Flying the flag for Orkney at international tourism expo

Orkney Tourism Group is flying the flag for the county at a major international travel trade event in Edinburgh.

VisitScotland Expo 2016 began yesterday, Wednesday, and gives Scottish tourism businesses the chance to promote their products and services to potential buyers from around the globe.

A team from Orkney Tourism Group, which represents over 400 tourism businesses in the islands, are attending the two-day event at the Royal Highland Centre.

They join a number of Orkney businesses on the Orkney stand, where the Orkney Craft Association launched the new 2016 Craft Trail brochure yesterday.

Ann Marwick, co-chair of Orkney Tourism Group, said: “As a destination, Orkney punches well above its weight in the travel trade world, with an unrivalled mixture of truly unique attractions and hundreds of highly experienced tourism operators.

“However, we exist in an extremely competitive international market place and must always ensure that we are doing everything possible to protect and build on Orkney’s enviable reputation as a destination.

“This is a particularly busy year for Orkney, with the islands playing host to the Battle of Jutland commemorations and a record number of cruise liners. That’s on top of our usual packed programme of festivals, events and activities, so attending the VisitScotland Expo gives us the opportunity to share everything that’s happening with buyers from around the world.

“It also gives us the chance to network with colleagues from within the sector and share ideas to help strengthen Scotland’s tourism industry as a whole.”