Tourism businesses in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are being encouraged to register for a major event aimed at bringing more visitors to Scotland.
VisitScotland Connect is the national tourism organisation’s flagship travel trade event which connects Scottish tourism businesses with international tour operators and travel advisors.
It returns to P&J Live in Aberdeen on 17-18 April 2024 and eligible businesses are being invited to now register their attendance.
The event is open to Scottish tourism businesses that are offering a tourism product that can be contracted at trade rates and based in Scotland or have a Scottish office. They will also need to have staff experienced in working with UK and international trade buyers and have a listing on VisitScotland’s travel trade website.
Held for the first time in April 2023, the event aims to grow Scotland's share of global travel in a sustainable way. Tour operators and travel buyers meet with local tourism businesses and attractions, in person, under one roof.
Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course and Glen Garioch Distillery are located half a mile from each other in Oldmeldrum and exhibited together at VisitScotland Connect in April.
Alex Kapatsenja, Sales Manager at Meldrum House Country Hotel and Golf Course, said: “VisitScotland Connect was a great way of introducing people to what both Meldrum House and Glen Garioch Distillery can do together to showcase Aberdeenshire at its very best.
“We made a great number of new contacts who weren’t aware of what we are doing together and culminated in a number of new bookings and enquiries. We look forward to exhibiting together again this year.”
Millie Clarke, Head of Tourism Development at VisitAberdeenshire, said: “We are delighted that VisitScotland Connect will take place again at P&J Live in April 2024. This is another great opportunity for local businesses who have developed trade-ready products and experiences to meet with travel intermediaries from across the globe right here in the North-east, to build connections and secure new business.
The North-east of Scotland has so much to offer visitors, from its mountain ranges to 165 miles of coastline, to fine art and fine food, Royal connections, golf galore, 263 castles, and a whole host of unique attractions, museums, and experiences, all matched by the quality and capacity of our hotel stock.”
More than half of international visitors plan and book their travel through the travel trade. International visitors stay longer and spend more in local communities in every part of Scotland. International visitors account for approximately a fifth (20%) of total inbound visits but account for 43% of total spending.
2023 was the first time the national tourism organisation ran a workshop-style event, offering a more targeted opportunity to conduct 1-2-1 meetings between trade-ready Scottish suppliers and international buyers.
More than 250 international buyers representing 23 countries travelled to the Granite City. Over two days, they held over 6,000 meetings with trade-ready Scottish businesses.
The event has been praised for its importance in establishing connections, supporting businesses in their ambitions to internationalise, and the subsequent business potential it brings to Scotland’s valuable tourism industry.
Feedback from attendees revealed 91% of Scottish businesses said they anticipated generating sales from attending VisitScotland Connect.
Meanwhile, almost two-thirds of tour operators and travel agents stated the event helped introduce more possible destinations in Scotland to their programmes and products.
As well as direct meetings, more than 100 tour operators and travel agents were also given the opportunity to enjoy first-hand experience of Scotland’s tourism offering through a carefully curated programme of familiarisation trips, covering 20 regions during the week of the event.
There has been a real appetite again for global travel, with Scotland benefiting. The International Passenger (IPS) tourism statistics revealed there were new record periods in both July to September 2022 and October to December 2022 for spend by international visitors, resulting in a new January – December record of £3.2 billion, up by almost quarter on 2019 (24%).
David Jackson, VisitScotland Regional Director for Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside, said: “After the success of VisitScotland Connect 2023 and positive feedback from both buyers and suppliers, we are thrilled to be returning next year to P&J Live, the most sustainable venue of its type in the UK.
“I would encourage any regional trade-ready tourism business to register for the event, which offers a targeted opportunity to connect them with the travel trade, helping to generate sales and new business opportunities.
“Since the pandemic, more consumers have been using tour operators and travel agents to plan and book, due to the extra reassurance and guidance they offer.”
Louise Stewart, Head of Entertainment, Exhibitions & Marketing at P&J Live, said: “After a competitive bidding process, and having hosted this event in 2023, we are delighted to have been selected as the chosen venue for VisitScotland Connect 2024 and 2025, showcasing the very best tourism businesses that call Scotland their home.
“We work tirelessly, alongside VisitAberdeenshire and VisitScotland, to continue to attract national and international visitors to the city, and to host this event is a fantastic string to our bow. We very much look forward to welcoming travel trade from all over the world to the North-east.”
For more information about eligibility to work with the travel trade go to https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/travel-distribution/travel-trade-benefits
To register, go to www.visitscotland.com/connect