TORONTO — VisitScotland is making it easier for local businesses and buyers from around the world to connect directly with one another via a new travel trade platform called Discover Scotland 2022.

The new event series comprises an online B2B event called ‘Discover Scotland: Reconnect 2022’ featuring five regional showcases. These showcases, known as ‘Discover Scotland: Live Showcase,’ will take place in May and September 2022 to promote trade-ready-Scottish tourism businesses to key international buyers on the ground in Scotland.

In 2022, Discover Scotland 2022 will replace the longstanding annual VisitScotland Expo, featuring a new format designed to mitigate the challenges of the pandemic and build on the success of Scotland Reconnect 20/21.

“Discover Scotland 2022 offers an exciting new platform on which to showcase the best of Scotland’s tourism products, allowing businesses to stay connected with qualified buyers during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland Chief Executive. “We have worked with tourism industry representatives to ensure that this travel trade program of activity meets their needs in 2022 and ensures that connection to international buyers remains possible.

“The challenges of the pandemic have given us the opportunity to reconsider the way we deliver events. Our international visitors are hugely important for Scottish tourism and we have continued to engage virtually with those markets throughout the pandemic, encouraging visitors to dream now, travel later.”

Scotland Reconnect was held virtually in November 2020 and was successfully repeated in April 2021 as an alternative to live events during the pandemic. More than 7,000 pre-arranged business meetings took place over the three days in April.

In April 2022, VisitScotland anticipates virtual attendance from around 300 buyers from more than 20 markets as well as 300 Scottish suppliers.

For more information go to visitscotland.com/discoverscotland.