Gateway London

Next year promises to be a big year for travel to the United Kingdom, with the London Olympics the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and other major events going on. It is a wonderful opportunity to encourage people who will obviously honey-potting around London to come to Scotland. Starting this month I've begun working on a campaign to promote Scotland as an add-on destination: through social media, articles, blogging and so on - it is also something to build upon as London still remains a key hub, Olympics or no Olympics.

The Olympics will be on from the 27th of July to the 12th of August, and visitors will be coming and going over that fortnight period rather than staying for the whole time - so, many will be interested in seeing and doing other things while over here. London itself will be a big draw, as will some of the top attractions in the south, such as Bath, Stonehenge and Oxford; but, it is a huge pie and there will be some who want to go to Scotland, while there are many who will be undecided. The Games finish slap bang in the middle of the Edinburgh Festival, which in itself is one of the top things to come to the UK to do, so we have that to help push the idea as well.

I would like to work with attractions, tour companies and hotels in London to create something of an Olympics/Scotland vacation package (I know that some of the hotels will be less than keen to see potential bed-nights zipping up the M1, but, I think there will be a struggle for beds during that time - this in itself could help encourage visitors to seek alternative arrangements (i.e. Scotland)). I'm not sure how many of those travelling to the Big Smoke will realise how far out of the city the Games are - I'm sure plenty of them will stay in Central London; and promoting rail to Edinburgh or Glasgow will be a good option I feel (I will be working with the BritRail team over here). For those staying away out at Docklands and closer to the 'village', flights from London City would be an alternative.

If anyone out there has ideas, thoughts or comments - or would like to discuss with me working together or collaboration on these packages, it would be great to hear from you.

All the best guys,

David

The Land of the Leal

The ‘Land of the Leal’ is a very old fashioned and somewhat romantic term for heaven and the notion of the Promised Land. I’ve seen it applied to Scotland before in poem and legend and it does have a certain ring about it, akin to the Gaelic: Tir nan Og – the land of forever young.  We Scots know that there is a magic about our own country and that is runs much deeper than breathtaking scenery or a rich and colourful history. It’s about the people and the nature of our deep cultural psyche which acts as the tread weaving the tartan of our nation together. It is the emotive as well as the scenic that mesmerises those who first visit, or draws countless thousands more back each year.

Living in the States, one of the things I hear most often when people figure out that the lilt in my accent isn’t Irish, is: “I’d love to go to Scotland – it’s a dream of mine”. To some it’s a land of castles, tartan, and handsome, blue-faced warriors (generally the ladies); to others it’s the home of golf and whisky (generally the men); but this is the trick. There are many ‘Scotlands’, and from the temporal to the abstract it means a thousand different things to each and every visitor to our shores – and we must be on hand to live up to those expectations and prove them right.

The one part of the recipe that doesn’t need much in the way of a hard-sell is Scotland’s natural beauty. From the rugged, almost lunar landscapes of Sutherland, to the soft dunes of Aberdeenshire; the great forests of Speyside and Perthshire to the endless beaches of Islay and Harris – Scotland is not only a land of great scenery, but a wealth of different scenery: all of it world class. For a small country of 30,000 miles², the diversity of Scotland’s countryside is staggering, her geological complexity brain-hurting and the nature of her biodiversity utterly fascinating.  This is what we should be shouting from the rooftops. To me there are five top areas and themes that deserve special mention in our quest to explain and promote Scotland as a unique destination:

1) The Caledonian Pine Forest (including Glen Affric and the Forest of Mar)

2) The Isle of Skye

3) Wester Ross and Assynt

4) The Hebridean coastline (e.g. the beaches of Islay, Harris and Colonsay)

5) Highland Perthshire

Add to this the drama of St Kilda, the cliffs of Orkney, the rolling hills of Galloway and Tweedale and the bleak plateau of the Cairngorms and there is something for everyone. These are my picks, but there are many more – please add to the list. Of course it’s not just the scenery – but access to it that makes for the perfect travel destination. Also, amenities and activities further enhance the experience – Skye is stunning, but a boat trip into Loch Coruisk past seals and perhaps even whales turns amazing into world beating.

There is a tendency to think only of the Highlands and Islands when we talk of Scottish scenery; but the range is so complex and varied that there are hidden gems everywhere – I love the walk out to St Abb’s Head in Berwickshire; Scott’s View over the Tweed near Melrose; the Ayrshire coast looking over to Arran and Ailsa Craig and even the full sweep of the Lothians from the standing stones of Cairnpapple Hill all command a majestic vision of our beautiful country.

This blog is very much an introduction to the notion of scenery as one of the five pillars* that makes Scotland one of the best places on earth to visit; with the next blog I’ll look at a specific area and the businesses offering a high quality of service, helping to make the place even more attractive to visitors. Any suggestions or recommendations are very welcome.

* My Five Pillars of Scottish Travel are –

1) Scenic

2) Cultural Heritage

3) Historical

4) Delivery of Service

5) Iconic Totems

Scotland for the Holidays

Scotland is one of the top destinations in Europe to visit: a small place with a lot to offer - whether you're tracing your ancestors, looking to hike in the remote mountains or want to enjoy a few whiskies on an Islay beach, there is something for everyone. For the last 12 years I've worked in Scottish tourism, planning trips and itineraries and showcasing the very best my county has to offer the visitor; and now I want to throw open that knowledge and experience to promote Scottish Travel, Culture and Heritage to the benefit of everyone. This is what McIpedia, is all about.

Through these blogs, social media and other avenues I'll take you on a journey through the country, its history and the types of travel and planning that can be done in making the perfect Scottish vacation. There will be stories, facts, tips and a whole raft of information and chances to ask questions. What does Scotland mean to you? How does it fit into the wider world, and why should we choose Scotland as a destination at all? All this and  more will be explored. I want this resource to be the catalyst in driving forward ideas on how to promote and showcase the best that Scotland has to offer, from activities and attractions to events and hidden gems.

What I would like is for this to be an online forum for discussing new ideas for driving forward tourism, a chance to promote your services and be part of the revolution. I'll be looking for guest bloggers, service providers to showcase and for your help in making this a key online service for the private sector. Please sign up on Linkedin to my group - Scottish Travel Group, where you have the chance to discuss all things travel with other business owners and like-minded folk.

My Name David McNicoll, and although I come from the Perthshire Highlands I now live in New York when I run a travel company specialising in Scottish Vacation Packages; and through this I can work with groups, individuals, businesses and agencies to create some fantastic trips and itineraries. The company is called Highland Experience USA, and the link is - www.highlandexperience-usa.com

Also, I have a facebook page - under highland experience usa - give us a look and 'like'

Ok, that's the introductions over with - now it will be time to get this show on the road and light a fire under Scottish Tourism.

David