TOURISM operators from Speyside and the wider area are being encouraged to find out how two of Scotland’s most iconic products can give their businesses a welcome boost.
A day-long international tourism event will tell participants how important whisky and golf are to Scotland’s tourism industry. A number of key speakers will provide information about the whisky and golf markets, hopefully encouraging an increase in business as a result.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in conjunction with Scottish Development International (SDI) and VisitScotland are behind the event that is aimed at accommodation providers, restaurants, distillery visitor centres, golf clubs and courses, tourist attractions, activity providers, restaurants, tour guides, retailers, tour operators and transport providers.
Ewan Colville of VisitScotland will outline the key core markets of the United States and Germany along with the latest information about emerging markets like China and Russia. Roy Graff of ChinaContact will be on hand to explain the huge potential of the emerging Chinese market.
Chris Conway from the Scotch Whisky Tourism Initiative will talk about collaborative developments within whisky, golf and tourism while Brian Robinson of the Glenfiddich Distillery Visitor Centre will explain how their five-star attraction caters for international tourists.
Fraser Cromarty of Castle Stuart will provide an overview of the Scottish golf sector and Gordon Dalgleish of Perry Golf will share his experiences of the US market. Roger Niemeyer from Alliance Hotel Consultants will also explain the various routes to international markets.
Steven Hutcheon, senior development manager at HIE Moray said: “This is a great opportunity for tourism operators to hear about how their businesses and organisations could benefit from the growing popularity of whisky and golf. These niche markets can help them target higher spending visitors as well as extend the length of their season into the autumn and winter.
“Attendance is free and delegates also have the chance to be in from the start on some positive and practical actions that result from a group discussion that will be led by SDI. We are also encouraging participants to stay after lunch where they can have one-to-one meetings with speakers and sponsors and network with other delegates.”
Whisky and Golf International Tourism takes place on Thursday 6th December
2007 at The Glenfarclas Distillery, Speyside.
For further information and to book a place log on to www.smas.co.uk or contact Stewart Miller on 01369 830000, email: info@smas.co.uk.
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Contact: Mairi Gillies
Phone: 01463 244235
Email: Mairi.Gillies@hient.co.uk
Website: http://www.hie.co.uk
