VisitScotland are delighted to welcome David Jackson, who joins the organisation as the new Regional Director for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside.

David has spent the last twenty years working in travel, tourism and destination management across the UK, following his graduation from the University of Derby in 2001. He has recently moved to Aberdeenshire from Cheltenham in Gloucestershire with his wife, Lisa, and two daughters to take up the position of Regional Director.

In his spare time, David enjoys spending time with his family, especially in the outdoors and at the coast where he enjoys surfing and exploring in his vintage VW campervan.

David's role and professional background

David’s appointment will see him collaboratively working with local tourism organisations such as local councils, VisitAberdeenshire, Visit Moray Speyside and many other stakeholders to maximise the visitor economy, sustainable tourism and tourism recovery following the CV19 pandemic.

After an initial two years working in tour operating, David secured his first destination role at the destination marketing organisation (DMO) in Lincoln, where he went on to lead the county’s £2million digital tourism project - one of the first of its kind in the country.

Since then, David’s career has taken him to a series of senior roles in a range of settings, from running the regional quality, digital and Information Centres programme in the north-west of England through to Head of Marketing at Visit Bath.

More recently, David spent five years as Director of the DMO on the Isles of Scilly, The Islands' Partnership, prior to heading up Marketing Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.

Hear from David about his decision to move to Scotland and take up this role…

“So why Scotland? To my family and I, it’s more a question of why not Scotland? Scotland, and in particular the north-east, has so much to offer. There's spectacular coastline and beaches, amazing outdoor and adventure experiences – and of course Aberdeen, a city rich in history yet with a distinctive style and contemporary culture in equal measure.

Professionally, it was a similarly easy decision to make. VisitScotland is widely recognised as one of the leading tourism bodies anywhere in the world so to have the opportunity to become part of that and make my own contribution is incredibly exciting.”

David Jackson, Regional Director for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside, VisitScotland

VisitScotland's Regional Directors have the responsibility of making the most of tourism opportunities as well as developing and strengthening partnerships within their region. They work in collaboration with local authorities, destination organisations and other key stakeholders.

If you're a tourism business within Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside, David would love to hear from you.

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