Tourism Expo draws huge foreign interest

MORE than 800 foreign travel agents and tour firms are to descend on the major showcase event for Scotland's tourism industry – the biggest overseas contingent at the event for more than ten years.

India, Lithuania, the United States, China, Japan and Australia are among the countries which will be represented at VisitScotland's Expo two-day event which sees about 250 tourism operators trying to drum up business for the next year.

Some 40 buyers from India alone are attending the event at the SECC in Glasgow, seven times as many as last year. Exhibitors at the event, being held today and tomorrow, include hotels, restaurants and visitor attractions.

Philip Riddle, VisitScotland's chief executive, said: "Expo provides the perfect opportunity for Scottish tourism businesses to showcase their products and services.

We are well placed to capitalise on the opportunities – with favourable exchange rates, the UK trend for holidaying at home and the enormous strength we have in our country and our people."