VisitScotland Counts Down To The Reconnect
Tour operators, wholesalers, destination management companies and travel agents around the globe will have the chance to connect and do business with Scottish tourism businesses when VisitScotland’s Scotland Reconnect 2021 digital trade workshop event opens for registrations on March 8.
Scotland’s National Tourism Organization is expecting about 7,500 business meetings over the three days, from April 27 to April 29.
As a result of the ongoing travel constraints, VisitScotland will deliver the Scotland Reconnect 2021 digital event in place of the VisitScotland Expo live workshop event, normally an annual feature of the business development calendar for the travel industry serving Scotland.
And recognizing the need for travel businesses at home and abroad to maintain contact throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Scotland Reconnect 2021 event has been organized following the highly successful format of VisitScotland’s inaugural digital event last November.
Last year’s event saw 264 buyers from 23 countries meet with 240 Scottish tourism businesses, operators and destination organizations.
Travel trade delegates will get the chance to engage with Scottish businesses and do business across all sectors of the tourism industry in Scotland across a program of 1-2-1 meetings and round table discussions on the latest issues affecting world travel and tourism.
International markets are incredibly important for Scottish tourism. In 2019, International visitors made 3.5 million overnight stays in the country, spending £2.5 billion, which is 43% of the total overnight spend in Scotland.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of VisitScotland, said: “With every corner of the world affected by the pandemic, it is vital we continue to engage and do business virtually as an industry across continents and international borders to help our economies recover, when it is safe for international travel to resume.
“The feedback from our digital travel trade event in November 2020 has been extremely positive.”
He continued: “While our world may be undergoing uncertainty and change, we want Scotland to remain a world class destination. By continuing to engage with our important international markets, we can ensure that Scotland’s spectacular landscapes, rich heritage and, of course, the warm welcome of our people are front of mind when it is safe for visitors to return.”
And he concluded: “Scottish tourism businesses have been working extremely hard to make sure their operations are in line with latest government safety guidelines while striving to maintain a high quality service for customers and they are looking forward to welcoming clients back as soon as it is safe to do so.”
To register, go to https://visitscotland.eventsair.com/scotlandreconnect2021
And for more on VisitScotland’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, go to https://www.visitscotland.org/supporting-your-business/advice/coronavirus .
