Mike Cantlay, chairman of VisitScotland, is reminding tourism operators that January 2012 marks the beginning of The Winning Years initiative, a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to change the face of the industry.
Date:
Wed, 04 Jan 2012
Source:
VisitScotland
"As chairman of VisitScotland, I want to invite tourism businesses and communities throughout Scotland to get involved and to capitalise on what will be, if we all pull together, a momentous period for Scotland’s biggest industry," he says.
Mr Cantlay poins to this summer's Olympic Games as providing a platform to present our culture to the world, as well as encouraging people to Scotland from a crowded south of England.
2012 is the Year of Creative Scotland - a celebration of our fantastic culture, arts and music.
Summer will also see the global release of Disney-Pixar’s animated movie Brave. Starring the voices of some of Scotland’s finest actors, including Billy Connolly, Kelly Macdonald, Robbie Coltrane and Kevin McKidd, Brave may the biggest film and tourism opportunity ever to hit Scotland, according to VisitScotland.
Says Mr Cantlay: "A magical story based in rugged, mystic Scotland, this family blockbuster will position our nation across the world to the next generation of visitors. Indeed, it will position Scotland globally like no other"
2012 is also the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and with Scotland boasting so many wonderful Royal visitor attractions, this is a fantastic opportunity to capitalise on the popularity among visitors of all things royal.
Looking further ahead to 2014, two of the greatest sporting events on earth - the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles - will focus the eyes of the world on Scotland.
Mr Cantlay adds: "Across Scottish Government, we are all dedicated to harnessing the power of the Winning Years and to win for Scotland.
"We at VisitScotland will be selling our country as a must-see tourism destination as hard as we can across the world, bidding for conferences, bidding for new sports and cultural events, and supporting industry however and wherever we can.
"Tourism is Scotland’s biggest industry and tough though the recession has been, surely this is our opportunity to drive Scottish tourism beyond recession to win real market share from competing nations.
"Frankly, though, the Winning Years can only be delivered if everyone works together - from the smallest B&B to the biggest resort hotel.
"We need to make tourism the hero of the Scottish economy. What’s more, with so much to see and do across Scotland over the next few years, my hope is that everyone will enjoy the Winning Years and discover new things to see and do across our magnificent country.
So join us. Get involved and grasp this amazing opportunity. Perhaps we can all be winners during Scotland’s Winning Years."
More information:
VisitScotland.
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