Newcampaignlaunched to attract visitors to city
A NEW campaign has been launched to attract visitors from around the world to Glasgow.
It aims to showcase the city as a cultural powerhouse and the gateway to Scotland.
In recent weeks, Glasgow Life has been rolling out promotional material in key tourist markets including the US, Germany, France and Iceland and has welcomed visiting travel media from Australia, Canada and Ireland.
Together the seven countries account for nearly 350,000 visitors to the city each year boosting the l ocal economy by £109million.
The campaign highlights accommodation, food and drink, music, culture, leading attractions and major events including the first European Championships in 2018.
It also involves working with Delta Airlines and Air France on campaigns to promote new direct flights from Glasgow to Paris and New York. The city’s new tourism visitor plan aims to increase overnight leisure tourism visits by one million over the next seven years.
Glasgow currently attracts just over two million tourists a year who spend almost £500m. A further 20m day visitors contribute around £1billion to the local economy on an annual basis.
For the first time the city’s cultural tourism, which is being promoted to UK and international markets, focuses on heritage, contemporary art, music, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, events and the city’s success as a world class sporting destination.
The city’s new tourism plan also promotes Glasgow as a place to study and work and highlights the unique characteristics of city residents.
City council leader Frank McAveety said: “If we are to achieve our ambitious target of increasing overnight tourist numbers to three million by 2023 then it is vitally important we continue to tell Glasgow’s story around the world.
“Working with our industry and national partners and the wider global travel trade to market Glasgow as a cultural and creative powerhouse and to position the city as the gateway to Scotland is key to attracting new overseas visitors.
“We are home to world class museums, unrivalled contemporary art and music scenes, an incredible built heritage and an outstanding food and drink industry.
“And we are continuing to invest in our cultural treasures with the £56m refurbishment of the Burrell Collection and the £35m transformation of Kelvin Hall as well as our commitment to promoting the wonderful legacy of Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
“All of this will inspire tourists and deliver compelling reasons to visit Glasgow and Scotland in the years to come.”