Ayrshire and Arran tourism businesses represented the area at Scotland’s biggest business-to-business event for the travel trade last month. 

Held in Aberdeen, VisitScotland Connect gave businesses the chance to connect with key buyers from around the globe to help attract visitors and rebuild Scotland’s tourism and events industry.     

National operators Historic Environment Scotland, who look after sites like Dundonald Castle, Kilwinning Abbey, Lochranza Castle and Machie Moor Standing Stones, also attended.

The businesses representing the region met with some of the 252 global tour operators, travel agents and destination management companies attending from 23 countries.

Around 6,000 meetings took place in total, as well as a programme of day and evening networking opportunities. 

While in Scotland, the international buyers also spent time travelling around the country to sample in-person the scenery, hospitality, produce and attractions.

Lynsey Eckford, VisitScotland regional director, believes Ayrshire and Arran was showcased to the world at the successful event.

She said: “Once again, Ayrshire and Arran's tourism businesses and Ayrshire & Arran Destination Alliance came together to showcase this wonderful region to a global audience.

“I know colleagues and representatives of our wider tourism industry really enjoyed meeting and doing business in person once again.    

“VisitScotland Connect provided Scottish businesses with a fantastic opportunity to engage with tour operators and suppliers from all over the UK and overseas.

“It is crucial that we work together to rebuild Scotland’s valuable tourism industry and I am delighted to see such commitment from related businesses in the region."

Janette Mitchell, sales and revenue manager with Ayrshire-wide hospitality business SimpsInns, said: “We were delighted to get back and meet people face-to-face once through VisitScotland Connect in Aberdeen.

"This was the first real opportunity to meet colleagues in person from across the industry since we have come out of the pandemic.  

“We believe it is vitally important to meet and network with new and existing suppliers. It is the best way to forge new relationships and build on existing connections.   

 “For us here at SimpsInns, VisitScotland Connect came at a great time with some exciting new projects and ventures to introduce.

"In recent days we opened the brand-new Potting Shed at Si! in Irvine, a great place to meet with friends and enjoy quality food and drink. Since opening after the pandemic, Si! Spa at The Gailes has quickly established itself as one of the leading spa destinations in Ayrshire.   

 “We enjoyed seeing old and new faces at VisitScotland Connect and we look forward to welcoming visitors to Ayrshire very soon.”  

For more information about VisitScotland Connect, go to www.visitscotland.eventsair.com/visitscotlandconnect23.