Tourist trade bids for a slice of nationwide cash
Some of Ayrshire’s top visitor attractions are among those being presented at Scotland’s biggest trade travel event this week.
Glenapp Castle, SimpsInns and Auchrannie Resort are in a line up of 13 of Ayrshire & Arran’s top tourism and hospitality businesses representing the region.
VisitScotland Expo 2017, which takes place at Glasgow’s SEC ( Scottish Event Campus) today ( Wednesday) and tomorrow, will be the 38th staging of Scotland’s biggest business- tobusiness event for the travel trade.
The national tourism organisation’s flagship show will give 276 Scottish tourism businesses – including accommodation providers, visitor attractions and activity providers – from every corner of the country the chance to showcase their products and services to more than 600 tour operators and travel agents from all over the world.
The event is expected to create a net economic impact of £ 2.5 million for the local economy while, thanks to one- to- one appointments facilitated by VisitScotland, exhibitors are expected to generate an average of £ 22,000 worth of gross turnover as a result of attending.
Among the Ayrshire & Arran exhibitors attending this year’s Expo for the first time are Rowallan Castle and Blairquhan Castle, who will join fellow regional businesses and organisations including Ayrshire Golf Scotland and VisitArran to showcase their visitor offering to tour operators and travel agents from the home and overseas markets.
VisitScotland is organising a number of familiarisation visits or ‘ fam trips’ for groups of these Expo attendees.
The series includes an ‘ Exploring the South of Scotland’ fam trip for around 15 Chinese delegates.
The itinerary takes in a whisky tasting session at A. D. Rattray in Kirkoswald, dinner and an overnight stay at Trump Turnberry Resort, a visit to Culzean Castle, and lunch at Dumfries House.
Annique Armstrong, VisitScotland Regional Director, said: “Fam trips are an excellent way of giving international tour operators and travel agents a chance to see and experience a selection of our region’s stunning locations and finest attractions so that they will be inspired and encouraged to bring their own customers here.
“I’m therefore delighted that we’ll be welcoming visiting Expo delegates to Ayrshire & Arran.
“I’m also very pleased that so many great businesses from Ayrshire & Arran are taking part in this year’s Expo to showcase the region and highlight the quality of its visitor offering.”