Based on excellent feedback and outstanding results for the Scottish trade from last year’s mission, this year the event took place in the two major cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg, with a combined population of fourteen million.

For the first time VisitScotland’s Business Tourism Unit and Leisure Team organised the trade mission together. The five-day mission provided a valuable platform for Scottish businesses to meet both leisure and business Russian tour operators. The trade mission gave an excellent opportunity for 21 Scottish partners to meet over 35 companies in St. Petersburg and 70 in Moscow.

Due to visa requirements and the language barrier, the Russian travel trade remains the number one distribution channel for the Scottish product. As part of our emerging markets strategy, VisitScotland has identified the need to hold exclusive travel trade & media events within Russia.

Russia is one of the key emerging markets for VisitScotland with a huge potential for expansion. With the rapid growth of the middle class and real disposable income, the average Russian visitor to Scotland is spending £1,148 per visit, more than any other nationality. Russian tourists mainly book four and five-star accommodation and exclusive venues. The volume and value of outbound Russian business tourism is also very lucrative – Visit Britain estimates it is currently growing 30% each year.  Scotland is perceived as a luxury destination in Russia and as such is of particular interest to incentive houses.

For more information about Russian visitors and the tourism market please contact Tatiana Danilova on Tatiana.danilova@visitscotland.com or Amanda Henderson (Business Tourism) on Amanda.henderson@visitscotland.com