Tourism leaders will this week lead a delegation of ten Scottish tourism businesses to Thailand as part of a major international sales mission.

Taking place in Bangkok, this is the ninth year that VisitScotland has led a delegation to Destination Britain and Ireland - business-to-business networking event run by VisitBritain which will be attended by 117 buyers from the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions.

The Scottish businesses attending will have the opportunity to meet and network with key travel agents, tour operators and media from these key markets at this event.

As part of VisitBritain’s “Great” campaign, Mark Greenaway, Head Chef at No 12 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, will be hosting a seminar in Bangkok.

VisitScotland, Scotland’s national tourism organisation and Scottish Development International (SDI) will be attending the event along with the following Scottish businesses:

Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh
Mar Hall, Bishopton
Fairmont St Andrews
Aldourie Castle, Loch Ness
Isle of Eriska Hotel, Argyll
The Torridon, Wester Ross
Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, Scottish Borders
The World Famous Blacksmiths Shop, Gretna Green
Rabbies Small Group Tours, Edinburgh and Glasgow
Apex Hotel, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee

In light of the imminent launch of the double daily flight from Dubai to Glasgow, six of these businesses: Hotel Missoni, Mar Hall, Fairmont St Andrews, Aldourie Castle, Isle of Eriska Hotel, The Torridon, will stop off and participate in a sales and networking event in Dubai, organised by VisitScotland and SDI.

Denise Hill, Head of International Marketing at VisitScotland, said: “Every year, VisitScotland’s work with tourism businesses, helping them to connect with overseas operators and creating new travel packages to Scotland, generates more than £30 million worth of additional revenue for this country’s economy. Last month, VisitScotland expo welcomed 149 tour operators from the emerging markets, each one keen to add Scotland to their travel itineraries. This week’s mission is a great opportunity for businesses to cement some of the relationships made at VisitScotland expo.”

Michael Koetsier, Head of Tourism Trade for Scottish Development International, said: “Increasing the number of visitors from Asia is key to the long term growth strategy of our high end tourism companies. Scotland holds a special appeal to Asian tourists looking for an authentic and luxury holiday and we are actively working with companies such as those attending the Dubai and Thailand events to help them maximise business from these markets.”