Scotland mission targets travel trade
Burns cottage, Alloway, Strathclyde, Scotland. 
©Britainonview
Scotland has been causing a stir in Australia and New Zealand – and we’re not just talking about Andy Murray in the final of the Australian Open tennis.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has been kicking up a storm in Sydney and marching alongside them has been a travel trade delegation representing Scottish destinations, products and festivals. They spoke with TravelMole Australia/NZ editor Ian Jarrett this week.
Fiona Stewart, PR manager for Visit Scotland, said the trade delegation is showcasing not just the best of Scotland’s quality products and attractions, but also the destination’s value for money, and accessibility.
Emirates flies into Glasgow while Etihad – an airline partner of Visit Scotland – has connections through Manchester and London.
Scotland is ready to build on the success of last year’s Homecoming Scotland programme of events – inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns – by adding new product and experiences to its 2010 calendar.
This year will see the opening of the redeveloped Burns National Heritage Park at Alloway. It will include the new Robert Burns Birthplace Museum to house the most important Burns collection in the world.

Another major project due to open in 2011 is the Riverside Museum in Glasgow, a landmark museum which creates a more accessible and environmentally stable home for Glasgow’s significant Transport and Technology collections.
For the first time it will allow the proper interpretation of Glasgow’s important maritime history through the museum site, the Glenlee tall ship and a unique ship model collection.
Historic Scotland cares for 345 historic attractions across Scotland spanning over 5000 years of Scotland’s history and culture. Of these, 78 are promoted actively to the travel trade.
Historic Scotland’s Graeme Bowie said Edinburgh Castle, which attracts 1.2 million visitors per year, including 36,000 from Australia, is now promoting after-hours private tours to the corporate and incentive markets.
The tours include private viewing of the Scottish Crown Jewels and breakfasts for groups of up to 120 people.
“It’s a very prestigious, high-end product,” said Bowie.
Another project being overseen by Historic Scotland includes the refurbishment of Stirling Castle, concentrating on the Great Hall and the Royal Palace, due to re-open to the public in April 2010.
The Historic Scotland 3-day, 7-day and 10-day Explorer Pass is 20 percent commissionable to travel agents.
It allows fast track entry into Edinburgh Castle, where queues can be lengthy in peak season, and visits to the castles, cathedrals and palaces of Scotland.
Ian Jarrett
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