A Loch Lomond tourism company has said events like VisitScotland’s recent Connect expo have helped them after they took a “devastating hit” during Covid.

Representatives from Cruise Loch Lomond recently attended the event where companies from the country’s tourism industry were able to meet key buyers from around the world.

The expo allowed companies to attract more visitors and help rebuild Scotland’s tourism and events industry after the blow it took from 2020-2022 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Director of Cruise Loch Lomond, Fred Moore, said: “It was a good show, and it was well attended – it was very positive.

“The tourist industry took a devastating hit but it’s coming back well.

“We’ve seen staycationers have decreased and there’s not as many of them as there was in 2021 because people are now allowed to go abroad but our overseas travel trade is now very very strong.

“Events like VisitScotland Connect help boost this massively.”

The Connect day saw businesses chat with global tour operators, travel agents and destination management companies from 23 regions such as the USA, Canada, Europe, and the Asian Pacific.

Around 6,000 meetings took place during the expo and global visitors took journeys to various attractions around the country including Lennox of Lomond Farm near Luss and a ‘Wandering in Scotland’ trip with Cruise Loch Lomond.

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VisitScotland Regional Director, David Adams McGilp, said: “Once again, Argyll & Isles tourism businesses came together to showcase this wonderful region to a global audience.

“I know colleagues and representatives of our wider tourism industry really enjoyed meeting and doing business in person once again.

“VisitScotland Connect provided Scottish businesses with a fantastic opportunity to engage with tour operators and suppliers from all over the UK and overseas.

“It is crucial that we work together to rebuild Scotland’s valuable tourism industry and I am delighted to see such commitment from related businesses in the region.”

The 2023 VisitScotland Connect took place in P&J Live in Aberdeen across April 19 and 20.