THE Hairy Bikers have shared their excitement for the future of Scotland's food and drink scene at an event in Glasgow.
Dave Myers and Si King, who recently visited former city restaurant Julie's Kopitiam on their Go Local series, attended Destination Scotland: The Power of Food Tourism at the SEC on Wednesday.
Joined by 250 food industry experts, the celebrity chefs shared top tips for businesses looking to expand into food tourism.
Dave and Si said: “It is always a pleasure to come to Scotland!
"Having spent time here filming for The Hairy Bikers Go Local, we know how passionate and excited the industry is about the opportunities for food tourism, and it was wonderful to see a room full of such enthusiasm in Glasgow.
"Scotland has a rich larder of amazing produce, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds as more and more businesses come together to create unique and exciting tourism experiences.”
Among the guests were Instagram foodies The Taste Cadets and food writer Ghillie Basan, and the event was officially opened by rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon.
She said: “I am delighted to have been asked to open this year’s Scottish Food Tourism Conference.
“As well as being highly sought after across the world, food and drink is an essential part of our economy, helping in creating business opportunities and jobs.
“By encouraging visitors from both home and abroad to come and sample our great Scottish fare, not only are we showcasing the fantastic food and drink available but also providing an economic boost to the nation.”
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With visitors in Scotland spending around £1 billion per year on food and drink, there are plans in place to grow food tourism opportunities through the industry-led Food Tourism Scotland Action Plan.
Fiona Richmond, Scotland Food and Drink’s head of regional food, said: “Scotland is rich in culture, history and food, and the opportunities for the future potential of our industry are endless.
"Events like these are instrumental in bringing industries together to collaborate, learn and achieve our potential.
"We had a fantastic day in Glasgow learning from a first-class line-up of speakers and we can’t wait to see the collaborative projects that unfold from this event.”
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