Falkirk tourism businesses hope event can help them connect with visitors around the globe
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VisitScotland Connect is the national tourism organisation’s flagship travel trade event, connecting Scottish tourism businesses with tour operators and travel advisors across the world.
More than half of international visitors plan and book their travel through the travel trade. Overseas visitors are a crucial market for Scotland as they often stay longer and spend more, helping to support jobs and communities in every region across the country.
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Hide AdFollowing the successes of the new format events in 2023 and 2024, VisitScotland Connect returns to P&J Live in Aberdeen, on April 9 and April 10 next year and eligible, trade-ready businesses are being invited now to register their attendance.


These are businesses across all tourism sectors who have a product that can be booked through an intermediary – like a travel agent or tour operator – for example a hotel room, a self-catering cottage, a private tour, food and drink, an attraction, transport, an activity or experience, or a combination of these.
The event provides Scottish tourism businesses with an opportunity to showcase their products and services under one roof, make connections with the domestic and international travel trade and grow their business potential. It enables business contracting for 2026, 2027 and beyond.
This year’s event was attended by 222 trade-ready Scottish tourism businesses, including accommodations, visitor experiences and attractions – a 27 per cent increase on 2023.
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Hide AdThey connected with 257 tour operators and travel advisors representing 23 countries. More than 7000 meetings took place at this year’s event, up 1000 on 2023.
Around 15 businesses from Forth Valley attended this year’s VisitScotland Connect and many also hosted familiarisation trips in the days immediately preceding and following the workshop event, highlighting the best of the region’s tourism offering.
Lynsey Eckford, VisitScotland regional director, said: “Building on the successes of VisitScotland Connect in 2023 and 2024 - and positive feedback from both buyers and suppliers - we are thrilled to be returning to P&J Live in Aberdeen, the most sustainable venue of its type in the UK, in 2025.
“I would encourage any trade-ready tourism businesses in Forth Valley to register for the event, which offers a targeted opportunity to connect them with the travel trade, helping to generate sales and new business opportunities.
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Hide Ad“With such large numbers of visitors using tour operators and travel agents to plan and book their travel, due to the extra reassurance and guidance they offer, we recognise also that these intermediaries can play a very important part in shaping their experiences in the region to be more sustainable and more positive for the communities they visit.
“Responsible tourism is at the heart of what we do and will form an integral part of VisitScotland Connect 2025, in terms of both event delivery and our efforts to ensure visitors can make more sustainable choices.
“VisitScotland Connect is only one element of a comprehensive marketing strategy which works year-round to bring visitors to Scotland.”
To register for a place in the event visit the website for more information.
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