A new travel trade platform designed to enable Scottish businesses to connect with key buyers from around the globe, regardless of the challenges of COVID-19, is being launched by VisitScotland.
The new event series, Discover Scotland 2022, will consist of the online business-to-business event Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022, to take place virtually April 5-7, 2022 (registration is open now), followed by five regional showcases, known as Discover Scotland: Live Showcase, to be held in May and September 2022. Together, the events will promote trade-ready Scottish tourism businesses to key international buyers on the ground in Scotland.
In 2022, the event series will replace the long-standing annual VisitScotland Expo with a new format designed to mitigate the challenges of the pandemic, build on the success of Scotland Reconnect 20/21 and welcome international buyers back to Scotland with regional showcases.
As part of Tourism Declares, VisitScotland made a public declaration to play a leading role in the development of Scotland as a globally recognized responsible destination. Since then, the national tourism organization has been working with the Scottish tourism and events industry to create a long-lasting sustainable tourism destination that will protect the natural and cultural environment and benefit visitors and residents alike.
Discover Scotland 2022 will allow VisitScotland to facilitate a cost-effective option for participating businesses and operators to connect, plan ahead, and do business online and in person with buyers – and potentially explore the best of Scotland’s regional responsible tourism offering for themselves.
“Discover Scotland 2022 offers an exciting new platform on which to showcase the best of Scotland’s tourism products, allowing businesses to stay connected with qualified buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” says VisitScotland Chief Executive Malcolm Roughead. “We have worked with tourism industry representatives to ensure that this travel trade program of activity meets their needs in 2022 and ensures that connection to international buyers remains possible.
Scotland Reconnect was held virtually in November 2020 and was successfully repeated in April 2021 as an effective alternative to live events during the pandemic. More than 7,000 pre-arranged business meetings took place over the three days in April.
In April 2022, VisitScotland anticipates virtual attendance from around 300 buyers from more than 20 markets and attendance by 300 Scottish suppliers.
For more information https://www.visitscotland.com/discoverscotland