Welcome to the latest VisitScotland eUpdate, giving you an overview of VisitScotland's current activities.

This month:

• 
  regional updates
  Aberdeen & Grampian
  Angus & Dundee
  Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley
  Ayrshire & Arran
  Borders
  Dumfries & Galloway
  Edinburgh & Lothians
  Fife
  Glasgow & Clyde Valley
  Highlands
  Outer Hebrides
  Perth
  Shetland & Orkney
  
• industry events
• general news

ABERDEEN & GRAMPIAN

New Marketing Opportunities for 2006/07
You should soon receive a tailored pack of information on VisitScotland’s Marketing Opportunities for 2006-07. This will include a packaged offer for each sector and suggestions of local, national, and additional opportunities suitable for your business.

We are available to talk you through the marketing opportunities and to help you achieve maximum return on investment from your marketing budget by selecting the opportunities most relevant for your key markets and customer base.

If you need more information or advice please contact your local Business Relationship Manager:

• Aberdeen City and South Aberdeenshire:
  Gillian Smith, email: Gillian.Smith@visitscotland.com, tel: 01224 288827
  
• North Aberdeenshire and Deeside:
  Laura Wilson, email: Laura.Wilson@visitscotland.com, tel: 01224 288811
  
• Moray:
  Maureen Gorshkov, email: Maureen.Gorshkov@visitscotland.com, tel: 01224 288809
  

Help is at hand with TIC Open Days
If you would like to talk through your business’s marketing options, or if you require assistance completing the new marketing opportunities form, help is at hand with a series of open days at your local Tourist Information Centres.

Business Relationship Managers from the Aberdeen and Grampian Network Office will be available at the following dates and times to discuss your marketing for the forthcoming year:

Please contact your local Business Relationship Manager if you would like attend one of these open days, or if you would like to arrange a meeting with your BRM at a more convenient later date.

Aberdeen and Grampian campaign has ‘Spring’ in its step
VisitScotland - Aberdeen and Grampian have launched their Spring Direct Mail Campaign.

The direct mailer has been designed to encourage potential visitors to “Escape to” Aberdeen and Grampian and experience the very best of what the area has to offer. The mailer, which has been sent out to 30,000 names from the VisitScotland - Aberdeen and Grampian database, also provides the opportunity to request an Aberdeen and Grampian Highlands 2006 Holiday Guide as well as directing traffic to the website.

Customers who request a brochure will be entered into a free prize draw to win a week’s stay at Parkmore Holiday Cottages in Dufftown.

Local tourism group take up the Challenge
Congratulations to Peterhead Tourism Initiative, who have been successful in the latest round of applications to the VisitScotland Challenge Fund.

Working in conjunction with the Banff and Buchan Tourism Forum, the group have secured an award of £5,300 to help promote the Peterhead and Buchan area to fellow Scots living in the Central Belt.

Their marketing campaign will include the production of 10,000 32-page brochures highlighting the area as a tourist destination. The group also plan to develop a new website, www.visitpeterhead.org.uk, and hold a press launch.

Discounted accommodation rates will be given to visitors who book via the new brochure, which will also target known business customers with the aim of persuading them to return for leisure. An additional 13, 000 leaflets will be sent via direct mail with a brochure request option included.

Following this success, Aberdeen and Grampian tourism businesses are being urged to take advantage of the marketing opportunities available to them through VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund.

The fund was established to assist collaborative group marketing projects that attract new or repeat visitors to Scotland. Groups of three or more tourism businesses can apply for 40% of total project costs for amounts between £2,500 and £50,000.

The deadline for round five of VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund is 31 May 2006, for activity between 1 August 2006 and 31 July 2007.

If you are interested in finding out more about Challenge Fund or would like to discuss a potential project please contact Maureen Gorshkov, tel: 01224 288809 or email: Maureen.Gorshkov@visitscotland.com or Laura Wilson tel: 01224 288811 or email: Laura.Wilson@visitscotland.com

back to top

ANGUS & DUNDEE

New European Brown Bear Enclosure at Camperdown Wildlife Centre, Dundee
During 2005, as part of Camperdown Wildlife Centre's Development Plan, many of the animal enclosures were upgraded. The bear enclosure was given special attention since the existing one, with an area of only 200 square metres, was no longer deemed suitable accommodation for two fully-grown bears, nor was it suitable for 21st century management. As a result, the bears have now taken ownership of a fabulous 3000 square-metre residence. Find out more at www.dundeecity.gov.uk/camperdown

Discovery Point – new gallery opening for 2006
A new gallery will be opening at Discovery Point will focus on the ship’s voyages between 1905 and 1931. Four men will feature throughout this section, Captain James Fairweather who captained the ship on their search for Shackleton and his crew who were stranded on an Antarctic Island: Alister Hardy, a scientist and artist who served on Discovery from 1925-27; Frank Hurley, one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century and Sir Douglas Mawson, the Australian explorer and geologist who discovered the magnetic South Pole and lead Discovery’s 1929-31 expedition. More information at www.rrsdiscovery.com

Regeneration and investment makes Dundee what it is today
Consumer confidence in the City of Discovery as a shopping destination has soared in recent years thanks to ongoing regeneration projects that have brought top-class retail facilities to the city.

90% of the population of Scotland lives within a 90-minute drive time. Ease of access to Dundee via road, rail, air and sea is important in helping persuade shoppers to make the city a prime destination for leisure and retail breaks.

Dundee’s retail sector has evolved enormously over the past 10 years, with public and private partnerships, such as the Dundee Partnership and Dundee City Centre Action Group, helping shape the city centre’s retail landscape.

Dundee’s evolution continues. Some £7 million is being invested in the Wellgate Shopping Centre through its holding company, HBG properties. Bought for £56million from Britel Fund Trustees Ltd in 2003, the Wellgate provides units to meet market requirements, working with prospective retail tenants to cater for their specific needs. Offering 10-15 year leases the centre is nearing capacity - with 80% of its 280,000 sq ft in retail floor space let by new and existing clients TJ Hughes, New Look and Virgin.

Dundee city centre proves while at the same time it is proud of where it has come from, it continues to strive forward with creativity, ambition and innovation to make its retail mark even firmer on the map.

More information can be found on Dundee and the CCAG at http://www.dundeecity.gov.uk/edo/ccag.html and www.locate-dundee.co.uk/retail.

Verdant Works – New Joint Ticket offer
Verdant Works has teamed up with the Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse, just outside Cupar, Fife, to offer joint tickets for these venues. Verdant Works is the only Jute textile museum in the UK and tells the story of Dundee’s mill workers, in the late 18th / early 19th century. The Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse was the home of the Sharpe family who made their living from the Jute industry, but importing and manufacturing this raw fibre.

This joint ticket ‘The Real Lives Pass’ gives visitors a look at the contrasting life-styles of the Mill Workers and the Jute Barons. Dundee is a tale of two cities. For thousands it was a place of long working hours, poor pay and ill health. For the privileged few it was a place of opportunity and wealth.

Angus & Dundee Spring into Action
With the clocks forward and spring finally here VisitScotland Angus & Dundee has launched an ambitious campaign as a wake up call for the senses to potential visitors to the region.

Touch, see, smell, hear and taste will be the key themes for attracting visitors to the area with 50,000 spring mailers sent to contacts who have previously visited Angus & Dundee or who have already expressed an interest in coming to the area. The mailer has a wealth of information and special spring offers, on accommodation, visitor attractions and various spring and summer events including Dundee Spring Garden Show and the Strathmore Highland Games.

The mailer pays particular attention to some of Scotland’s most spectacular landscapes by promoting the coast and award winning beaches Angus & Dundee are famed for. Castles, gardens and world class visitor attractions will also be high on the agenda to attract visitors to the region with history creating a major draw with the likes of Glamis Castle and Arbroath Abbey being of great importance to visitors of the area. For more information contact your local Business Relationship Manager.

back to top

ARGYLL, LOCH LOMOND & FORTH VALLEY

Local Challenge Fund success continues
Clackmannanshire Tourism Association and Dunoon and Cowal Marketing Group are the latest industry groups in Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley to be awarded marketing support through VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund.

An award of £2,600 will support a new web site currently being developed — www.the-wee-county.org.uk— that will attract visitors to experience Clackmannanshire by showcasing the area's many varied attractions.

The Dunoon and Cowal group will use their award of £14,400 for the production of a promotional leaflet and associated, newspaper inserts and press visits.

Groups in the area have now attracted over £130,000 in funding. Quality initiatives range from relatively modest web marketing projects such as Clackmannanshire’s, through to larger awards of the nature of Oban and Lorn Tourism Association’s £17,000 towards television advertising.

For further information about the Challenge Fund, or if you’d like to discuss a potential application, contact Neil MacFarlane on 01786 445222 or visit the website.

First 5 star self-catering award for Isle of Mull
The Glengorm Steadings Flat has been awarded 5 stars under VisitScotland’s quality assurance scheme. The stunning property, situated within the 5,000 acre Glengorm estate, becomes the first 5 star self-catering property on the Isle of Mull.

David Penker, Senior Quality Advisor of VisitScotland commented: “The Steadings Flat is an exceptional 5 star self-catering property which offers world-class accommodation. The high quality of fabric, in a contemporary style, is complemented by an exemplary standard of cleanliness and hospitality. Additional services also include a computer terminal giving web access and e-mail communication. It is clear that The Steadings Flat will attract guests seeking to combine high quality surroundings with a magnificent rural island location”

Visit the website to see more of the property.

VisitScotland Quality Advisors have held a series of successful workshops in the area to assist businesses entering the scheme for the first time and those working to improve their grading. Recent workshops have taken place in Killin and Islay.

For further information on the Quality Assurance scheme, visit the website

Marketing opportunities 2006/7 issued
Details of VisitScotland’s new marketing opportunity packages have just been issued and should be landing on doorsteps across the Argyll, Loch Lomond & Forth Valley area now.

This pack includes a newly developed promotional package with suggestions of relevant local and national opportunities for your business.

For the first time, tourism businesses are able to select marketing opportunities from a range of local, national and international marketing campaigns through one point of contact at the new VisitScotland, your local Relationship Manager:

• Forth Valley - Neil MacFarlane and Valerie Fraser on 01786 445 222
• West Highlands and Islands - Alison Feaks and Fiona Morrison on 01631 563 059
• Lomond and Clyde - Donald Hoy on 01369 703 221

Sign up now, or call to discuss package options with your local Business Relationship Manager.

Area Director James Fraser steps down
VisitScotland area director James Fraser has announced his decision to take early retirement from the organisation.

After almost 30 years in tourism, James is stepping down to pursue tourism interests in the private sector. He will leave VisitScotland at the end of June.

James has been a prominent figure in tourism locally since 1983, leading the establishment of the Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs Tourist Board and later the Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond, Stirling and Trossachs Tourist Board before joining the integrated VisitScotland network last year.

“This is a wonderful area to promote and I have been lucky to work with many talented and committed people over my career” said James Fraser. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working in Scottish tourism and have great confidence in its future success.

He said: "There are more than 2,000 businesses in this area and tourism is crucial to the local economy – I am encouraged with the progress made and think we are well positioned to deliver on the growth agenda. I’d like to pay tribute to the industry, local authorities, enterprise companies and my team for continuing to improve the promotion and development of the tourism product in the area."

VisitScotland chief executive Philip Riddle said: "We are very sad to see James leaving as he has played a major role in promoting and developing tourism in the area. We wish him every success in the future and look forward to hearing about the new ventures he is pursuing."

New 2006 visitor guides launched
The 2006 editions of the popular series of Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley visitor guides have just been launched. One again, four colourful and information-packed titles are available:

• Stirling, Falkirk, Clackmannanshire & the Campsies
• Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park
• Oban, Mull & Lorn
• Mid-Argyll, Kintyre & Islay

The guides provide information on places to visit and things to see and do, as well as highlighting places to eat and retail outlets. They have proved extremely popular amongst visitors to the area, but have also found favour with local residents looking for a day out with a difference, or for information to send to visiting friends and relatives.

The guides are available through the network of 27 tourist information centres in the Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley area.

Essence Guides update
VisitScotland marketing teams locally and nationally have been hard at work updating VisitScotland's popular 'essence guides' series, as well as the creation of new guides.

An updated version of the Oban & Mull guide was recently produced, and work has now been completed on a refreshed version of the Loch Lomond, Stirling & the Trossachs guide. In addition, a new guide entitled Stirling & the Forth Valley— encompassing the Falkirk, Clackmannanshire, and West Lothian areas—will soon be produced. Other local essence guides are Mid-Argyll, Loch Fyne & Cowal and Jura, Islay & Kintyre.

The essence guides, which have been very well received by prospective visitors, are mailed to respondents to a variety of VisitScotland's national marketing campaigns.
For more information contact your local Business Relationship Manager.

Tourism partnership voices concern on Clyde wind farms
At its recent meeting, the Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley Tourism Partnership voiced its concern for the potential tourism impact of proposed wind farm developments along the Clyde estuary.

The Partnership’s position supports two local industry associations, Dunoon and Cowal Marketing Group and Isle of Bute Marketing and Tourism Group, who have already made representations to the Scottish Executive to ensure that the impact on tourism is taken into account in determining applications.

VisitScotland Area Director James Fraser said: “Scotland has a vast potential resource for renewable energy, and we are supportive of the principle of wind farm development where the sites are chosen with sensitivity to the natural environment. However, I echo the concerns of the Bute and Cowal groups about the potential cumulative impact of wind farms on this area of outstanding natural beauty and the tourism businesses it supports.

Philip Riddle talks tourism in Oban and Mull
VisitScotland chief executive Philip Riddle recently visited Oban and Mull as part of his recent series of ‘Talking Tourism’ tours, meeting businesses and key industry groups for an exchange of views on tourism issues.

The key events in the visit were two industry events, one each for tourism businesses in Oban and Mull, where Philip Riddle gave a presentation on VisitScotland activity, followed by an open discussion on tourism issues.

During the two days, he and area director James Fraser visited the recently relocated Oban War & Peace Museum. They also had the chance to discuss tourism developments planned at Ganavan Sands Holiday Village and the development of the swimming pool at the Isle of Mull Hotel with its innovative partnership with the local community.

The tour was also a chance for Philip Riddle see examples of tourism investment in the area, including Caledonian MacBrayne’s new £3 million terminal building and slipway in Oban.

Events in April and May
This is a selection from the wide range of events taking place throughout Argyll, Loch Lomond and Forth Valley in the coming weeks. For more information, visit www.visitscottishheartlands.com

back to top

AYRSHIRE & ARRAN

Key Journalists Experience the Best of Ayrshire
VisitScotland recently hosted a visit with 10 journalists from newspapers and magazines from the UK, Ireland and Europe on a 3 day trip to Ayrshire.

With joint working between the local and national offices of VisitScotland the trip focused on raising awareness of Ayrshire & Arran’s accessibility for Short-Break’s for both the UK & Ireland and European markets. The trip highlighted the strengths of the area which include walking, golf, food & drink, history & heritage, the beauty of both Ayrshire and Arran and of course the legendary Robert Burns.

As part of the Gateway Campaign the VisitScotland Prestwick Network Office has been targeting UK and European destinations with direct-mail and awareness-raising activities, coupled with promoting the area brochure.  The campaign is aimed at the Ryanair flight routes into Glasgow Prestwick International Airport.

For further information, please contact:

Karen Leithead , External Relations Executive, Tel: 01750 23818,
Email: Karen.Leithead@visitscotland.com

Scottish Golf Southwest new guide
The new Scottish Golf Southwest Golf Brochure will be launched soon with 10,000 copies being printed.  The guide will be distributed through the website which led to 1250 orders last year; this should increase by another 10% this year.

The Scottish Golf Southwest team will be attending Expo with stand partners Blair House and Fairfield House Hotel on the 26 th – 27 th April.

For further information contact Stuart Macdonald, Golf Tourism Executive on 01292 670114 or email smacdonald@scottishgolfsouthwest.com

 EVENTS GUIDE

April

• 30 Scottish Boat Jumble, Irvine Harbourside
• 30 April – 4 May Drambuie Ayrshire Golf Classic, various courses.

back to top

BORDERS

Scotland ’s Official ‘ Best Selling Golf Pass’ exceeding 40,000 passes sold
Now in its 16th year, VisitScotland expect the Scottish Borders Golfing Breaks 2006 Guide and ‘ Scotland’s Best Selling Golf Pass’, Freedom of the Fairways to reach some major milestones. Sales of the 2006 Freedom of the Fairway golf pass are projected to pass the 40,000 mark since its introduction in 1991, totaling nearly a quarter of a million rounds of golf.

Year on year the Scottish Borders continues to grow in popularity with golfers across the UK and Ireland with many returning annually due to the combination of value for money, stunning countryside, magnificent courses with uncrowded fairways and friendly staff; all within an accessible location.

For further information visit the website or contact our Golf Development Officer Michael Palmer on 01750 23804 or email Michael.Palmer@visitscotland.com.

Irish Mountain Bikers are set to have a Wheelie good time in the Scottish Borders
Recently voted one of the top five places to go in the world for mountain biking (International Mountain Bicycling Association), Scotland is set to welcome mountain bikers from Northern Ireland through promotional packages devised by VisitScotland, Borders based mountain bike operator MB7, Stena Line, and Forestry Commission Scotland.

The 7stanes are seven mountain biking centres spanning the south of Scotland and known as such because each venue features a 'stane' (Scots for stone) somewhere in the forest. Centre’s include Glentress and Newcastleton in the Borders with the remaining centres based at Kirroughtree, Glentrool, Dalbeatie, Mabie, Ae, in Dumfries & Galloway, offering the Irish Mountain Bikers access to award winning trails at a more affordable rate.

Details of the packages are available on www.mb7.com.

For further information on adventure sports breaks in Scotland, click on www.visitscotland.com/adventure.

Rolling Border Hills
VisitScotland Borders new Spring Campaign activity includes the production and distribution of 50,000 Spring into Summer Break Guides, Press and PR and Direct Marketing and www.visitscottishborders.com; targeting visitors in a two to three hour drive-time of the Scottish Borders. The local VisitScotland office is working with the national marketing team with promotion of the Scottish Borders in the national spring campaign which builds on the hub exploring strategy developed last year.

For further information, please contact: Karen Leithead , External Relations Executive, Tel: 01750 23818, Email: Karen.Leithead@visitscotland.com

back to top

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

Irish Mountain Bikers are set to have a Wheelie good time in Dumfries & Galloway Recently voted one of the top five places to go in the world for mountain biking (International Mountain Bicycling Association), Scotland is set to welcome mountain bikers from Northern Ireland through promotional packages devised by VisitScotland, mountain bike operator MB7, Stena Line, and Forestry Commission Scotland.

Packages include a two-night break with bike friendly accommodation and a return Stena Line ferry crossing with a car and three passengers from Belfast to Stranraer costing only £99 per person. Alternatively bikers can leave the car at home and take the “Bikebus break” which includes a return Stena Line ferry crossing from Belfast to Stranraer, minibus transfer to accommodation and trails, and one night’s full board also at £99 per person.

The closest centre is only half an hour’s drive from Stranraer at Kirroughtree with the remaining centres based at Glentrool, Dalbeatie, Mabie, Ae, Glentress and Newcastleton offering the Irish Mountain Bikers access to award winning trails at a more affordable rate.

Details of the packages are available on www.mb7.com. For further information on adventure sports breaks in Scotland, click on www.visitscotland.com/adventure.

Anglers Welcome Workshop, Urr Valley Hotel, Castle Douglas, 10.00 - 4.30pm, Friday 5th May 2006
Are you looking for ways to extend the tourist season? Then this event may be of interest to you. For centuries anglers have been coming to Scotland to fish and no matter where you start in the country, there is something to interest each and every one.

Visitors who enjoy fishing like to be made to feel welcome – they appreciate having storage boxes for rods; a daily weather forecast; freezer facility for bait or catch; facilities for gutting or preparing catch, or facilities for washing fishing tackle. Equally important is the local knowledge of where to fish.

This event is part of a scheme to develop Angling Tourism throughout Scotland and is being supported by the Angling Tourism Development Group and complements VisitScotland ’s Anglers Welcome Scheme

To find out more about the workshop, please contact: Tourist Board Training, 22A Eglinton Street, IRVINE. Ayrshire KA12 8AS Phone: 01294 313006 Fax: 01294 313016 Email: tbt@tbt.visitscotland.com

Tiny treasures launch spring campaign
Two Dumfriesshire children were at Shambellie House Museum of Costume, near New Abbey to launch the VisitScotland Dumfries & Galloway Spring Campaign aimed at encouraging visitors to come to the area this spring.

The new Spring campaign entitled “The Hidden Treasures of Dumfries & Galloway”, targets visitors in a three hour drive-time from the area. Activity includes internet activity including e-blasts, Press & PR and Direct Mail of a Treasure Trails mail pack to 100k new and existing visitors to the area. The pack incorporates a fold out treasure map highlighting special places to visit on four themed trails – gourmet, history, culture and outdoors – giving a taster of what there is to see and do within the area. The pack also has special offers from participating businesses.

Local campaigns are supported by the South of Scotland European Funding Programme

back to top

EDINBURGH & LOTHIANS

Challenge funding fuels new market for East Lothian
East Lothian Tourism Attractions group, made up of East Lothian's top visitor attractions, has been awarded £4,600 of VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund to help promote six top water-sports available in the area. The group’s marketing campaign targets independent travellers, aged 18-35, from the north of England and central Scotland, and includes the production of a full colour, 64 page pocket guide full of practical advice and useful insights. 10, 000 of the guides will be distributed through local businesses and events and exhibitions in the UK.

The guide will be available in local tourist information centres, leisure centres, libraries, watersports providers and local accommodation. A pdf version will be available at www.eastlothian.gov.uk

For local businesses looking for more information or advice on how to create a successful application to VisitScotland’s challenge fund contact your challenge fund advisor Catherine Brodie on 0131 473 3801 catherine.brodie@visitscotland.com or log onto the website.

The closing date for the next round of VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund is 31st May.

Springtime is shoppingtime
Visitors are being encouraged to visit Edinburgh and treat themselves to some retail therapy in the latest electronic direct mail from VisitScotland Edinburgh and Lothians.

The main theme of the mailer, which was sent to an online database of 25,000 contacts, is shopping but it also encourages visitors to make the most of the city's exciting spring events - including the city's first International Fashion Festival, CowParade Edinburgh, and the Van Gogh & Britain: Pioneer Collectors Exhibition at the Dean Gallery.

The mailer also encourages consumers to request their CityShopping guide to Edinburgh through a free prize draw for two at the Sheraton with cocktails and shopping vouchers thrown in.

To find out more visit www.visitscotland.com/cityshopping

Edinburgh Pass – see more and save more
Gunner’s Scrum Half and International 7s Rugby Player, Rory Lawson was getting to grips with a different type of pass – as he launched the new ‘06/07 Edinburgh Pass’ on Calton Hill.

Visitors will be able to see more of the capital city’s top attractions for less with the new Edinburgh Pass for 2006/07, which went on sale on Saturday April 1. The new prices are 1 day £20, 2 day £36 and 3 day £45.

The money saving pass, developed by VisitScotland Edinburgh and Lothians, now offers visitors free entry to 32 of the city’s top attractions. There are five exciting new additions to the pass for 2006/07, which are The Queens Gallery ( Palace of Holyroodhouse), 3D Loch Ness Experience, Surgeons Hall, Edinburgh Butterfly and Insect World and Seafari Adventures.  Many attractions offer a 25% discount to children. The pass also offers free return airport bus transfer and free transport around the city region with Lothian Buses as well many special discounts in shops, restaurants and sightseeing tours.

The pass can be bought online at www.edinburghpass.com and from TICs in Edinburgh and Lothians as well as other selected TICs across Scotland. Over 30 agents now sell the Pass. New sales agents for 06/07 are Lastminute.com and Travelocity.com

If you would like to promote the Edinburgh Pass to your guests or are interested in becoming a sales agent for the Pass, for which commission is available, please contact:

Sinéad Guerin, City Card Team
Tel: 0131 473 3641
email: sinead.guerin@visitscotland.com

Dine Around Edinburgh success
Latest figures from Edinburgh Restaurateurs Association show that this year's Dine Around Edinburgh was another huge success. 

Throughout the month of January, 28 establishments across the city participated in the promotion, generating around 5,600 covers and around £105, 000 of revenue. The Dine Around concept offers visitors and residents of Edinburgh to eat out at some of the city's top restaurants for a set price of £15.  The promotion also encourages people to eat out, thereby boosting participating restaurants' trade at a traditionally quite time of year.

Edinburgh Fashion Festival
The inaugural Edinburgh International Fashion Festival takes place in venues across the city from 26 th to 29 th April. With inspiring contributions from headline designers, including Scotland’s own Jonathan Saunders, and a range of other exciting events from retailer contributions to intimate conversations with the designers themselves, there should be something to suit every taste. For ticket details, visit www.edinfashfest.com

In Search of the Grail - workshop
Would you like to go in search of the truth about the Grail?  Newbattle Abbey College is hosting a workshop on Saturday 29 April 2006 that will do just that. The quest includes a visit to Rosslyn Chapel to seek out hidden symbols among the many carvings there.  Representatives from the Knights Templar, the Freemasons and the Savniere Society will share their views about the accounts in Dan Brown's book 'The Da Vinci Code'.  These views will be compared to the accounts of the grail quests written by historians.

The cost of the workshop is £78 per delegate and includes refreshments, lunch, bus to Rosslyn and entry to the Chapel. Delegates also have the option to stay overnight at Newbattle at an additional cost of £43, which includes bed, breakfast and evening meal. 

For further details contact Newbattle Abbey College, Newbattle Road, Dalkeith Tel: 0131 663 1921, email: office@newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk or visit www.newbattleabbeycollege.ac.uk  

New German Route to Edinburgh
BA Connect has announced that it is to launch a second direct European route to Edinburgh.  From June BA Connect, the new British Airways wholly owned regional subsidiary, will launch a three-times-a-week  Hamburg to Edinburgh service with low all inclusive fares from £45.

Richard Jeffrey, managing Director of BAA Edinburgh Airport said: "Edinburgh Airport is delighted that BA Connect will be starting up this exciting new route. This regular direct service from Edinburgh to Germany’s second largest city and a major international centre for trade is good news for the Capital and for Scotland as a whole."

Germany is a key international market for Scotland and VisitScotland is working closely with BA Connect to explore inbound marketing opportunities.

City attracts two new top hotels
Leading style bar / restaurant group, Montpeliers (Edinburgh) Ltd, and fashion designer Missoni have both earmarked Edinburgh city centre as locations for glamorous new hotels.

The first, Tigerlily from Montpeliers, will open in June this year at 125 George Street and is being tipped as the next big thing on Edinburgh's late night scene building on Montpeliers' reputation for attracting celebrities from Pink and Justin Timberlake to Princes William and Harry at their nearby top nightspots, which include Opal Lounge and Ricks. In addition to a Champagne bar and an exclusive basement club, Tigerlily will boast 27 bedrooms and six exquisite Georgian suites.

The second hotel from Missoni will be a 130-room property located on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.  Already being hailed as one of the city's most prominent hotel developments in decades, the hotel will include a Bar Missoni, private dining, a spa and boardrooms.  The hotel is due to open in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Archerfield House - Exclusively Yours
Archerfield House in East Lothian has opened its doors to welcome guests on an exclusive use basis.  The impressive 16th century property has undergone a five-year refurbishment and renovation project and now offers 15 individually designed bedrooms and 12 Golf Pavilions.

For further information visit www.archerfieldgolfclub.com

Ndebele African Goods, Wines and Deli
As of the 27 th of April 2006 the famous ‘Ndebele African Cafe and Deli’ on Home Street will be transformed into ‘Ndebele Goods, Wines and Deli’. After 10 years of successful trade in Tollcross, owner Jeni Ayris is re-branding her iconic business towards retail for the growing number of Southern Africans now living in Scotland, particularly in

For any further information please contact Jeni Ayris on info@ndebele.co.uk or 0131 221 1141

The guide, with a print run of 60,000, is available from Tourist Information Centres (TICs) throughout Scotland and will also be available in Fife visitor attractions and accommodation providers. In order to supply information to overseas visitors the guide will be available by request through the national contact centre and by contacting local TICs.

In a first for The Essential Guide, a dedicated gardens section will highlight the fine collection of parks, gardens and country parks the region has to offer. Those highlighted will include Kellie Castle and the organically cultivated walled garden, Cambo Gardens with their spectacular snowdrops, the Kirklands Garden steeped in history and the internationally recognised St Andrews Botanic Gardens.

Children Welcome Workshop
Some tourism businesses welcome children and others attract children by accident or design, and sometimes the parents wish they hadn’t taken them in the first place!

This is tomorrow’s market today and doing it well can be profitable. This one day workshop is aimed at all tourism businesses which accept children from B&Bs and hotels to visitor attractions and restaurants.

Key Objective: To recognise that by providing suitable surroundings and facilities, and proactively encouraging children, you will improve the number of return visits by their parents, which in turn will lead to further recommendations and profit.

Course Content includes:

• Catering for kids – ideas and practicalities.
• Entertaining the kids – ideas and practicalities.
• What should I invest in?
• Helpful hints to stay ahead of the competition & make money.

This workshop complements VisitScotland’s Children Welcome Scheme.

To find out more about the Workshop, please contact:
Tourist Board Training, 22A Eglinton Street, Irvine. Ayrshire KA12 8AS. Phone 01294 313006, Fax 01294 313 016, Email tbt@tbt.visitscotland.com. There is a participant cost of £40.00 + VAT per person, including lunch, refreshments, and information pack. (The fee is subject to European Social Fund eligibility).

Advertising your establishment through VisitScotland Fife Network
It’s the time of year when your business used to renew membership with the Tourist Board and you will recently have received a VisitScotland Marketing Opportunities Pack – the replacement for membership. The new forms that you need to complete to continue advertising with us are:

• Serviced Accommodation Package Form (Hotels, B&Bs, Guest Houses)
• Self Catering Package Form

and we also need your

• Kingdom of Fife Accommodation Guide Form

If you have received these forms and have not yet returned them and need some assistance in completing them – we can help! If you need advice in identifying the appropriate opportunities for your business – we can help!

For assistance with your form please telephone or email James or Tina

Spring Activity
VisitScotland Fife is set to launch an ambitious spring campaign to encourage potential visitors to the Kingdom by paying particular attention to the senses.

Touch, see, smell, hear and taste will be the key themes for attracting visitors to the area with 50,000 spring mailers sent to contacts who have expressed an interest in Scotland as a holiday destination and in particular visiting the Kingdom of Fife. The mailer has a wealth of information and special spring offers, on visitor attractions and various spring and summer events including the Pittenweem Arts Festival and the Scottish Motorfair held at Knockhill Racing Circuit.

In an added promotion VisitScotland Fife will also be working on building awareness of Fife as a walking destination and add to the high number of walking short breaks to the area. A direct mail will be sent to 60,000 contacts and a further 23,000 postcard inserts into subscriber copies of the April edition of Country Walking magazine

Scottish Thistle Awards 2006
The 2006 Scottish Thistle Awards were launched on 18 April. Contact the Awards' administrators for further information on how to enter or visit the site at www.visitscotland.org/thistleawards

Organisers: Event Consultants Scotland, 1a Abercromby Place, Edinburgh EH3 6JX, tel: 0131 557 5789 or email

back to top

Information and Sales – A Strategy for the Future
Phase three of the Information and Sales project has now started with the team identifying priorities for short term actions and pilot projects in tourist information centres over the summer. The expanded VisitScotland network hopes to make the most of its first class resource – our 500 staff - by helping them improve their knowledge of other parts of Scotland and a new knowledge management system, being developed jointly with visitscotland.com, will help with this. This is currently being piloted in a number of areas with some success

An ’outreach’ programme will also be piloted and this may mean staff being on hand at major events to provide visitors with information or working with other organisations in tourism to use their staff to provide information to visitors. This is a targeted attempt to take our services beyond the TIC to visitors – only a small proportion of our 20 million visitors come into TICs. Another project being considered is the production and electronic distribution of a local, daily ‘what’s on’ information bulletin . As part of the programme of work we are also investigating how we can better use new technology to provide information and sales services to visitors whilst they are on the move, this may include the use of podcasts, and downloads to mobile phones. These projects will be evaluated to measure effectiveness and their suitability for wider roll-out within the network.

If you would like any further information on the project please contact Janice Mack on 0131 472 2309 or email Janice.mack@visitscotland.com

Litter campaign
With a view to making Scotland a more sustainable and litter free destination, the Visit Scotland Sector Development team produced biodegradable litter bags in partnership with Keep Scotland Beautiful. These bags were launched by the Minister in March 2005 and were originally designed for car users, to help reduce the amount of litter found on the roads – encouraging drivers or passengers to use the bag for litter instead of throwing it out of the car window, making Scotland a more beautiful place for both local residents and tourists.

Since the launch of the campaign last March, other organisations have recognised the importance of supporting this worthwhile campaign. Organisations to date include: Arnold Clark, Europcar, Rabbies Trailburners, Haggis Adventures, members of Wild Scotland, West Lothian Council, National Trust for Scotland and the Green Tourism Business Scheme. This campaign is certainly a start towards the promotion and target of making Scotland a sustainable, environmentally friendly destination by 2015.

Litter bags are available free of charge for all organisations interested in joining this worthwhile campaign. Please contact Felicity Madelin, Sector Development Manager - Freedom to Explore Scotland, tel: 0131 472 2282 or email: felicity.madelin@visitscotland.com

Review the winter season
Spring is in the air and tourism businesses will now be looking ahead to a busy summer.  But before the hurly burly of the ‘main’ tourist season, the Tourism and Environment Forum (TEF) would like to encourage businesses to review how the winter season has gone and what might be done differently next year. The Tourism and Environment Forum’s new leaflet “Wake up to winter” can help with this.

The new leaflet looks at some examples of tourism businesses that are demonstrating best practice in tapping into the growing winter market. Successful promotion of the winter season can increase income, allow staff to be retained, and bring visitors to the local area- good for the business, good for staff and good for the sustainability of the local economy. In some areas tourism businesses also provide year round services that are of benefit to the local community, such as a restaurant and meeting facilities.

Achieving a more even spread of visitors throughout the year will make a significant contribution towards the two challenges in the new national tourism policy, “Tourism for Change”. These are that Scotland should be established as Europe’s most sustainable destination by 2015 and that revenue returns should increase in real terms by 50%.

You can download the leaflet from the publications section of the Tourism and the Environment Forum’s website at www.greentourism.org.uk, where there is also more information on sustainable tourism. If you wish to have a paper copy please contact Sandy Dear on sandy.dear@visitscotland.com or 01463 723021.

back to top