Press Release: ‘Rebuilding tourism together’ is the central theme for Scotland’s National Tourism Industry Conference
40 speakers will bring fresh insights and inspiration to the EICC next week at Scotland’s National Tourism Industry Conference – the first major industry conference to take place since the outbreak of Covid-19 in March 2020.
Organised and delivered by the Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), HIT Scotland (Hospitality Industry Trust), and Scotland Food & Drink, the event is themed around rebuilding tourism together, with the two-day programme designed to deliver knowledge, best practice and new insights. These focus on areas such as sustainability and the industry journey towards Net Zero, traveller behaviour in a recovering economy, food tourism trends, emerging trends from a global perspective, the conditions necessary for recovery and growth, and creating memorable experiences – all of which will help build resilience to support Scotland’s tourism strategy vision that ‘Scotland will be the world leaders in 21st century tourism’.
This will be the biggest speaker line-up to date for an industry conference; the event has drawn international industry experts and thought leaders such as travel journalist Simon Calder, Peter Martin – Founder and Executive Director Peach 2020, James Bulmer, CEO – Wonderland Restaurants, Hotelier of the Year – Sally Beck, and Bernard Donoghue, CEO – Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, to name just a few.
The theme of creating supportive policy is high on the agenda for the first day of the conference, with the Ministerial Address being delivered by Tourism Minister Ivan McKee MSP followed by what will be an informative and engaging panel discussion around the biggest issues and challenges to the recovery of the industry and what policies are needed to support and rebuild tourism.
There will also be updates on some of the priority recovery activity underway, such as the Tourism Observatory, our journey to a greener recovery, and news on the development of the Outdoor Tourism Strategy.
The event’s packed programme has also been curated to inspire and energise delegates to find better, new, and innovative ways of doing things in the changed and challenging tourism landscape. Insights into overcoming obstacles to achieve greatness will be shared on day 1 by World Record-Breaking Mountaineer and Adventurer Mollie Hughes, and on day 2 we’ll hear about the creation of first-of-its-kind experience Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser from Walt Disney Imagineering Executive Producer & Creative Director Ann Morrow Johnson.
As we move from industry survival to recovery, to raise spirits and generate motivation and confidence Tree of Knowledge Owner & Director Gavin Oattes will focus on winning ways of entertaining, enlightening and educating audiences, and former SAS member John Davidson, one of the world’s most sought-after bodyguards John Davidson will highlight how resilience under pressure can be reached.
Scotland’s National Tourism Industry Conference will end on a high with a celebration of the achievements of a group of HIT Scotland scholars who will be presented with certificates in recognition of their dedication and success in completing the Tourism and Hospitality Talent Development Programme, which launched earlier this year.
Speaking about the event, STA Chief Executive Marc Crothall said; “It has been an intensely challenging 20 months for Scotland’s tourism industry; many of our sectors and businesses remain in survival mode with a degree of uncertainty ahead, however the mood within the industry is upbeat, positive and one of resilience. The number of delegates booked to attend the event, both at the EICC and online, reflects the level of desire to reconnect after such a difficult period and look towards rebuilding the industry together, with ambition and focus on developing a globally-recognised, sustainable tourism product.
“The event has drawn a wide range of hugely exciting experts from many sectors of tourism within the UK and abroad, so delegates can look forward to taking home practical, innovative and new solutions to support the recovery and future growth of their businesses.”
ASVA CEO Gordon Morrison said: “This is a highly-anticipated and hugely significant conference for the tourism industry. We have an outstanding two-day programme with a stellar line-up of 40 specialist speakers, and we are excited to be bringing the whole tourism industry together to take very important steps in reconnecting, recharging and rebuilding.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming colleagues from across the country – whether in-person or virtually – to this major industry gathering. I’ve absolutely no doubt that delegates will find the entire event both highly relevant and incredibly valuable as we collectively continue to navigate our way through the COVID pandemic and begin the journey of not just rebuilding, but reimagining what our wonderful industry can deliver for Scotland in 2022 and beyond.”
Tourism Minister Ivan McKee said:
“Scotland’s tourism and hospitality industry is a key sector of the Scottish economy and I am looking forward to attending the first in person conference hosted by the Scottish Tourism Alliance in two years.
It’s been an incredibly difficult year for tourism and hospitality but it is important that we look towards a sustainable recovery. In recent years both the public and private sector have worked closely together to further our collective aims for Scottish tourism and we are keen to build on this relationship as we move forward.
We all have a part to play and the conference will showcase some of the commitments being taken forward as part of the £25 million tourism recovery funding and how we can collectively ensure a strong and resilient future for Scottish tourism.”
You can view the full line up and running order for the conference here.
ENDS
For all media enquiries please contact:
Mhairi Clarke
Communications Director – Scottish Tourism Alliance
Tel: 07809 558 375
Email: mhairi.clarke@stalliance.co.uk
Notes to Editors:
STA: Scottish Tourism Alliance
- The STA is the acknowledged representative body for all sectors within Scotland’s tourism industry.
- It comprises over 250 trade associations, businesses, destination groups and other organisations with an interest in tourism.
- The organisation is able to offer the best possible representation of the issues and challenges faced by Scotland’s tourism industry through continuous engagement with more than 70% of tourism businesses in Scotland.
- Its membership is spread across all regions and destinations in Scotland.
ASVA: Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions
- ASVA is the representative body for Scotland’s visitor attractions sector. Founded over 30 years ago, it has a membership of more than 250 organisations, with around 500 diverse attractions.
- The sector is a major contributor to the country’s £11bn tourism industry. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019, there were over 65 million visitors to Scottish attractions and the sector employed a total workforce of more than 17,000, spanning virtually every community in the country.
- ASVA supports and inspires attractions to deliver sustainable, world-class visitor experiences by promoting best practice and innovation, and driving quality in the sector. It provides its members with networking and training opportunities, advice, information and statistics. It is the recognised voice of authority on all matters of policy relating to Scottish attractions, providing information, guidance and performance data to key stakeholders such as the Scottish Government and VisitScotland.
HIT Scotland
- HIT Scotland is a Scottish charity devoted to inspiring people working in the hospitality industry and in related professions.
- Established by the industry leaders of the time in 1994, the charity has gone from strength to strength to support tens of thousands of people working and studying in the hospitality industry in Scotland to broaden their skills and experience by taking advantage of a tailored learning experience offered through the HIT scholarship programme.
- These unique awards are made possible by extensive support from all sectors of the industry who primarily donate funding through attendance at events or through individual donations and corporate sponsorship.
