Taste for Tourism summit seeks to attract hungry tourists to Scotland
Scotland intends to boost its standing as a global food tourism destination, with the issue being debated at an industry event in November.
It supports the Scottish Government's Year of Food and Drink initiative which celebrates Scotland's natural larder and quality produce - led by VisitScotland in partnership with EventScotland, Scotland Food & Drink and Think Local.
The event will include international speakers with experience of building food destinations, question and answer sessions and the opportunity to taste some of the food and drink Scotland has to offer.
It has been organised by Food from Argyll, Argyll & the Isles Tourism Co-operative and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, with support from a number of partners.
Calum Ross, director of Argyll & the Isles Tourism Co-operative, said: "Food and drink already accounts for one in every five pounds spent by visitors to Scotland, and that could be even higher if hotels, tour operators and other tourism stakeholders work together with producers to highlight the wealth of excellent food and drink that is on offer and to share our wonderful traditions. By building Scotland's reputation as a food destination, we can also enhance the value of an already thriving food sector."
Virginia Sumsion, marketing and events manager at Food from Argyll and one of the organisers of Taste for Tourism, said: "The international food and drink tourism market is worth hundreds of millions of pounds and Scotland already has a share of it, which will undoubtedly rise as a result of the Year of Food and Drink.
"But we can do even better if we build ourselves into a place not just where great produce is made among beautiful scenery, but somewhere that has the destinations and tourist attractions to bring in visitors whose primary purpose is to enjoy food and drink and the heritage surrounding it."
For more information and to book tickets for the event, visit www.tastefortourism.scot
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