Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire industry update

Scotland and UK Press activity

Our corporate PR team works closely with Scottish and UK media to raise awareness of how our work promotes Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to visitors and of how we offer support for the industry.

Some of the most recent press highlights

A quote to a story in the P&J's Weekend Edition about the growth of whisky tourism. Read P&J's Weekend Edition on pressandjournal.co.uk.

A supportive quote from Regional Director, David Jackson, for a VisitAberdeenshire press release on an inclusive tourism event.

We announced the return of our successful travel trade event – Connect – in April 2024, issuing a regional media release encouraging businesses from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire to sign up. Read our regional media release.

We announced businesses shortlisted in the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Awards as part of the Scottish Thistle Awards programme for 2023. Read our news item on the Aberdeen City and Shire Thistle Award winners.

We provided a supportive quote from David Jackson for inclusion in a story about Aberdeen Science Centre retaining its Five Star Quality Assurance award. Read more about science centre's award on grampianonline.co.uk.

In November, we compiled an opinion editorial from David Jackson, featuring the autumn and winter marketing activity to drive year-round visitors and reflecting on the current climate for tourism. Browse David Jackson's editorial on aberdeenlive.news.

An update from Aberdeen iCentre

The Aberdeen iCentre team has, over the last few months, been focusing on networking with local schools and universities.

In September and October, they participated in the University of Aberdeen’s freshers and post-grad events. They had a pop-up stall to help familiarise new students with Aberdeen and promote hidden gems to existing students.

In December, the iCentre hosted a class of travel and tourism students from Aberdeen Grammar School to learn more about working in tourism.

Reflecting on our summer, the iCentre team hosted numerous events on cruise ship days with shortbread tastings from our local suppliers and tastings from Aberdeen Whisky Shop. VisitAberdeenshire’s volunteers promoted these on the South Harbour quay.

Global PR activity

Our Global PR team works to promote Scotland across key media outlets, which have been identified through years of work and relationship building. The team can place the right story, at the right time, in-front of the right audience.

Working primarily with media in the travel and lifestyle space, it can take anything from one week to one year or more to see the results of the team’s always on activity aligning with our seasonal messaging, organisation priorities, and editorial calendars. 

In the period July to September, the team delivered:

• 11 proactive communication bundles and press releases received in multiple languages by 2,500 media contacts
• releases and communications, covering themes that included cycling, outdoor adventure, cities, agritourism, responsible travel, festivals, Barbiecore, and much more
• more than 150 tailored pitches to a range of media titles
• 1000 individual engagements with contacts from across the world
• attending in person events, including Destination Britain China, St Andrew’s Day receptions in Paris and Berlin, and WTM in London

• hosting for 76 media in various locations across Scotland

What's new on visitscotland.com?

We're always looking to share inspirational and helpful content for the region's visitors. Take a look at some of the new content on visitscotland.com focused on Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire:

• 9 best coffee shops to try in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
• A photographer's adventure to Aberdeen