Plea to Scots to support local tourist sector

VisitScotland believes now is the time to return the love and show our support.

In a new festive campaign, the national tourism organisation is calling on Scots to ‘love local’ this Christmas and support tourism during its time of need.

It believes that supporting local businesses this winter offers the best chance of protecting them for the future.

Working with partners across the country, the campaign will use the organisation’s hugely popular website and social channels to showcase the vast range of gifts, products and experiences people can enjoy right on their doorstep.

Worth more than £11.5 billion to the Scottish economy, and supporting one in 12 jobs, the Scottish tourism industry has been devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdown and travel restrictions.

As well as encouraging visitors to put Scottish tourism at the top of their Christmas 2020 wish-lists, the national tourism organisation has created a dedicated advice page on its website, visitscotland.org, where businesses can learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, as well as accessing advice on promoting themselves to a local audience during the pandemic.

Vicki Miller, VisitScotland Director of Marketing, said: “With the current five-level protection framework in place in Scotland and many people not able to travel, VisitScotland is working with others to look at how we can support local tourism to help with the devastating impact of the pandemic.

“We’ve made it easy for visitors, packing our website with inspiration and information about all the brilliant businesses they can support within their local area.”

Phil Prentice, Scotland’s Towns Partnership’s Chief Officer, said: “It’s so important, whether it be for retail or hospitality, that where we can, we think local first for all of our needs.”

To find out more about #ScotlandLovesLocal and the ways you can support local this December visit here.