THE Scottish marine industry’s tourism marketing association, Sail Scotland, led the way at Nautic Paris last week, placing Scotland in the spotlight on a stand designed to highlight the best of Scottish sailing and boating tourism.
Nautic Paris Boat Show brings together all sectors of the watersports industry and becomes France’s biggest ‘indoor port’ for nine days.
From Saturday 2nd to Sunday 10th December 2017, Sail Scotland joined over 650 exhibitors at one of Europe’s largest boat shows. The Scotland stand was positioned prominently alongside other destinations from around the globe, to promote Scottish sailing holidays, canals, yacht charters, sailing schools, marinas and boatyards to over 200,000 French consumers.
There were many highlights from visitors to the stand; from those who have boats currently in Scottish marinas, to others planning their first trip for 2018.
One visitor from Brittany will bring his boat to Orkney for the season flying a crew change up for the return trip, whilst a group of 16 wanted to charter three boats for a fortnight to sail the west coast in July. And, of course, many just wanted to share their love of Scotland, from a couple who had married at Loch Ness last year, to a gentleman who had ‘bagged’ 22 of Scotland’s Munros on sailing trips stretching back three decades.
Gavin McDonagh, chair of Sail Scotland, said: “The Nautic Paris Boat Show is one of the largest boating and watersports shows in the world and represents a major opportunity to showcase Scotland, engage with the French market, and attract new visitors.
“It was an excellent stand and I am sure that our members will see the benefit from this work as French boats and sailors continue to explore our waters over the coming months and beyond”.
Sail Scotland chief executive, Daniel Steel, added: “The French market has a great affinity with Scotland. We talked to a lot of people over the nine days who will be visiting Scotland in 2018, and we already know that our businesses have taken tangible enquiries as a direct result of the work in Paris.
“Our social media campaigns have also ensured that we reached the boating audience across France, reminding them that favourable exchange rates make this a perfect time for them to explore Scotland’s world-renowned coast and inland waterways.”
Sail Scotland also delivered a French language social media campaign to tie in with attendance at Nautic Paris.
This reached over 30,000 French boaters, ensuring that the message to come and Sail Scotland reached far and wide across the country.
The Sail Scotland stand presence was supported by funding from Scottish Development International (SDI), and the VisitScotland Growth Fund.
Following quickly on from the success of the presence in Paris, Sail Scotland will turn their attention to London Boat Show in January 2018, with a strong stand presence planned to showcase Scotland and further strengthen its position as a key destination for sailing and marine tourism.
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Daniel Steel
Chief executive – Sail Scotland
Tel: 07803207364
Email: daniel.steel@sailscotland.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Sail Scotland Ltd is the Scottish marine industry’s tourism marketing organisation. It is a membership based organisation, with members ranging from small holiday companies to large multi-national marinas.
Sail Scotland’s marketing campaign has received £22,500 funding from the VisitScotland Growth Fund, and £11,900 from Scottish Development International.
The VisitScotland Growth Fund is for well-researched, new, collaborative marketing campaigns from groups of tourism businesses that operate at regional or national level.
For more information on the VisitScotland Growth Fund visit: www.visitscotland.org/growthfund
MEDIA RELEASE issued by Sail Scotland. You too can share your stories (aka press or media releases), on this site. Email here for more information.
Check out twitter.com/scotsbulletin for your very own media releases feed…
Check out too twitter.com/allTravelPR and twitter.com/allSportsPR.
Stay connected with our various twitter feeds: Charities, Drink, Education, Energy, Fashion, Film, Food, Gardens, Legal, Motors, Music, Outdoors, Property, Science and Sports. And not forgetting Finance, Theatre, Travel, Festivals, Visual Arts, Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth and Stirling.
Sail Scotland contact details…
Contact: Daniel Steel
Phone: 07803207364
Email: daniel.steel@sailscotland.co.uk
Website: http://www.sailscotland.co.uk
