Angus businesses showcase county to boost tourism
Tourism businesses from Angus and across Tayside raised their profiles recently through Scotland’s flagship travel trade event, VisitScotland Connect 2026.
The region was represented by partnership initiative Scotland’s Tay Country and tourism operators who met face-to-face with domestic and international travel buyers over two days of prearranged meetings at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow.
With more than half of all international visitors planning and booking all or part of their trip through tour operators, strong relationships with the travel trade are vital.
The activity generated by VisitScotland Connect helps to support 9,500 tourism-related jobs across the Angus and Dundee area.
Hotels, attractions, distilleries and tours took part, organised like a “speed dating” experience, with short, one to one appointments designed to spark new business relationships. Businesses were given 12 minutes to showcase their experiences before moving on to the next buyer.
Among those attending were Charleton Farm, near Montrose, a working pick‑your‑own fruit farm, that has evolved into agritourism with a restaurant, farm shop, tours, a weddings and events venue, holiday accommodation, and a play park.
Owner Graham McColl said: “VisitScotland Connect is a must‑attend for us because it opens the door to a part of the travel trade we didn’t fully understand when we started out. We knew it existed, but we didn’t realise just how far‑reaching it was.
"Being part of a well-organised event with so many agencies in one place has been invaluable - this is our second year, and we’ll be back.
“This second year felt very different. Last year we had to work hard to fill our diary, but this year people actively wanted to come and see us because they already understood what we do. It showed us that the more consistently you attend, the more familiar you become - and the more you get out of it.”
Charleton Farm was one of several businesses supported to attend the event by Angus Council, as well as those attending for the first time - Uan Wool, Kinnaird Castle, Upper Dysart Larder, and Kinblethmont Estate.
Returning businesses also received support including Newton Farm Holidays & Tours, Lunan Bay Farm - Scottish Cashmere Goats, AngusAlive, Murton Trust for Education & Environment and Glen Clova. Glencadam Distillery, from Brechin, was the final new business at the event.
During the week, VisitScotland hosted a programme of familiarisation trips with businesses able to offer first-hand, the incredible visitor experiences Scotland’s regions have to offer.
Visits included Dundee and Angus through McManus Art Gallery & Museum, Discovery Point / RRS Discovery, Apex Hotel Dundee, Stories of Stone, Arbroath Abbey, Arbroath Signal Tower Museum, WeeCOOK Kitchen, and Forfar Witches Tour (ANGUSalive) among other stops.
Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland’s destination development director, said: “Throughout the year, our teams work closely with domestic and international tour operators, travel advisers and agents. These relationships help shape new tourism products and itineraries, while giving us valuable insight into what global travellers are looking for.”