{"id":415808,"date":"2025-09-11T12:49:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/415808\/"},"modified":"2025-09-11T12:49:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-11T12:49:11","slug":"making-positive-connections-the-nen-north-edinburgh-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/415808\/","title":{"rendered":"Making positive connections \u2013 The NEN \u2013 North Edinburgh News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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TOURISM businesses from Edinburgh and the Lothians are being invited to sign up to an event at which they can do business with global tour operators, travel advisors and Destination Management Companies representing Scotland\u2019s most important visitor markets.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

VisitScotland Connect 2026, supported by Visit Glasgow, will be held for the first time in the city next year at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) and registration is open. The event is a key part of the national tourism and event organisation\u2019s activity to drive the visitor economy by increasing Scotland\u2019s share of global tourism.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 50 tourism businesses from Edinburgh and the Lothians attended this year\u2019s event at P&J Live in Aberdeen, where Scottish tourism businesses met with travel intermediaries. These included tour operators and travel agents who plan trips to Scotland for their clients across the globe, including in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the UK domestic market.\u00a0<\/p>\n

These operators help promote a spread of destinations and can ensure Edinburgh and the Lothians are included in travel itineraries for the coming years and that the holiday offering continues to evolve and fit the demands of the modern traveller.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

VisitScotland\u2019s flagship travel trade event is designed to provide a targeted platform for trade-ready Scottish businesses \u2013 including accommodation, experiences and attractions \u2013 to connect with domestic and international travel trade buyers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pietro Cecchini, Head of Business Development at The Scotch Whisky Experience, said:\u00a0\u201cWe are 100% committed to VisitScotland Connect, which lies at the heart of our annual B2B sales and marketing strategy. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cAs Scotland\u2019s leading travel trade event, it has proven itself, year after year, to be the most cost-effective platform for delivering annual business growth, by introducing us to prospective new clients, international and domestic, and enabling us to catch up in person with existing partners and friends from across our global tourism network.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Claire Dutton, Tourism Officer at East Lothian Council, said:\u00a0\u201cScotland Connect provides Visit East Lothian the perfect platform to speak to global travel trade operators including key overseas markets to our area, we were delighted we were able to bring along ten businesses this year who could establish their own connections with the trade. <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWe spoke to a number of operators and have provided a range of assistance since the event to those looking to book their trips to East Lothian. It is important we continue to promote East Lothian to the travel trade, and we will definitely be returning next year.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

New figures* show that this year\u2019s event, which was attended by almost 250 tourism businesses and over 270 travel intermediaries, resulted in bookings worth an estimated \u00a38.6 million to Scotland.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

A survey conducted after the event found that every Scottish tourism business who responded anticipated generating sales for their business as a result of attending. Additionally, 91% of travel trade buyers said they anticipate introducing, expanding, updating or changing their programme or products as a result.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

A total of 8,200 meetings were held \u2013 up by 1,200 on 2024 \u2013 and 50 of the Scottish tourism businesses who attended the event were new to\u00a0VisitScotland Connect\u00a0this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Figures show Scotland welcomed a record number of international visitors in 2024. With half of all overseas visitors booking their trips through tour operators or travel advisors, the event has been credited with helping Scottish suppliers get their experiences and services in front of global audiences.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to the event in Glasgow, a specially curated programme of familiarisation (fam) trips will be organised to showcase the best of Scotland\u2019s tourism offering.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Highlighting products with a strong emphasis on sustainability, these fam trips allow travel trade representatives to experience first-hand everything from local culture and food and drink to rail and public transport, luxury and outdoor adventures and wildlife at a variety of different destinations.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director, said:\u00a0\u201cVisitScotland Connect is an integral part of our work to help more Scottish tourism and events businesses to internationalise and capitalise on growing international interest.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTourism is vital to Edinburgh and the Lothians, and I would encourage trade-ready tourism businesses in the region to sign up for 2026.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to Scottish Growth Sector Statistics, the total overnight spend by international and domestic visitors to the Edinburgh and Lothians in 2024 was \u00a32.7 billion. This stimulates investment, creates jobs in communities across the region, enhances Scotland\u2019s global reputation, and boosts visitors\u2019 and our own health and wellbeing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is so important as the industry continues to face challenges as a result of the cost of living and the cost of doing business.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI was pleased to see Edinburgh and Lothians tourism businesses attending this year to showcase this unique and captivating region to a global audience.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cEncouraging visitors to explore the region all year round and to spend more money in our local communities is vital for the sustainable growth of the visitor economy.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

VisitScotland Connect will be held on 15 and 16 April 2026, at the SEC in Glasgow and is for businesses who are ready to work with travel trade. <\/p>\n

Trade-ready Scottish businesses can register to participate\u00a0via the registration link on the\u00a0Connect event website.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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