Angus tourism businesses reconnect with markets

Delegates were given a tour of Glamis Castle’s private rooms.

The tourism agency recently invited held tour operators, travel agents and destination management companies from the UK and around the world to the area as part of a series of familiarisation trips as part of its new travel trade event.

Discover Scotland 2022 has, for the first time, combined an online business-to-business event, known as ‘Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022’, which took place last month, with regional showcases, known as Discover Scotland: Live Showcase held in May and September.

For the first regional showcase, 28 international buyers were split into three groups to visit locations, hotels and attractions in Dundee, Angus, Perth and Fife, as well as Aberdeen. These were themed Scotland’s ‘Iconic Cities – Splendours of the East’ to experience the region’s finest food and drink; ‘Wonders of the East’ to enjoy the region’s castles, glens and royal connections and ‘Authentic Adventures in the East’, where buyers experienced some of the greatest outdoors that Scotland has to offer.

Among the countries and territories represented were the UK, Canada, USA, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Belgium, as well as the emerging market of China.

The groups visited a number of locations and attractions in Tay Country, including the Blackwatch Castle and Museum in Perth; the V&A in Dundee; Dundee Cooking Academy; Discovery Point, including the dome and Ogilvy Spirits near Glamis.

The buyers also experienced a costumed tour of House of Dun; a walking tour and barbecue lunch at Hideaway Farm, visited the Gin Bothy and explored the private rooms of Glamis Castle which are not open to the public.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland regional leadership director, said: "The showcase provides the chance for key international and UK buyers to refamiliarise themselves with Scotland, meet local tourism businesses and experience the best of our region for themselves. In turn, we hope they will bring more visitors to the region. It has been fantastic to see these groups experience a small selection of what makes this region so attractive to visitors.”