VisitScotland eUpdate - June 2007
This is the sixth eUpdate of the year which features a wide range of articles which hopefully you will find of interest. Remember you can update your subscription details or forward this eUpdate to a colleague, by clicking on the links above. Let us know what you think of eUpdate by emailing us at eupdate@visitscotland.com. Please contact us also if you would like to hear more about any of our marketing activities or business opportunities.
13/06/2007
If you’re looking for a nautical spectacular this summer, then Portsoy is the place to be. More...13/06/2007
Two visitors from the Czech Republic were given a guided tour of the VisitScotland Aberdeen and Grampian Network Office this month. More...12/06/2007
A number of new guides promoting the wealth of things to see and do in Aberdeen and Grampian are now available. More...12/06/2007
Aberdeen has been chosen this month as the destination for an International Conference on Chaos. More...15/06/2007
Dundee has a new opportunity to attract visitors to the city from the end of May with the announcement of new direct flights from Birmingham and Belfast. More...15/06/2007
Tourism agencies in Angus & Dundee have announced dates for the area’s inaugural ‘Roots Festival’. The week-long festival, which will take place from 6th – 13th September 2008, will provide a focus for people whose ancestors came from Angus & Dundee to visit the area to find out more about their ancestral homeland whilst at the same time forging new friendships with like-minded people from across the globe. More...15/06/2007
Tourist Board Training is organising a series of niche market workshops, which are also linked to VisitScotland Quality Assurance Welcome Schemes. More...07/06/2007
Businesses in Oban and Lorn are invited to get involved with Cearcaill na Gàidhlig, The Gaelic Rings, a new initiative to boost cultural tourism in the West Highlands and Outer Hebrides through the creation of a Gaelic language and culture ‘trail’. More...11/06/2007
The use of our landscapes and built environment as film locations is big business for Scotland. But did you know that by taking a few practical steps, it could be big business for you? More...11/06/2007
Ancestral tourism is big business for Scotland. But how much do you know about what your visitors need, and what VisitScotland is already doing for them? More...07/06/2007
Watersports are big business for Scotland, and knowing a little about what enthusiasts need from you could be very profitable for your business. More...07/06/2007
Argyll’s only 5 star exclusive-use venue, The Lodge at Lochgoilhead, has introduced a new private dining service on an exclusive use basis utilising its own organic kitchen garden and some of the West Coast’s finest organic products. More...11/06/2007
The National Theatre of Scotland has joined forces with Scottish Thistle Award winners NVA to present a remarkable new work in Mid-Argyll this September, Half Life. More...14/06/2007
Much has been made recently in the news of ecologically sound building practices and environmental sustainability. Allseasons at the Meadows is a 200 acre ecologically sound development in the west of Scotland. More...14/06/2007
Lochwood Farm Log Cabin in Saltcoats has recently been announced the winner of the AA Family-Friendly B&B 2007. The award is determined by a public online vote and was introduced this year. More...14/06/2007
As part of VisitScotland’s commitment to staff training, staff were offered a ‘whistle stop’ tour of our wonderful areato by the Ayrshire & Arran Visitor Attraction. More...14/06/2007
In a new road safety drive for the 2007 tourist season, foreign drivers will be encouraged to pick up free postcards to help keep them safe and legal on Ayrshire roads. More...14/06/2007
Irvine Bay is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the Irvine Bay URC want to see a sustainable urban regeneration there. Read on for further details of the plans. More...14/06/2007
A VisitScotland e-newsletter, featuring a banner link through to Scottish Golf SouthWest, has been sent out to 10,000 people. More...14/06/2007
Talented buskers were out and about in Ayrshire to promote the burns an’ a’ that! Festival. More...14/06/2007
Tourism businesses in Ayrshire & Arran have access to a wide range of opportunities to promote their business. More...14/06/2007
Tourist Board Training is offering workshops on niche markets and Welcome Schemes at subsidised costs. More...14/06/2007
Seal Shore Camping & Touring Site have been getting some good press coverage recently and they tell us why its important to get yourself in the papers. More...14/06/2007
A VisitScotland e-newsletter featuring details of Scotland’s best selling golf pass – Freedom of the Fairways – has been sent out to 10,000 people. More...14/06/2007
The Borders was recently invaded by hundreds of scooterists as part of the 2007 Scooter Rally. The VisitScotland Borders network worked hard to give them the welcome they deserved and the organiser of the event gave the following comment: More...14/06/2007
The Scottish Borders Tourism Partnership (SBTP)is pleased to announce that Sue Beck, joint-owner of Hendersyde Farm Holiday Cottages, Kelso and a Self Catering representative, has been appointed as the new Chair of the SBTP. More...14/06/2007
Are you interested in working with VisitScotland Borders? If so, read on for more details. More...14/06/2007
This year’s Eating Out competition has been launched with people invited to vote for their favourite Borders establishment. More...15/06/2007
Tourist Board Training (TBT) is supporting the delivery of Niche Market/Welcome Scheme workshops throughout Scotland, enabling them to offer places on the workshops at subsidised costs. More...15/06/2007
The Solway Firth Partnership has published a guide to sea-angling around the coast. More...15/06/2007
Tourist Board Training (TBT) is supporting the delivery of Niche Market/Welcome Scheme workshops throughout Scotland, enabling them to offer places on the workshops at subsidised costs. More...14/06/2007
Prize winners Jacqui and Mark Middleton from Ardrishaig were joined by champion rider Julie Cartner recently to try out the world-class 7stanes mountain bike trails at Mabie Forest. More...15/06/2007
Take part in free informal networking evenings to which all business people, members and non-members of the Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce are invited. More...18/06/2007
A pilot What's On guide containing information on events in the Dumfries and Galloway area has been established for downloading. More...15/06/2007
It is important for you to stay ahead of what’s happening in Dumfries & Galloway so you can pass the information on to your visitors. There’s a cultural feast for the eyes, ears and taste buds! More...18/06/2007
Event organisers are looking to further raise the profile of this successful initiative and are keen to develop partnerships with businesses within the tourism sector to increase the business opportunities and enhance the experience for the visitor. Find out how you could benefit. More...15/06/2007
Tourism businesses in Dumfries & Galloway have access to a wide range of opportunities to promote their business – but don’t miss out as the date for taking part nears. More...15/06/2007
Kirkcudbright Artist's Town is set to welcome yet another major exhibition this summer. More...14/06/2007
Wigtown Book Town, Kirkcudbright Artists’ Town and Castle Douglas Food Town are working together to attract more visitors to Glorious Galloway. The recently formed Glorious Galloway Tourism Consortium has become the first group in Dumfries & Galloway to receive VisitScotland Challenge Funding. More...15/06/2007
Tourism businesses in Midlothian are making efforts to boost business tourism in the area with a new initiative launched earlier this year. More...15/06/2007
Tourist Board Training is organising a series of niche market workshops in Edinburgh and Lothians which are also linked to VisitScotland's Quality Assurance Welcome Schemes. More...15/06/2007
The Scottish Mining Museum in Newtongrange has been awarded the VisitScotland Five Star Excellence Award for the fourth time running. This is the highest award granted to any tourism establishment as part of VisitScotland's Quality Assurance Grading Scheme. More...15/06/2007
Restaurant Martin Wishart recently received an EatScotland Gold Award in recognition of the outstanding eating experience that it offers customers. More...15/06/2007
VisitScotland.com has started a two month pilot to sell the Edinburgh Pass to customers phoning Scotland’s No.1 booking and information service, 0845 22 55 121. More...15/06/2007
The East Neuk Festival is fast establishing itself as one of Scotland’s most innovative arts events and will be taking place from 28 June to 1 July in a range of venues in this atmospheric location. More...18/06/2007
The newly formatted What’s On is now available to download. More...15/06/2007
The highest number of Scottish award winning beaches ever recorded, was announced on 1st June 2007, as the official bathing season got underway. And among them were 11 Fife beaches - five Blue Flag winners and six Rural Seaside Awards. More...15/06/2007
VisitScotland Fife will once again be promoting golf in St Andrews during winter with the return of the popular St Andrews Old Course Off Peak Package (previously known as the Winter Golf Package). More...15/06/2007
Taking place between 1 and 3 July at the Fairmont St Andrews, the International Pairs World Finals is the culmination of the biggest golf event of its kind in the world. More...15/06/2007
Griselda Hill Pottery Ltd has recently achieved a bronze award from the Green Tourism Business Scheme. To celebrate this and the very newly acquired status of four star Visitor Attraction by Visit Scotland, the Pottery, which makes the world famous ‘Wemyss Ware’, will hold an eight day ‘going green’ Festival at the Visitor Centre in Ceres. More...15/06/2007
While tickets to see the Bruce Lectures that are taking place as part of this years Robert the Bruce Festival in Dunfermline have proved so popular they have sold out in advance of the event, some are still available for the Bruce Concert. More...06/06/2007
Scotland’s largest hotel, Jurys Inn on Glasgow’s Jamaica Street, has achieved the Gold standard under the Green Tourism Business Scheme, making it only the second in the city to sport the plaque. More...07/06/2007
A multi-million pound plan to expand Glasgow Airport – the biggest single investment by airport operator BAA Glasgow for a generation – is about to get underway. More...13/06/2007
Big events in the city can have a big effect on your business. Make sure you are in the know by having these in your diary for the weeks ahead. More...11/06/2007
Are you looking to grow your business? The advice from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce is, if you want a piece of the action, you should get a piece of pizza. All in the name of networking, of course! More...12/06/2007
As the Commonwealth Games evaluation committee arrived in Glasgow to assess the city’s bid for the 2014 Games, Glasgow TIC rolled out a special welcome. More...11/06/2007
The fourth annual 'Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards' saw the city’s Crowne Plaza Hotel take home the Glasgow Hotel of the Year 2007 Award as well as Scottish Conference Hotel of the Year 2007. More...14/06/2007
Calling all accommodation providers in the Lochaber area who are interested in making more of visitscotland.com and the 'web in a box' product. Come along and find out more on Thursday 28 June at 11.30 in the Alexandra Hotel, Fort William. More...18/06/2007
The Highlands What’s On guide is now available for downloading. More...14/06/2007
The North Highland College will be running a National Certificate in Travel & Tourism from August 2007. More...14/06/2007
Open to all tourism businesses across the Highlands and Islands, these coveted awards represent what our world-famous hospitality is all about. The Awards are open to entries from the end of June. More...13/06/2007
The arrival of Celebrity Cruise Line’s 'mv Century' in May at Invergordon marked a significant milestone for the Easter Ross port. It now means that every major cruise line in the world has visited Invergordon. More...13/06/2007
Scrumptious salmon, tasty tablet and delicious drinks are being sought by the Highland and Islands Food and Drink Awards which is now open for entries. More...13/06/2007
The Core Paths Plan – A consultative draft for Sutherland and Skye & Lochalsh is now available for viewing and comment. More...14/06/2007
Additions to the line up for both the RBS Inverness Highland Tattoo and InvernessFest were announced at Fort George, the stunning location for this year’s Tattoo. More...13/06/2007
Cearcaill na Gàidhlig or The Gaelic Rings, is a new initiative designed to boost cultural tourism in the West Highlands and Outer Hebrides, through the creation of a Gaelic language and culture ‘trail’. More...13/06/2007
A famous Highland hotel where railway travellers previously came to gaze at the majesty of Loch Ness has been restored to its former glory with a refurbishment worth in excess of £3/4 million. More...13/06/2007
Tourist Board Training is organising a series of niche market workshops, which are also linked to VisitScotland Quality Assurance Welcome Schemes. More...13/06/2007
A Fusion Skye & Lochalsh and the Outer Hebrides are hosting a joint mini-conference to promote enterprise and innovation. The event, titled 'using our natural resources in the Great Outdoors', is being held at Nunton Steading in Benbecula on 21-22 June 2007. More...13/06/2007
VisitOrkney is urging all tourism businesses in the area who have not yet signed up to any marketing opportunities to sign up immediately. More...13/06/2007
The Orkney Village became the first ever winner of a new trophy for 'Best Feature Stand' at this month’s annual Royal Agricultural Bath and West Show. More...13/06/2007
A series of niche market workshops will be run by Tourist Board Training in Kirkwall through the summer, which are linked to VisitScotland Quality Assurance Welcome Schemes. More...13/06/2007
Loganair is offering three new chartered flight routes around the Orkney Islands this summer. More...13/06/2007
A yacht that once sailed in the BT Global Voyage is the first of its kind in the Outer Hebrides to offer guests an opportunity to crew the vessel. More...13/06/2007
The Caladh Inn has just been awarded with the internationally recognised Hospitality Assured accreditation at the same time as the Royal Hotel has been re-accredited for the second year running. More...13/06/2007
If not, why don’t you pop in and say hello to the staff and let them know what your business is offering? More...13/06/2007
The recently opened Heb Hostel in Stornway has been awarded four stars by VisitScotland. More...13/06/2007
Read on for more information on the Gatliff Trust hostels throughout the Outer Hebrides. More...13/06/2007
VisitScotland’s Outer Hebrides network office is leading by example having recently secured a Silver Green Tourism Business Scheme award. More...15/06/2007
Tigh Na Leigh guest house is set to join an elite band of world class accommodation providers in Perthshire with five star status. More...15/06/2007
The organisers of ‘Live at Scone Palace’ have announced that top rockers Status Quo are to headline the third night of Scotland’s newest music festival. More...15/06/2007
For an update on the latest statistics in Perthshdire please read on. More...15/06/2007
Come and enjoy a fantastic 2-day spectacle as 4x4 vehicles compete at various locations in southern Perthshire. More...13/06/2007
The brand new Shetland Museum and Arhives was opened earlier this month by Prince Charles and Queen Sonya of Norway. More...13/06/2007
Shetland Vikings conquered new territory this month as they took one of the most glamorous nights at the 60th Cannes Film Festival by storm. More...14/06/2007
Research shows that more than 66,000 visitors flocked to some of Scotland’s most spectacular gardens this winter to enjoy the first ever national Snowdrop Festival. More...18/06/2007
The Scottish Tourism Forum is delighted to announce the appointment of their new CEO, Iain Herbert. More...13/06/2007
Does your business rely on Scotland's remarkable heritage? Do you want to learn from the best about how to create truly memorable experiences for your visitors? Read on for more details about how to get the 'Vital Spark'. More...13/06/2007
The Scenario Planning team have produced a new Viewpoint: Kermit once said it wasn’t easy being green, in which the trends and tensions of ethical consumption are looked at. There is also a special double issue of ‘Tomorrow's World’ newsletter on the subject of ‘adventure tourism and a risk adverse society’. More...18/06/2007
Tourism statistics for 2006 show strong growth in the volume and value of international tourism to Scotland. Scotland has also maintained its share of the domestic tourism market in a challenging year. More...13/06/2007
Delta Air Lines is to offer the only scheduled nonstop service between New York JFK and Scotland, tailored to meet customer demands. More...13/06/2007
VisitScotland has picked up a prestigious international award at the US International Film & Video Awards. More...13/06/2007
The Beautiful Scotland campaign was launched last month in Arden, Glasgow, by Carole Baxter of The Beechgrove Garden and John Summers OBE, Chief Executive of Keep Scotland Beautiful. More...13/06/2007
Tourist Board Training's 2007 Programme of Events is now well established with workshops being held throughout Scotland in both Spring and Autumn. More...18/06/2007
New for September 2007, VisitScotland is planning a Scotland sales mission to Barcelona, Madrid & Milan, providing an opportunity for 10-15 Scottish businesses to meet with key Spanish & Italian travel trade contacts. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to target the Spanish & Italian travel trade directly. More...15/06/2007
There is often confusion as to what licences you need for having TVs and playing music within your business. Read on for some guidance. More...14/06/2007
VisitScotland has provided a helping hand to a customer with a difference – a very large customer, who is about to hit movie screens across the land, as the latest Shrek movie – “Shrek the Third” – is released in Europe and the UK later this month. More...14/06/2007
Car enthusiasts are being encouraged to experience the drive of their lives in style with the launch of the first Borders Classic Car Challenge. More...14/06/2007
‘Ecoescape’ is a new travel guide which makes it easy for visitors to chose the green option when holidaying in the UK. More...14/06/2007
Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, is working to win a multi-million pound grant which would benefit various communities throughout the UK, four of which are in Scotland. More...14/06/2007
The Cairngorms National Park offers residents, businesses and staff, and visitors a more sustainable way of getting round the Park, through the re-introduction of the unique ‘Heather Hopper’ bus service. More...14/06/2007
Visitors to Cambus O'May and Pannanich forests in Upper Deeside are being urged by Forestry Commission Scotland rangers to take extra care when exercising in the woods this summer in order to help respect and preserve valuable wildlife habitat. More...14/06/2007
With BBC’s Springwatch series broadcasting from Islay this year, residents expect an influx of visitors, as experienced by previous featured locations. Whilst welcoming this boost to tourism, Wild Scotland, Scotland’s wildlife tourism association, is sounding a note of caution to visitors, urging them to use responsible operators. More...14/06/2007
The Murray Arms Hotel in Gatehouse of Fleet is offering visitors something a bit different. Their ‘bike and hike’ package not only offers visitors the chance to explore the stunning Dumfries and Galloway countryside and wildlife, but encourages them to use only sustainable modes of travel. More...14/06/2007
VisitScotland, through the Sector Development department, is currently involved in a collaborative project which develops the links between farming and tourism. Working in partnership with FWAG and Scottish Natural Heritage, the three-year project ‘Linking Sustainable Farming, Tourism & Biodiversity’ runs across the Highlands & Islands area. More...14/06/2007
VisitScotland’s Outer Hebrides network office is leading by example having recently secured a Silver Green Tourism Business Scheme award. The staff in the Stornoway office and Tourist Information Centre (TIC) are celebrating the fact their green credentials have been recognised as the Silver standard under the stringent GTBS assessment. More...14/06/2007
A national programme is being developed to support communities who are working to reduce their carbon footprint. More...14/06/2007
Ecotourism students at the University of Portsmouth have chosen to travel by train to the Cairngorms instead of heading to Grenada in the West Indies for their annual fieldtrip. The students favoured the Cairngorms National Park over the Caribbean island because of concerns about their carbon footprint. More... | 
