Distillery taking part in online tourism event

Representatives of Crieff’s Glenturret Distillery will be among those taking part in a virtual event organised by national tourism agency VisitScotland next week.

More than 280 Scottish businesses are set to virtually showcase their wares during ‘Scotland Reconnect 2021’, which takes place from April 27-29 and has been planned to allow people to connect with buyers from around the globe, to attract visitors and help rebuild the country’s tourism industry following the Covid-19 pandemic.

The inaugural Scotland Reconnect event last November involved more than 5000 meetings, with international travel trade attending online from 23 countries.

This year, buyers from 26 countries – including the USA, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Holland,

Scandinavia, Australia, Brazil and the Middle East – are attending, as well as London-based inbound operators representing the Japanese and Chinese markets.

VisitScotland’s chairman, John Thurso, will open and close Scotland Reconnect 2021, which will be followed by a closing event featuring Ceilidh Connections and Radio Scotland ‘Take to the Floor’ host, Gary Innes.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, said: “We are delighted to be able to support businesses in Perth and Kinross in their aspirations to trade internationally.

“The last 12 months have been extremely challenging for tourism businesses and Scotland Reconnect provides a great platform for businesses to make connections with UK and overseas buyers.

“Feedback from our inaugural event in November was very positive, so we are hopeful that Scotland Reconnect this month will generate further important sales for the businesses attending.

“This business will in turn generate more income for the region as travel restrictions are eased in 2021.

“Demand is building and tourism businesses across the region are ready to offer a warm welcome back to visitors when the time is right.

“Until our face-to-face travel trade show VisitScotland Expo can return safely, Scotland Reconnect is the next best way to keep Scotland at the forefront of international travel trade’s minds.”

For further information of VisitScotland’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, see www.visitscotland.org