Offer encourages public to support winter tourism

A campaign by VisitScotland in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) is promoting discounted tickets to more than 60 participating properties.

People are being encouraged to take advantage of the ticket incentive scheme and help to provide a boost for the local tourism industry during the traditionally quieter winter months.

The campaign was launched in October and more than 1200 tickets have been sold across participating sites, which include Arbroath Abbey, St Andrews Castle and cathedral, using the Great Days Out code online, which offers children’s tickets for £1 until the end of March.

A dedicated page on VisitScotland’s website showcases the range of paid and free visitor attractions, outdoor adventures and tours on offer throughout the country during the winter.

Caroline Warburton, VisitScotland destination development director said: “Visitor attractions are a key part of the tourism industry,and they are also an important part of many local communities across Scotland. We know the cost of living is having an impact on spending habits and by taking advantage of the discounted tickets on offer, families can have a great day out wherever they are and help support their local tourism industry.”

Further information at www.visitscotland.com/greatdaysout.

“This activity will help stimulate demand and new bookings for the industry during the quieter winter months, helping to rebuild our valuable visitor economy.

“Tourism is a force for good. It creates jobs, sustains communities and contributes significantly to the economy.”

Stephen Duncan, Director of Marketing and Engagement at Historic Environment Scotland, added: "VisitScotland's 'Great Days Out in Scotland' campaign has been a fantastic way to encourage young people to engage with our heritage and we're delighted to see the success it’s achieved so far.

"With the 'Kids for a Quid' offer running until the end of March, we hope to see even more young visitors taking the opportunity to explore our winter sites across the country for just one pound."

Gordon Morrison, Chief Executive of the Association of Scotland’s Visitor Attractions said: “One of the few silver linings of the last difficult few years is that it has been great to see the people of Scotland discovering or re-discovering the abundance of outstanding visitor attractions on their doorsteps.

“Scotland boasts some of the very best attractions and experiences in the world and, for many of these, local visitors are the lifeblood that keeps them going. The audience for most attractions is not tourists from abroad, it is people from within the UK and, more often than not, people from the local community.

"Attractions are very much there to service the local audience and attraction operators are passionate about the experience they deliver for Scottish residents.

“This is a challenging time for both attraction operators and local communities, with the cost of living and the cost of doing business putting pressure on both the consumer and the business. We need the people of Scotland to continue to support their local attractions, or if they have not done so before, to get out and discover some of the fabulous attractions and experiences that they will find in every corner of this wonderful country.

"The Great Days Out campaign provides an excellent platform to afford the Scottish public the opportunity to experience some of the best that our industry has to offer.”

For more information on Scotrail’s Kids for a Quid offer, visit www.visitscotland.com/beano