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Even Icelandic Ash Doesn’t Cloud Scotland’s Tourism Showcase
Wednesday, 17 Apr, 2010
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See interview with Mike Cantley new Chairman of VisitScotland CLICK HERE
Neither the recession nor Icelandic volcano ash could dampen spirits at this year’s VisitScotland Expo.
Over 200 suppliers of tourism products from all over Scotland exhibited, and over 850 buyers from all over the world including Europe, the USA and the Far East, as well as the UK and Ireland attended VisitScotland Expo http://www.visitscotlandexpo.com/ held in Glasgow.
At the SECC on the banks of Scotland’s River Clyde, buyers gathered to view the cream of hospitality products at this unique `Scottish tourism showcase’.
In the two days of the expo every iconic Scottish cultural product was brought to bear to show off the ‘Grande Dame’ of global tourism to its very best. Tartan and tweed, bagpipes and kilts, and, of course, lots and lots of whisky. Moreover, the very best of Scottish food was on show from dairy products like cheese and ice-cream to highland beef, game, haggis and tablet (Scottish Fudge).
It all amply demonstrated the integral nature of Scottish Tourism – a brand of brands – using tourism to connect crafts with heritage with culture with employment to deliver and leverage substantial benefits to the Scottish economy.
No more so than the networking event that took hundreds of potential buyers down the river Clyde to experience an evening of the best Scotland has to offer. Food and drink, highland pipe and drum music, a ceilidh party with Scottish dancing, even winter adventure sports on real snow.
Scotland knows that it has the opportunity to deliver a cohesive tourism product at its very best. Every facet of Scotland’s ecological heritage, its hills, valleys, meadows, woods, mountains, burns, rivers, lochs and seas provide the opportunity to deliver an outstanding level of hospitality and visitor experience and it is this that sustains the powerful tourism industry.
Sustainable tourism was mentioned time and time again and with good reason. More than many destinations, Scotland knows how important the tourist spend is to its economy, how integral tourism is to the global marketing of its key industry sectors, and how critical a sustainable approach is to protect the environmental and cultural ‘factory’ that produces its income.
At Expo 2010, Visit Scotland’s new chairman, Mike Cantley announced both the opening of entries for the Scottish Thistle Awards and a new initiative whereby old winners will assist and mentor potential entrants – further emphasizing the cohesive and co-operative nature of Scotland’s tourism and its opportunities for sustainable development. SEE THISTLE AWARDS
Even the dust cloud of ash stopping all flights out of Scotland was seen as an opportunity by the enthusiastic Scottish tourism trade. On the final day, when buyers were set to go home, a VisitScotland team was on duty manning a help desk at 6.45am to demonstrate what hospitality and service meant in practice by making their departures easier and smoother. As Izzi O’Brien, VisitScotland’s Head of Events and Exhibitions said “We call it a captive audience! Our tourism suppliers have been fantastic, coming up to suggest how they can help and show just how welcome all our buyers are.”
Scotland has been at the forefront of tourism for over 200 years. The challenge is to sustain it for a few centuries more, judging by VisitScotland Expo 2010, Scotland has certainly set its sails for success.
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