Welcome to (deep fried) Scotland

ANY campaign to attract visitors and investment to Scotland would surely promote the country’s beautiful scenery, scientific breakthroughs and sporting achievements.

But it may raise a few eyebrows to learn that a new initiative hailing Scottish firsts suggests that the deep-fried Mars bar is something to be proud of.

Yesterday the Scottish Government launched the Scotland is Now campaign, which has been designed to grow the economy by promoting the country as a top place to work, live, study and invest.

The £6million campaign includes a minutelong film showcasing some of Scotland’s most famous views and achievements and featuring a timeline of celebrated events and breakthroughs.

Among the most recognisable highlights are the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the bridges over the Forth, Andy Murray’s Wimbledon win and the creation of Dolly the Sheep.

The timeline also features a few less obvious choices. These include Scotland becoming the ‘unofficial football world champions’ in 1967 after beating England at Wembley, a year after they won the World Cup – and the creation of the deep-fried Mars bar in Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, in 1992.

The campaign has been launched to promote Scotland as an ‘open, diverse and welcoming country’ and to encourage people to ‘be part of its future’.

Scotland is Now was launched simultaneously yesterday in the US, London and China, where First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is on an official visit.

She said: ‘The message at the heart of Scotland Is Now is of a bold and positive country offering the warmest of welcomes, rich in history and heritage and with a progressive, pioneering and inclusive approach to our future.’