VisitScotland’s Chief Executive visits David Livingstone Birthplace on-going restoration

EDINBURGH, Scotland, 2019-Nov-27 — /Travel PR News/ — VisitScotland’s Chief Executive was on site at the David Livingstone Birthplace Project to review its on-going restoration during a tour of the Lanarkshire area.

Malcolm Roughead met with the Trust’s Chair Isabel Bruce to discuss the next steps for the historic landmark.

Plans to revamp the attraction are aimed at telling Livingstone’s powerful story to the next generation and strengthening the world-wide connections that the explorer has inspired.

Malcolm visited the site during a tour of the wider Lanarkshire area last week which also saw him take in New Lanark World Heritage Site, meet with North Lanarkshire Council, visit Hamilton Racecourse and discuss the John Muir Way in Kilsyth.

At Blantyre Malcolm met with Isabel Bruce, Chair, and David Kirkwood, the Project Lead who manages the restoration. On a tour through the site Malcolm and VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director Jim Clarkson, were able to see the progress of the restoration and was told how the museum will be transformed into a major visitor attraction that will attract local and international audience. The museum is scheduled to open in 2020.

Isabel Bruce said: “The major refurbishment of the David Livingstone Birthplace will see a renewal of the historic buildings at Shuttle Row and the Weavers Cottages to include a new exhibition telling David’s story in a contemporary way – how he successfully collaborated with the local people he met to achieve his great feats of exploration.

“Importantly there will be new education spaces for schools and family visits. And we will have a café, shop and landscaping across the grounds to make our customers feel welcome.

“We look forward to re-opening our doors in 2020 and hope the David Livingstone Birthplace will prove an exciting addition to the tourism offering and boost visits to the Lanarkshire area.”

Malcolm Roughead said: “The David Livingstone Centre has been an iconic attraction for years and I was impressed to see investment and development taking place.

“It is important that we continue to encourage the tourism industry to create world class experiences, events and attractions. Meeting ever-changing visitor demands is essential as tourism is more than a holiday experience – it is the heartbeat of the Scottish economy and touches every community, generating income, jobs and social change.”

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 five overarching strategies: Marketing, Events, Quality and Sustainability, Inclusive Tourism, International Engagement.
• 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
• For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://media.visitscotland.org
• For tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.htm
• 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)
• For holiday information on Scotland go to http://www.visitscotland.com
• For information about business tourism in Scotland go to http://www.conventionscotland.com

Year of Coasts and Waters 2020

• Scotland’s Coasts and Waters will be showcased throughout 2020 and celebrated with a programme of activity designed to support the nation’s tourism and events sectors.
• The year, led by VisitScotland will sustain and build upon the momentum of Scotland’s preceding Themed Years to spotlight, celebrate and promote opportunities to experience and enjoy Scotland’s unrivalled Coasts and Waters, encouraging responsible engagement and participation from the people of Scotland and our visitors.
• A year-long programme of events, activities and ideas will shine a spotlight on the impact our waters have had on Scotland, from the formation of beautiful natural features to the creation of our national drink – whisky.
• Join the conversation using #YCW2020
• Following an industry consultation, the Themed Years will now take place every second year to enable more time for planning and collaboration. 2022 will celebrate the Year of Scotland’s Stories.

Contact:

Email: Ashley.Baxter@carat.com
Tel: +44 131 561 7973

Source: VisitScotland

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