MORE than 120 of the world’s top travel trade companies have just confirmed Argyll and the Isles is a serious player in their tourism itineraries.

A team from Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative (AITC) has returned from the two-day VisitScotland expo, held this year in Edinburgh.

With more than 90 interviews confirmed before the event had even started, the AITC team knew they were going to be busy.

As more travellers seek unique experiences in unforgettable locations, Argyll and the Isles is well placed to provide visitors with memories which will last a lifetime.

The industry buyers who visited the stand came from across the globe, including China, Canada, France and Turkey, and represented travellers interested in food and drink, history and heritage, and, most notably, adventure.

A key difference this year is that many of these buyers are looking for itineraries for smaller groups and couples which Argyll is well able to cater for.

And, the region’s proximity to the central belt and international airports was a also seen as a major benefit.

AITC Chair Gavin Dick was delighted at the outcome of the two days saying: “This is the fifth time we’ve had a stand at expo and it just keeps getting better and better!

“We knew before we arrived that this was going to be our busiest year yet as we had a jam-packed appointments diary.

"The team are no strangers to talking about what we have to offer and I know that buyers will be returning home having been wowed by Argyll and the Isles.

"I said last year that I was confident that Argyll and the Isles was on the itineraries of many of the expo visitors, and I can now categorically say that this is the case.

"It’s been a fantastic couple of days and we’re now looking forward to working closely with these new contacts to plan out the detail and link them in with the thousand businesses we represent.

"I was very pleased to see first hand how the travel trade is definitely moving away from the large coach tours and is now much more focussed on bespoke and discerning itineraries for small groups, perfect for the Argyll and the Isles region.”

Find out more about AITC online at www.exploreargyll.co.uk or email info@exploreargyll.co.uk