Published on:
20
September 2011
Tourism businesses in Clackmannanshire, Stirling and Falkirk are invited to attend a special industry evening at Alloa's Gean House on Tuesday 27 September, when they will come up with some creative business ideas to take advantage of a potential tourism boom.
The country is gearing up for a big year in 2012 as we celebrate the Year of Creative Scotland 2012, and the creative theme will extend to the marketing that will capitalise on the Olympics in London.
The public and private sector partners in Forth Valley Tourism Partnership want to make sure that local businesses don't miss out, and so have organised the Gean House event to prepare the local industry.
Guest speakers from Creative Scotland, the VisitScotland Growth Fund, Business Gateway and Scottish Enterprise will introduce the funding and other types of support that are available for businesses, and the guests will have the chance to brainstorm ideas that will deliver the best return for Forth Valley.
The event has been organised by Forth Valley Tourism Partnership, a collaborative group of public and private sector partners working together to address the tourism priorities for the area. The partnership includes Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire Councils, plus Scottish Enterprise, VisitScotland and local industry representatives.
VisitScotland regional partnerships director, Liz Buchanan MBE, said: "Next year has the potential to be a big one for Scotland, but we need to work hard to make sure the visitors come to us rather than going elsewhere. Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire are a stone's throw from our two biggest cities, and have everything to gain from the marketing around the Year of Creative Scotland 2012 and the London Olympics.
"We've organised this event to give local businesses a good understanding of the opportunities available and get them in the right frame of mind to reap the rewards."
Councillor Kenny Earle, tourism spokesman, said: "Clackmannanshire has a lot to offer visitors and I'm delighted we are hosting this special industry event. I'm sure local businesses will be keen come up with ways in which we can all make the most of the potential tourism boom that 2012 offers."
The event will take place between 5.45 and 8pm at Gean House, Alloa on Tuesday 27 September. Places are allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Businesses interested in attending should RSVP to Audrey Morgan on tel: 0131 472 2100, e-mail audrey.morgan@visitscotland.com