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Putting a figure on big business

Just how much is business tourism worth to Scotland? Research is under way that will provide a definitive answer.

Date : 22/05/2013

Just how much is business tourism worth to Scotland? Research is under way that will provide a definitive answer.

However, Judy Rae, industry champion for the sector, revealed her own group’s best estimate to delegates at the Scottish Tourism Week conference.

A straw poll of Scotland’s four main cities and their conference centres, carried out by the Business Tourism Industry group, came up with an economic impact figure of £1.1 billion.

While emphasising that this isn’t a scientific figure, Judy pointed out that it’s equivalent to 11 Ryder Cups, 14 Commonwealth Games, or 37 Edinburgh Hogmanay celebrations every year.

She outlined the key activities the group is focusing on this year to help develop business opportunities for the industry.

These include a ‘Corporate Champions’ initiative, working to inspire senior people in commercial organisations to bring some form of business tourism event to Scotland. This would build on the success of the Academic Ambassadors programme currently offered by the convention cities.

The Business Tourism group also plans to forge stronger links with the industry through a communications and engagement strategy.

It will also help to get the most out of the new £2 million National Bid Fund, set up to attract high-yield, high-spend international conferences linked to Scotland’s areas of expertise in industry, commerce, science and medicine.