Business tourists help Edinburgh Airport to September record
Business tourism, more full planes and new routes have helped Edinburgh Airport to a record month in September. A raft of events at the Edinburgh international Conference Centre including the Social Enterprise World Forum that attracted thousands to the city were
How Much Do You Know About Charles Rennie MacIntosh?
Born on 17 June 1868 in, Glasgow, Charles Rennie Mackintosh is internationally recognised as a true expert in design, architecture, and art. The fourth of eleven children in his family, Charles began his career as an apprentice in Glasgow to
Scotland’s Year of Stories
Stories are a vital part of Scotland’s culture and every town, city and community has a tale to tell. Shared stories, whether spoken, written, sung or filmed give a sense of place, history and belonging and this year we are
Golfing in Scotland
Scotland is a great destination for golfers and considering the sport was born here, with good reason too. Thousands of people visit our Country every year to play a round or two at some of the hundreds of courses we
Thistle – The Perfect National Flower
The Scottish Thistle is the oldest recorded ‘National Flower’ and is probably one of the most well-known, and instantly recognised symbols of Scotland. You may recognise the flower but do you know the history of how it became the national
Museums in Scotland
Scotland is a country steeped in history, royal stories, innovations and inventions and one of the best places to learn about this is our museums. That’s why we’ve put together this list of some of our favourites for you to include
Six Beautiful Snorkelling Sites in Scotland
Scotland offers some truly spectacular coastline, and while summer may not always offer us sunbathing weather, one alternative way to enjoy a beach day is to don a wetsuit, grab a snorkel kit and explore the hidden world beneath the
What is Aberdeen Famous For?
Aberdeen is one of the oldest cities in the UK with people living in the area for over 8000 years, it’s also Scotland’s third largest City. A fantastic city to visit with lots to see and do, here are some
How the Highland Cow Became Scotland’s Unofficial National Animal
The unicorn maybe our traditional national animal, but the Highland Cow is definitely our modern one. Scotland is famous for its vast array of magnificent wildlife, from the majestic stag and golden eagle to Nessie and our national animal the
We love Scotland
This Valentine’s Day we are celebrating all the things we love about Scotland, the people, the landscape, the food and even the weather. Here’s our top ten for you. 1. Ceilidhs A ceilidh is a Scottish gathering where people come
Scottish Words and Their Meanings
We know many of you are looking forward to being able to travel again and visit Scotland to see our amazing scenery, visit our vibrant City and meet the characters of our Country. To help you to prepare for your
Customs and Traditions of Hogmanay
There’s no place like Scotland to celebrate Hogmanay – New Year’s Eve. It’s the biggest night of the year for a lot of Scots and people come from all over the world to bring in the New Year and celebrate
Meet Madde
Many of you will have met Madde Ots, our Group Manager or have spoken to her on the phone or by email. We thought it would be nice for you all to know a bit more about Madde, so here
How much do you know about St Andrew and St Andrews Day?
The 30 November is St Andrews Day, a day that celebrates Scotland’s patron saint, St Andrew. Not a lot is actually known about St Andrew but it is believed that he was born between 5AD – 10AD in a place
Look out for us at the Virtual World Travel Market in November
We are delighted to be taking part in the World Travel Market London Virtual event next month as part of the Eirebus Group. The show case tourism event, which has gone virtual for the first time this year, takes place
Great Tapestry of Scotland to go on Show
More than 100 painstakingly created cloth panels tell the story of Scotland since 8500BC. And now, after a tour around venues across Scotland, the Great Tapestry of Scotland is going to its final home in the £6.7m Great Tapestry of
We’re Good to Go
Thistle DMC are ready to welcome your guests to Scotland Here at Thistle DMC we know that you and your customers are keen come and experience everything our wonderful Country has to offer. We have been working hard to prepare
Tourist spending in UK to ‘hit record high in 2020’
UK tourism doesn’t need a trade deal. While Brexit’s effect on Britain’s economy and politics is uncertain, there is more clarity for travelers – certainly those coming to visit these shores. The UK’s national tourism agency VisitBritain says more people
MBTAG Launches New Scotland Starts Here Campaign
The Midlothian Borders Tourism Action Group (MBTAG) have launched a new travel inspiration website, Scotland Starts Here, to raise the area’s profile as a year-round tourism destination and to encourage more visitors to the Scottish Borders and Midlothian. The website will be supported
Rare mountain forest being planted near Loch Ness will be largest in Scotland
A rare mountain-top forest being planted in the Highlands will be the largest of its kind in Scotland and could provide new homes for iconic species such as the golden eagle, ring ouzel and mountain hare, according to conservationists. The
New 8,000 seat Edinburgh indoor arena planned for Straiton site
Plans to build a new 8,000-seat indoor arena that will allow Edinburgh to attract some of the biggest names in pop to Scotland have been revealed. The £40m development will see a proposed 30-acre site at Straiton, on the outskirts
Edinburgh Castle wins top gong at British Travel Awards
Edinburgh Castle has won ‘Best Heritage Attraction’ at the British Travel Awards (BTAs) for the fifth time. The award is decided by members of the public and was announced at the BTA Gala Awards Dinner last night in London. Last
Leonardo da Vinci: Edinburgh to host major exhibition
The largest display of Leonardo da Vinci’s work in Scotland is being held at Edinburgh’s Palace of Holyroodhouse. The event is part of “Leonardo da Vinci: A Life in Drawing” which marks 500 years since the artist’s death. One of
Year of Coasts and Waters 2020: Line-up of events for celebration of Scotland’s ‘unrivalled shores’ revealed
A nationwide tour by a 10-metre tall mythical sea goddess puppet, a coastal opera featuring modern-day mermaids singing at sunset, a six-month rowing relay and a seaweed festival on an uninhabited island will part of the first tourism drive focusing
Discover the Abbeys of Scotland
Scotland’s abbeys served as the main religious centres before their demise came with the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Most of Scotland’s abbeys that can be explored today were built around the 1100s – 1300s with many being rebuilt after being
Our 50th at the 40th World Travel Market
World Travel Market (WTM) has been the leading global event for travel since 1980, and from 4 – 6 November, we’re joined at our stand by 18 different tourism companies to showcase all Scotland has to offer. This year marks
An appetite for Scotland: extra funding to promote local produce
An additional £50,000 to encourage more tourists to enjoy Scottish food and drink has been announced by Tourism Secretary Fiona Hyslop. The funding will support a review of VisitScotland’s Taste Our Best quality assurance scheme which celebrates businesses that provide locally sourced,
Say Hello at World Travel Market (WTM) 2019
Described as the leading global meeting place for trade travel, we are delighted to attend World Travel Market in London from Monday 04, November to Wednesday 06 November. We will be joining Visit Scotland at stand UKI20. The goal of
Merthyr Tydfil £100m Tourism Success Story Continuing Apace
Merthyr Tydfil’s tourism success story is continuing apace, with the sector having a £100m economic impact locally in 2018 – an increase of almost £30m from the previous year. The 35.4% rise was due to a 41% increase in the
Diageo given green light for £150 million investment in Scottish Whisky Tourism
DIAGEO has been given the green light for a major project which will see a new Johnnie Walker visitor attraction in Scotland and the transformation of four distilleries. The project is seen as one of the biggest investment in Scottish
Glasgow wins trio of top awards at business tourism industry ‘Oscars’
Glasgow enjoyed a record-breaking night at the prestigious Meeting and Incentive Travel (M&IT) Awards on Friday (March 1).Winning a trio of top awards, Glasgow Convention Bureau was once again named the UK’s Best Convention Bureau – for the 13th consecutive year
Scotland: Land of Legends
IN MISTY HOLLOWS and on desolate mountain slopes, from the cobblestoned streets of Edinburgh to pastel cottages on the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s ancient history imbues its landscape with layers of myth and meaning. On a trip to the Highlands and
V&A Dundee shortlisted for Art Fund Museum of the Year award
V&A Dundee has been shortlisted for a prestigious award. The museum is one of five finalists for the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019. The award celebrates innovation and achievement in museums and galleries across the UK, with the
10-year plan to boost tourism around Forth bridges
The Forth Bridge has been compared to the Egyptian pyramids and the Alhambra fortress in Spain as a new tourism strategy for the area was launched. The 10-year plan sets out steps to boost visitors to the three bridges spanning
National Wallace Monument opens after refurbishment
The National Wallace Monument has reopened following a refurbishment of its exhibition galleries to celebrate the landmark’s 150th anniversary. Work to transform all three floors of the monument near Stirling has been going on since February. For the first time,
Scotland Wins ‘Best Travel Destination’ in Beijing
Scotland has won ‘Best Travel Destination’ at Travel & Leisure’s annual Travel Awards Ceremony. https://youtu.be/FlG6tbYaA88 The ceremony was held yesterday (18 April) in Beijing with Martin McDermott, Head of Scottish Government Office in China, accepting the award on VisitScotland’s
Brazilian businessman’s whisky collection to remain in Edinburgh
The most extensive private Scotch Whisky collection in the world has secured a new 10-year loan deal for its public display in Edinburgh. More than 1.5 million people have visited the Diageo Claive Vidiz Collection since it first went on
Scotland out performs rest of UK for 7th year running
Edinburgh Castle has retained its status as the 12th most-visited attraction in the UK according to the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (ALVA) which today (Wednesday 27 March) released its members’ visitor figures for 2018. In addition to outperforming the
Northern lights: Where in Scotland will you be able to see them?
The Northern lights are such a spectacular sight, people often travel to places like Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland hoping to see them. But tonight you won’t have to go quite that far, as the phenomenon known as the aurora
Edinburgh tops list of Scotland’s most popular tourist sites
The Capital continues to dominate the country’s tourism marketplace with ten of the top 20 most popular attractions, according to latest visitor statistics. The two top crowd-pulling sites – the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh Castle – each attracted
Inside the £83m International Convention Centre Wales tipped to transform Newport’s fortunes
The ICC Wales is due to open this summer and it could mean big things for Newport. The International Convention Centre Wales is set to open in the summer of this year. It will be the first of its kind
£60,000 upgrade for Iona Abbey
Iona Abbey is to undergo a £60,000 upgrade as we announced details of work to conserve and maintain the iconic site. A new conservation heating system is to be installed in the Abbey Church, to help protect against increasing levels
‘Wellness’ tourism targeted in new VisitScotland campaign
Scotland is aiming to cash in on the global phenomena of “wellness tourism” which is growing a twice the rate of tourism overall. More visitors are looking for “immersive experiences” or ways to improve their self-development, according to industry body
Why Wales?
Ten reasons to include Wales in your itineraries for the Travel Trade For a small country, Wales packs a lot in! It’s a Celtic country located to the west of England and is about 250km (or 180 miles) long and
Scottish golf tourism value increases to £300m after strong growth
Bosses for Scotland’s golf tourism industry have extended the target for the value of the sector to £325 million after a period of strong growth. On Course for Growth, a mid-term review of the national golf tourism strategy, had an original
New plans to fire up Shetland tourism
Viking history, wildlife, the Northern Lights and Shetland’s unique geology form part of plans to increase tourism to the islands. Shetland Tourism Association (STA) figures show recent growth of 13%, from 65,000 in 2013 to 73,000 in 2017. But the
Tennent’s visitor centre aims to boost ‘beer tourism’
Scottish drinks giant Tennent’s is opening a new visitor centre in the east end of Glasgow. The Tennent’s Story experience at Wellpark Brewery will tell the story of the brand’s 130-year history. Brewery bosses are aiming to make the new
Edinburgh Castle nominated for UK’s best heritage attraction award
EDINBURGH Castle is in the running to claim the top title in a prestigious awards contest. Visitors are being urged to cast their votes for the iconic castle in this year’s British Travel Awards, nominated for title of the Best
Business tourists help Edinburgh Airport to September record
Business tourism, more full planes and new routes have helped Edinburgh Airport to a record month in September. A raft of events at the Edinburgh international Conference Centre including the Social Enterprise World Forum that attracted thousands to the city were
Spellbound by Scotland’s answer to America’s Route 66
With its epic highland scenery, foodie hotspots and chic and cosy boltholes, the North Coast 500 is a dream for road trippers. Give yourself at least four or five days to cover this ridiculously Instagrammable touring route, which loops 500
Glasgow breaks tourism records for most international visitors in a year
Our city has built a global profile as a tourism hotspot – bringing in a whopping £319m for the economy last year Visits and spending by international tourists in Glasgow rose to its highest level on record last year. The
Why are tourists flocking to Scotland?
For the sixth year running, Scotland has outperformed the rest of the UK in attracting visitors to its tourist attractions. Edinburgh is the top UK destination outside London – but the whole country is benefiting from a tourism renaissance. So