Tell your clients it’s time to go looking for Nessie, because VisitScotland has launched a new event series to reconnect Scottish businesses with the global travel trade.
Discover Scotland 2022 is a new event series, including five regional showcases and an online business-to-business event to ensure the Scottish tourism industry stays connected with the world despite the challenges of COVID-19.
The online event, Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022, will take place virtually on from 5 April to 7 April 2022; and the regional showcases, Discover Scotland: Live Showcase, will then be held in May and September 2022.
Together, the events will replace the annual VisitScotland Expo with a new format designed to mitigate the challenges of the pandemic, build on the success of Scotland Reconnect 20/21 and welcome international buyers back to Scotland with regional showcases.
The events also aim to highlight Scotland’s responsible tourism practices with a view to position the country as a leading destination for sustainable tourism.
In fact, the national tourism organisation made a public declaration to play a leading role in the development of Scotland as a globally recognised responsible destination.
Since then, VisitScotland has been working with the Scottish tourism and events industry to create a long-lasting sustainable tourism destination that will protect the natural and cultural environment and benefit visitors and residents alike.
“We have worked with tourism industry representatives to ensure that this travel trade program of activity meets their needs in 2022 and ensures that connection to international buyers remains possible. It is something we are very much looking forward to delivering,” said VisitScotland CEO Malcolm Roughead.
“The challenges of the pandemic have given us the opportunity to reconsider the way we deliver events. Discover Scotland has been designed to meet the needs of the tourism industry in 2022 and ensure that connecting with buyers remains possible through a new program of activity.”
Scotland Reconnect was held virtually in November 2020 and was successfully repeated in April 2021 as an alternative to live events during the pandemic. More than 7,000 pre-arranged business meetings took place over the three days in April.
In April 2022, VisitScotland anticipates virtual attendance from around 300 buyers from more than 20 markets, and attendance by 300 Scottish suppliers.
For more information go HERE.
Featured image source: iStock/ASKA
