Melrose Abbey joins the VisitScotland Information Partner (VIP) programme

EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2017-Jun-05 — /Travel PR News/ — Melrose Abbey, the most popular paid-for visitor attraction in the Scottish Borders, which attracted more than 52,000 visitors in 2016, is to join the VisitScotland Information Partner (VIP) programme, an exclusive network committed to actively promoting the local area and services on offer.

The partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and the national tourism organisation is part of a new approach to visitor information which will be introduced in Melrose this summer as the region prepares for a busy season with a plethora of events, festivals and attractions.

With the Melrose VisitScotland iCentre set to have its last day of business on Sunday 11 June, following the end of its lease – local businesses, attractions, Coo-vans and digital platforms will become part of a new generation of visitor inspiration providers which will reach more people– wherever they are – with the information they want, in the way they want it, when they want it.

The initiative comes as a direct response to significant changes in visitor behaviour in the last five years, with people now using a variety of channels to access the information they need whether it be online, on their phone or in person.

Information provision is stronger than ever before in Melrose with a diverse range of alternatives within the town and local area including:

Seven VisitScotland Information Partners (VIPs) specifically for Melrose including Melrose Abbey, Abbotsford House, Abbotsford Trust Self Catering, Three Hills Roman Heritage Centre, the Town House Hotel, Dryburgh Abbey Hotel and The Abbey Mill.

Four iCentres located within a 25 mile radius (Jedburgh, Peebles, Hawick and Kelso)

Excellent Wi-Fi facilities in Melrose, the town has good 3G and 4G coverage of connectively throughout the town and a number of businesses offer free Wi-Fi, providing access to a range of high quality digital content on visitscotland.com

A Scottish Borders Council visitor information digital kiosk within the town centre

Roaming VisitScotland Coo-van at key events including the Borders Book Festival

VisitScotland is looking at the way in which information is provided across the whole of Scotland and is in discussions with a number of stakeholders to discuss the most efficient and effective way to deliver information provision in the area.

The new approach allows the national tourism organisation to market the region by working together with local businesses to attract visitors and deliver an exceptional holiday experience, ensuring that the Scottish Borders is recognised as a top visitor destination.

Recent marketing activity has included an online film which has had more than 121,000 views, direct mail campaigns reaching more than 2 million consumers and activity across our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts which collectively reach more which has been specially created to ensure visitors continue to receive a warm welcome.

Lynn Jack, VisitScotland Head of Information & Quality, said:

“We are committed to working with partners in the public and private sector in the Scottish Borders to enhance the provision of visitor information and inspiration in the region for the future, ensuring every single visitor gets a warm welcome and we connect them with the memorable and unique experiences that the Scottish Borders has in abundance.

“VisitScotland is constantly reviewing how to provide information to make sure that it best meets the needs of visitors. By actively recruiting businesses to the VIP programme, more information will be delivered to more people through more touch points.

“We are confident that information provision in the region will be extended across the many experiences available to visitors in the area and we will work closely with all providers, including via the VIP Programme, to ensure that this is the case.”

Susan Loch, Head of Visitor Operations and Community Engagement at Historic Environment Scotland said:

“We are delighted that Melrose Abbey has become a VisitScotland Information Partner. Our team are excited to not only be able to show visitors what to see and do at this historic attraction, but also where else to explore in the beautiful Scottish Borders. We look forward to working closely with VisitScotland and other partners to deliver inspiration and information to the many visitors we welcome every single year.”

The VIP programme is open to all VisitScotland Quality Assured businesses, as well as community groups, local authority-operated library services and social enterprises. The initiative is designed to give each and every establishment the ability to provide more and better quality information directly to visitors. It will also add value to the services on offer and make it easier than ever before for visitors to connect with local people.

VIP businesses are provided by VisitScotland with promotional material and information resources to make sure visitors receive first-class information about the area and region as well as Scotland as a whole.

The initiative links with VisitScotland’s global Spirit of Scotland campaign, harnessing the local knowledge, warmth and enthusiasm of staff at the attractions, helping visitors make the most of their trip to Scotland.

For more information, visitwww.visitscotland.org

To find out more about the VisitScotland online community, visit:www.visitscotland.com/community

Notes to Editors

• Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
• VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
• The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
• This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
  1. Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
  2. Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
  3. Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
  4. Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
  5. Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
  6. Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
  7. Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
• To ensure everyone can safely enjoy Scotland’s amazing countryside and landscapes, VisitScotland encourages all visitors to fully respect their surroundings by behaving in a responsible and appropriate way.
• VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
• The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
• Spending by tourists in Scotland generates around £12 billion of economic activity in the wider Scottish supply chain and contributes around £6 billion to Scottish GDP (in basic prices). This represents about 5% of total Scottish GDP
• The Scottish Government is the Managing Authority for the European Structural Funds 2014-20 Programme. For further information visit www.gov.scot or follow @scotgovESIF
• For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
• Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)

2017 Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology

• 2017 is the year to delve into the past and discover Scotland’s fascinating stories through a wide-ranging variety of new and existing activity to drive the nation’s tourism and events sector, boosting tourism across Scotland.
• The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology begins on 1 January 2017 and will end on 31 December 2017. It will build on the momentum generated by previous themed years in Scotland including the 2015 Year of Food and Drink, Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.
• The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, and supported by a variety of partners including Creative Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Built Environment Forum Scotland, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland.
• The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology is supported by £570,000 of Scottish Government funding.
• The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.
• For more information visit visitscotland.com/HHA2017 or join the conversation at #HHA2017

MEDIA CONTACT

Amelia Whittaker
Corporate Press Officer
South Region, Taste Our Best
Amelia.Whittaker@visitscotland.com
01750 723806
Out of hours – 0131 472 2324

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