 2022, this year's VisitScotland Discover Scotland event combine an online business-to-business event – Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022, taking place from Tuesday, April 5, to Thursday, April 7, with five regional showcases.
Known as Discover Scotland: Live Showcase, these will be held in May and September 2022, promoting trade-ready Scottish tourism businesses to key buyers from 21 international markets.
Exhibitors from the Highlands include Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, Scot Mountain Holidays Limited, Inverness Custom Tours, Macleod Estate, John O Groats Ferries Limited, Seaflowerskye, Kincraig Castle Hotel, PDG Helicopters, High Life Highland, Airts and Pairts, Golf Highland, Speyside Wildlife and Venture North.
Discover Scotland is the only travel trade series that exclusively promotes Scotland as a visitor destination and enables Scottish businesses to connect with key buyers from around the globe to help attract visitors, from near and far, to Scotland and help rebuild Scotland’s valuable tourism industry.
336 tourism and events operators from across Scotland are due to attend the virtual event in April, to connect with 320 international delegates through one-to-one meetings, panel sessions and virtual networking.
A total of 65 participants have not previously attended a VisitScotland trade event. Of these, at least a dozen are from the Highlands, including Highland Experiences Ltd of Inverness, Above and Beyond Tours from Thurso, Rothiemurchus Estate, Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Dunnet Bay Distillers and 17th century Glenmorangie House near Tain.
Countries and territories represented by buyers at Discover Scotland include Scotland’s key markets; the wider UK, Canada, the USA, Germany, France, Spain and Italy.
Other short haul markets in Europe such as Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium, will also be represented as well as emerging markets the Republic of Korea, China, India, Japan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, South Africa, Israel, Australia, Brazil and Mexico.
Chris Taylor, VisitScotland regional leadership director, said: “The last two years have been extremely challenging for tourism businesses not just in the Highlands but across the globe. It is encouraging to see so many Highland tourism businesses signed up to Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022 and I am especially pleased to see such a number of new businesses taking part.
“Discover Scotland 2022 is part of VisitScotland’s activity to rebuild international tourism demand and support the country’s ambitions to be a leading destination for responsible tourism.
“The Scottish tourism industry has shown strength, resilience and innovation as it strives to navigate an unprecedented and ever-changing situation and we are looking forward to connecting with colleagues new and old.
“VisitScotland supports the tourism industry in its aspirations to internationalise and to attract business and revenues back from international markets in 2022 and beyond.”
Cory Jones, director of Highland Experiences, said: “We are so pleased to be attending Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022. Our award-winning kayak business, based in the Highlands has grown and is establishing itself as a quality-driven forward-thinking outdoor activity provider.
“With our expanded range of activities in 2022 – we now have kayak centres on Skye, the NC500 at Gairloch and on Loch Ness – Highland Experiences is looking to offer our experiences to package tour operators both in the UK and internationally.
“We already work with some international brands but attending Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022 will mean we can meet and discuss our offer with many more tour operators. As international markets open up, we hope this trade event will help us to establish our outdoor activity business alongside other providers in the Highlands and support the development of partnerships linking outdoor experiences across Scotland."
To find out more please visit Discover Scotland 2022 (eventsair.com)
