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Christmas Wrapped Up

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Despite the challenges of 2020, Scotland’s tourism industry has opened its doors and hearts to people across the country and 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 tolove local’ this Christmas and support tourism during its time of need. 

It highlights 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 1 in 12 jobs, the Scottish tourism industry has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent lockdown and travel restrictions.  

However, regardless of this, throughout the pandemic, stories of innovation and kindness emerged as businesses offered free stays to frontline workers, made hand sanitisers for communities, and reinvented their products and services to make life easier for those unable to travel. When tourism reopened on 15 July, those within the industry worked tirelessly to make experiences safe and enjoyable once again. 

The arrival of new restrictions, in what is traditionally a quieter time of year, has once again hit the industry hard, prompting VisitScotland to call on people across the country to return the favour, supporting the sector that supported them through it all. 

Examples of kindness and innovation during the pandemic include: 

Spirited SoapsSchloss Roxburghe HotelThe Hideaway ExperienceCullen Bay HotelCrerar HotelsMeldrum HouseEdinburgh’s Christmas

Travel guides and historians https://www.solwaytours.co.uk/“>Solway Tours based in Dumfries & Galloway have launched a new ancestral gift box as part of a Scottish-inspired gift range.  

Taymouth Marina

As well as encouraging visitors to put Scottish tourism at the top of their Christmas 2020 wish-lists, the national tourism organisation has also 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.  

“Whether it’s buying gift vouchers, shopping online or on our high streets, dining out or booking a break on your doorstep; by loving local you are supporting communities during tough times and helping protect the places and businesses you love to visit and rebuilding our valuable visitor economy.”    

 The Scotland Loves Local campaign, spearheaded by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), has been leading the rallying cry for shoppers to think local first - whether in person or online - to help businesses close to them through the pandemic.

Phil Prentice, STP’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. This will ensure that our local businesses can continue to be there for us in the future. 

“Whether you do it in person or online - to buy a physical item or a gift card - please support the shops, eateries, hotels and all of those close to you. By doing so, you are investing in your community - helping them not only survive the impact of the pandemic, but lay firm foundations for their future.”

To find out more about #ScotlandLovesLocal and learn more about some great ways you can support local this December visit: www.VisitScotland.com/LoveLocal

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Christmas Wrapped Up

VisitScotland Loves Local with New Festive Campaign

Asset type post
ID 111535
Word count 994 words

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Licence Rights Managed - VS Editorial A Licence to use assets for editorial purposes, which is, to illustrate an event or story in an article but not commercially such as marketing a product or print ad. An Editorial asset may show a brand, a trademarked logo or product, a public personality, or recognisable people, without a signed release or with limited releases. When you use VisitScotland Editorial content you do so to illustrate Scottish tourism in a positive way.
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Usage Editorial content can be published in a variety of formats ranging from print or digital to online. In print content can be featured in *newspapers *magazines *brochures. Online content can be published in a *blog *website *article or *social media. Regardless of the format this content should always promote Scotland’s tourism in a positive way.

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