Global Perspectives

The Global Perspectives Team aims to help Scottish operators cater effectively for the needs of international visitors, and helps to grow tourism by better understanding of emerging and mature markets.   The team also keep an eye on best practice, market trends and new developments in tourism in overseas destinations. By looking at other product and service offerings, the group seeks to: 

·      Drive up quality in Scottish tourism to achieve or exceed the high standards expected by international visitors.

.      Maximise the opportunities to grow Scottish tourism offered by Homecoming Scotland 2009.

.      Encourage the development of new ideas for Scotland, based on successful products and services overseas. 

·      Advise tourism operators how to achieve growth by targeting and winning international business.

.      Encourage the regional economic impact that can be derieved from international events held in Scotland.

Recent successes for the team include: 

·      Industry input to the development of a fast-track Green Badge Guide training course to address the shortage of qualified Russian and Mandarin-speaking bilingual tour guides. This initiative was in collaboration with VisitScotland and the Scottish Tourist Guides Association. 

·      The creation of the Win Worldwide initiative in partnership with Scottish Development International. This initiative helps tourism businesses to secure business overseas with a series of customised workshops held at various locations throughout Scotland. 

·    Top tops guide on   How to maximise the economic benefit from events in your area.  This guide is for everyone involved in the planning and development of events within a particular area. TiG, in partnership with EventScotland have recognised that although large scale events will almost certainly undertake an economic impact assessment afterwards, there is much to be gained by an increased awareness of how to maximise this impact before the event happens, at the planning and development stages. 

The Global Perspectives team champion is Yvonne Wagoun, Hotelbeds Accommodation & Destination Services.

 Links

Scottish Development International http://www.sdi.co.uk/Key%20Industries/Tourism.aspx

Homecoming Scotland 2009 http://www.homecomingscotland.com/default.html

Scottish Tourist Guides Association http://www.stga.co.uk/