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Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 02/11/2022

Introduction from Regional Director, Neil Christison

It has been fantastic to see the return of domestic and international visitors to Edinburgh and the Lothians over the summer months, as well as live events and festivals taking place across the region.

As we approach the winter season, we will continue to work with partners in our tourism and events industry on promoting activity that extends the season and ensuring Scotland and Edinburgh and the Lothians remain front of mind for potential visitors.

We’re prioritising activities that will stimulate demand and new bookings for the industry to support its long-term recovery, with more details in this update.

We know that many businesses are facing difficult decisions and are having to consider how they adapt their operations to manage the cost challenges. We would encourage you to explore our industry website for all the latest industry advice, support and guidance and we'll bring you news on industry events taking place in the region.  

We also want to take the opportunity to celebrate our tourism and events industry who have worked tirelessly in the past two years. It was fantastic to come together once again for the Scottish Thistle Awards Lothian & Borders Regional Final last week and celebrate the very best in tourism and the excellence that is helping to rebuild this vital part of the economy.

Best regards

Neil Christison

 

Scottish Thistle Awards regional final

Tourism businesses across Central, Fife & Tayside and the Lothians and Scottish Borders received recognition at Scotland’s premier tourism and events awards on 27 October at Prestonfield House Hotel in Edinburgh.  

We deliver the Awards sponsored by Johnstons of Elgin and it includes a media partnership with News Scotland for the first time this year. They celebrate the very best of tourism in Scotland and the excellence that is helping to rebuild this vital part of the Scottish economy in the last two years.

Congratulations to the Edinburgh and Lothians winners

  • The Old Millhouse, Dalkeith
  • Drift, North Berwick
  • Emma Chalmers from Mary's Meanders in West Lothian
  • Crescent House Edinburgh - Boutique B&B
  • Teuchters Landing, Edinburgh
  • Cafe St Honore, Edinburgh
  • Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh - The Caledonian, Edinburgh
  • A wee Pedal, Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh International Festival (EIF)
  • A Toast to Gaia - Edinburgh Science

We wish the regional winners the best of luck as they continue to the Scottish Thistle Awards National Final next year

You can see all the winners in our Thistles round-up story.

Corporate Press update

Our corporate PR team work closely with partners to raise awareness of our work to promote Edinburgh and the Lothians to visitors, and the support available for our industry in the Scottish and UK media.

Some of the highlights include:

  • We announced the shortlist for the regional finals in the Scottish Thistle Awards. More than one hundred tourism businesses and events, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, hotels and individuals, were shortlisted for an award in the Central, Fife & Tayside, West and Lothian & Borders Regional Finals.
     
  • We also promoted the launch of a new marketing campaign in the UK and Europe to encourage visitors to discover more about Scotland’s UNESCO Trail, including Edinburgh’s designations.
     
  • Pentland Hills Sustainable Access Project was also one of five successful applications to Round 5 of the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund announced in October.

Scotland's UNESCO trail marketing activity

Some of Scotland’s most iconic, diverse and culturally significant sites are being promoted to domestic and international visitors with the launch of our dedicated marketing campaign, developed in collaboration with UNESCO and designation partners.

The campaign promotes Scotland’s UNESCO Trail to potential visitors from the UK & Ireland, Germany and France with the aim of encouraging them to discover more about the country’s 13 place-based designations included in the trail.

Read more about the campaign and trail.

Learn about Scotland's UNESCO Trail

Come to our Networking event with East Lothian

Join us and Visit East Lothian for a Christmas networking event at Glenkinchie Distillery on the 8 December 2022. Come along to meet with your peers and discuss tourism in our region with a tour of the distillery, welcome drinks and canapes.

This event is for East Lothian tourism, hospitality and events businesses.

Tickets to this event are free and you can secure your place now on our event booking page.

Forever Edinburgh Accessibility survey

#Forever Edinburgh is carrying out an audit of inclusive and accessible friendly products and services in Edinburgh and the Lothians.

This important survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be an invaluable source of information about what Edinburgh’s tourism businesses offer visitors and residents as an Inclusive and Accessible destination.

Insights generated will be used to promote your accessible and inclusive services across the Forever Edinburgh platform, including paid campaign activity.

The closing date is the 15 November 2022 , fill out the survey.

Hear from our iCentre teams

We provide face-to-face information provision and inspiration to visitors through a Scotland-wide network of iCentres (Information Centres).  Our iCentres remain at the heart of information delivery. Our knowledgeable and passionate staff provide a personalised service to visitors, making their visit even more memorable and helping them to experience all the local area and surrounding region have to offer.

We've been talking to our staff at our Edinburgh iCentre to discuss the period of July - September 2022.

Hear from our Edinburgh iCentre

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