A boat hotel, prison museum and gin school are among a huge line-up of north and north-east tourism operators heading to Glasgow next week for the industry’s biggest annual expo.
The 40th edition of VisitScotland’s takes place at the Scottish Event Campus on Wednesday and Thursday, and comes during the national tourism body’s 50th year.
There will be a particularly big contribution from the Highlands and islands, reflecting the importance of a currently buoyant tourism industry to the north economy.
More than 50 businesses and tourism organisations, including Inverness Hotels Association, will be at VistScotland Expo looking to drum up business.
Highland Lassie Island Cruises, which offers “bed on board” from summer 2019 and cruises in 2020, Mac & Wild at Falls of Shin and the family-run Pixel Spirits Distillery and Gin School will be among those making their debut at the travel trade event, whose 330-plus exhibitors will make it the biggest to date.
The show began as the Scotland’s Travel Trade Fair in 1980 before being rebranded in 2001.
Last year saw in excess of 300 companies showcased to more than 570 trade buyers from around the world.
Some of the delegates attending next week’s expo will also participate in familiarisation trips to give them first-hand experience of holidays available to their customers.
These includes buyers from China who will visit Nevis Range in Lochaber.
VisitScotland regional leadership director Chris Taylor said: “Expo allows businesses including accommodation providers, visitor attractions and activity providers to showcase their products and services to hundreds of tour operators and travel agents from all over the world – all under one roof.”
North-east businesses making their debut include Peterhead Prison Museum, High Spirits Tours, Maryculter House Hotel, Braemar Highland Experience, Granite City Tour Company, Scotland Unveiled and the Sandman Signature Aberdeen Hotel.
They will form part of a delegation led by destinnation marketing organisation VisitAberdeenshire.
VisitScotland regional director Jo Robinson said: “This brilliant annual event really is a key opportunity to firmly place Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on the travel trade’s radar, and it is wonderful to see so many local businesses joining others attending from across Scotland.”
Meanwhile, Moray tourism will be represented at the show by the likes of Ballindalloch Castle, Johnstons of Elgin and The Macallan.
Moray Speyside Golf, Brodie Countryfare and Blervie House will make their expo debut as part of a delegation led by Moray Speyside Tourism.