VisitScotland Expo 2016 expected to lift country's financials by 40pc-plus

BTN News
Saturday, 23 April 2016

Scotland’s biggest travel trade show got under way on Wednesday April 20 in the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. MICE/BTN's Jack Handley was there.

 

The two-day VisitScotland Expo, supported by the country’s tourism body VisitScotland and the host city’s Marketing Edinburgh as well as regional bodies and businesses, is expected to contribute more than GBP630,000 to the Scottish economy, up more than 40 per cent on the 2015 Aberdeen event.  Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland said: “VisitScotland expo is an invaluable opportunity for Scottish businesses to meet face to face with tour operators from across the globe, bringing the opportunity to make new contacts, negotiate new deals and learn new ways of doing business.

“It’s fantastic to see the large numbers of international and UK buyers heading to expo this year.  It’s particularly pleasing to see a number of major airlines and other transport providers recognising the event as a great place to do business with Scotland." 

Well-known airlines 

More than 420 global tourism operators and 190 UK buyers were joined by some of the world’s fastest-growing airlines.

Familiar names in Australia Etihad and Qatar were represented and wildly enthusiastic about Australia's contribution to their Edinburgh load factors.

Citing peak period demand from across Australia for the Edinburgh Fringe, the Tattoo, golf and rugby football events plus visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic and seasonal leisure business, both said inbound travel was extremely strong and outbound often above budget.

Qatar Air was keen to promote its upcoming Adelaide and Auckland services, but also was keen to promote QMICE, a 'one-stop-shop' for organising events world wide with information at qatarairways.com/qmice.

The other major Gulf carrier, Emirates, was not represented at the Expo this year.

Elsewhere at the Expo, Turkish Airlines - keen to fly to Australia once its fleet is expanded and perhaps with new flights coinciding with the opening of the 'Istanbul New Airport', which could well be the world's biggest airport when completed, said its loads to Scotland more than justified its presence in the country.

Delta, meanwhile, which partners with Virgin Atlantic across the Atlantic, was proud to talk about its latest route, a daily Edinburgh-John F Kennedy, USA service for the northern summer and five flights weekly in winter. It also was keen to push its new code share with flybe, which opens up flights to and from airports across the UK and in Europe. 

Other carrier newcomers include Air Transat, flying Montreal to Glasgow and Air Canada Rouge flying Toronto to Glasgow.

Growing attractions

Overall, buyers met with with more than 275 Scottish tourism businesses, showcasing food and drink, accommodation, entertainment, culture, scenery and attractions businesses, more than at Aberdeen last year - and that meet saw an estimated GBP24 million worth of business conducted over the course of the event.

Some of the stands that stood out included the new Borders Railway, which stretches 30 miles from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders. 

Already embraced by commuters, the next plan is to boost tourism via initiatives including a partnership with Midlothian buses to offer a hop-on, hop off explorer service that takes in Rosslyn Chapel, a microbrewery, a country park and the National Mining Museum. A family day ticket covering two adults and three children will cost GBP12 (about A$24).

Events hosted 

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland's ceo said: "Building on the phenomenal success of 2014, in 2015 we hosted the Davis Cup twice, the World Orienteering Championships, the World Gymnastics Championships and the Turner Prize.

"This year we celebrate Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

"With a year-long program of events, there is plenty of opportunity to to discover how Scottish people and inventions have contributed to the modern world."

Speaking ahead of the Expo, John Donnelly, ceo of Marketing Edinburgh said: “As the host city of VisitScotland Expo 2016, Marketing Edinburgh is proud to be official sponsor of this flagship tourism event.  Having recently been voted the fourth most beautiful city in the world by Rough Guide readers and best UK destination outside London in the 2016 Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards, Edinburgh is globally recognised as one of Scotland’s most iconic and appealing destinations. 

“Attracting 40 per cent of all overseas visitors, there is a huge opportunity to position Edinburgh as one of the strongest attack brands in driving new visitors to the country. As the gateway to Scotland, raising the city’s international profile brings a wider benefit to the tourism offering in all Scottish regions.”  

VisitScotland Expo 2016 expected to lift country's financials by 40pc-plus

BTN News
Saturday, 23 April 2016

Scotland’s biggest travel trade show got under way on Wednesday April 20 in the Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh. MICE/BTN's Jack Handley was there.

 

The two-day VisitScotland Expo, supported by the country’s tourism body VisitScotland and the host city’s Marketing Edinburgh as well as regional bodies and businesses, is expected to contribute more than GBP630,000 to the Scottish economy, up more than 40 per cent on the 2015 Aberdeen event.  Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of VisitScotland said: “VisitScotland expo is an invaluable opportunity for Scottish businesses to meet face to face with tour operators from across the globe, bringing the opportunity to make new contacts, negotiate new deals and learn new ways of doing business.

“It’s fantastic to see the large numbers of international and UK buyers heading to expo this year.  It’s particularly pleasing to see a number of major airlines and other transport providers recognising the event as a great place to do business with Scotland." 

Well-known airlines 

More than 420 global tourism operators and 190 UK buyers were joined by some of the world’s fastest-growing airlines.

Familiar names in Australia Etihad and Qatar were represented and wildly enthusiastic about Australia's contribution to their Edinburgh load factors.

Citing peak period demand from across Australia for the Edinburgh Fringe, the Tattoo, golf and rugby football events plus visiting friends and relatives (VFR) traffic and seasonal leisure business, both said inbound travel was extremely strong and outbound often above budget.

Qatar Air was keen to promote its upcoming Adelaide and Auckland services, but also was keen to promote QMICE, a 'one-stop-shop' for organising events world wide with information at qatarairways.com/qmice.

The other major Gulf carrier, Emirates, was not represented at the Expo this year.

Elsewhere at the Expo, Turkish Airlines - keen to fly to Australia once its fleet is expanded and perhaps with new flights coinciding with the opening of the 'Istanbul New Airport', which could well be the world's biggest airport when completed, said its loads to Scotland more than justified its presence in the country.

Delta, meanwhile, which partners with Virgin Atlantic across the Atlantic, was proud to talk about its latest route, a daily Edinburgh-John F Kennedy, USA service for the northern summer and five flights weekly in winter. It also was keen to push its new code share with flybe, which opens up flights to and from airports across the UK and in Europe. 

Other carrier newcomers include Air Transat, flying Montreal to Glasgow and Air Canada Rouge flying Toronto to Glasgow.

Growing attractions

Overall, buyers met with with more than 275 Scottish tourism businesses, showcasing food and drink, accommodation, entertainment, culture, scenery and attractions businesses, more than at Aberdeen last year - and that meet saw an estimated GBP24 million worth of business conducted over the course of the event.

Some of the stands that stood out included the new Borders Railway, which stretches 30 miles from Edinburgh to the Scottish Borders. 

Already embraced by commuters, the next plan is to boost tourism via initiatives including a partnership with Midlothian buses to offer a hop-on, hop off explorer service that takes in Rosslyn Chapel, a microbrewery, a country park and the National Mining Museum. A family day ticket covering two adults and three children will cost GBP12 (about A$24).

Events hosted 

Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland's ceo said: "Building on the phenomenal success of 2014, in 2015 we hosted the Davis Cup twice, the World Orienteering Championships, the World Gymnastics Championships and the Turner Prize.

"This year we celebrate Scotland's Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.

"With a year-long program of events, there is plenty of opportunity to to discover how Scottish people and inventions have contributed to the modern world."

Speaking ahead of the Expo, John Donnelly, ceo of Marketing Edinburgh said: “As the host city of VisitScotland Expo 2016, Marketing Edinburgh is proud to be official sponsor of this flagship tourism event.  Having recently been voted the fourth most beautiful city in the world by Rough Guide readers and best UK destination outside London in the 2016 Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards, Edinburgh is globally recognised as one of Scotland’s most iconic and appealing destinations. 

“Attracting 40 per cent of all overseas visitors, there is a huge opportunity to position Edinburgh as one of the strongest attack brands in driving new visitors to the country. As the gateway to Scotland, raising the city’s international profile brings a wider benefit to the tourism offering in all Scottish regions.”