A TOURISM organisation has taken a popular international event online this year .

Visit Scotland will be holding the virtual event called Scotland Reconnect 2020 on November 23-25 as live events have been “rendered impossible”. The event will replace the organisation’s annual Expo and will see 200 worldwide travel agents and tour operators meet with Scottish tourism businesses including popular Glasgow attractions such as the Tennents Brewery and Glasgow Museums.

Jim Clarkson, VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director, said: “This year has been extremely challenging for tourism businesses not only in Glasgow but right across Scotland.

“Glasgow has always been popular among visitors and Covid-19 will not change that. Demand is building and the city will remain a focus for our key markets.

“I am delighted that Scotland Reconnect 2020 has been created using our new online platform to ensure that businesses can continue to engage and convert that continuing interest into visits.

"We look forward to reconnecting international buyers with our amazing Glasgow tourism businesses, to demonstrate the strong tourism product the city has to offer, to secure business for the future and to ensure the recovery of our international markets in 2021 and beyond.

Susan Deighan, Director of City Marketing and External Relations at Glasgow Life commented: “The Tourism and Hospitality sector in Glasgow has been particularly hard hit this year.

"Tourism traditionally boosts the Glasgow economy with over £660m in economic benefit from visitor spend each year, so the loss of visitors to our city in 2020 has been deeply felt.

"However, Scotland Reconnect 2020 allows us to keep Glasgow front of mind with influential global buyers, as they search out new and inviting destinations for their clients.

"The virtual event allows us to keep Glasgow and Scotland front of mind, so when the time is right, we will be ready to welcome the world back to our vibrant and resilient city.”

Liz Aungier, Director of Product and Vendor Relations at USA-based Tenon Tours, said: “Scotland is very much a key market for Tenon Tours. VisitScotland Expo in Scotland every year is one of my favourite events to attend. Being able to reconnect this year through a virtual event with our valued suppliers is very much welcome as we endeavour to be ready for the return of our clients to Scotland when the time is right.”