Region’s firms meet global tour operators

ARGYLL and the Isles Tourism Co- operative (AITC), Cruise Loch Lomond and Cowal Way joined top tourism businesses and organisations at Scotland’s biggest travel trade event at the SEC in Glasgow recently.

VisitScotland Expo 2017 was the 38th staging of Scotland’s biggest business-to-business event for the travel trade.

The national tourism organisation’s flagship show gave 276 Scottish tourism businesses the chance to showcase their products and services to more than 600 tour operators and travel agents.

The Argyll and the Isles exhibitors showcased the region as a world- class visitor destination – as the current Wild About Argyll marketing campaign highlights – and inspired travel trade professionals from the home and overseas markets to bring their clients to explore all that it offers.

VisitScotland is organising a number of familiarisation visits or ‘fam trips’ for groups of the expo attendees. The series includes a trip to Mull and overnight stay at the Ardanaiseig Hotel for a 12-strong group of US-tour operators sponsored by Delta Air Lines.

In addition, a film and literature trip will involve a group of international delegates enjoying dinner and an overnight stay at Loch Melfort Hotel at Arduaine near Oban, visiting Inveraray Castle – the location for a Downton Abbey Christmas special – and lunch at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar.

David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland regional director, said: ‘These fam trips are a great way of letting travel operators experience a selection of the wonderful, diverse range of attractions that Argyll and the Isles boasts.

‘Giving Expo delegates a taste of what their own tour customers could enjoy here definitely allows us to demonstrate the huge sales potential the region has. A visit really helps to seal the deal so it’s fantastic that we’ll be welcoming these very influential visitors here.’

Gavin Dick, chairman of Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co- operative, added: ‘Argyll and the Isles has an incredible range of land and water-based adventures to suit all interests and abilities. Through our Wild About Argyll film and other content we gave the travel trade a real taste of the adventures their clients can experience – both wild and mild.

‘We are delighted so many attendees are undertaking fam trips in Argyll and that a number of our local operators are able to demonstrate first hand just what we have on offer – and how AITC can help attendees build their own Wild About Argyll itineraries and tours.’