TOURISM businesses in the Forth Valley area have attended a date with a difference.
Around 40 people took part in a free speed networking event at Polmont’s Macdonald Inchyra Grange Hotel to mark the launch of the new Forth Valley Tourism Partnership.
The group brings together local players from the public and private sectors in Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire areas – with the aim of driving forward the local tourism sector.
Partnership chairman Councillor Adrian Mahoney, from Falkirk Council, said: "The launch event encouraged attendees to take part in short networking sessions – run in a speed-dating style. A whistle was blown every five minutes or so, encouraging people to move around the room and meet new contacts. Attendees were also asked to bring business cards and other marketing materials to hand to their ‘dates’. We felt it was great way to make people more aware of accommodation and attractions in the area and to hopefully meet useful new business contacts.
"It seemed to a real success, with lots of positive feedback from people taking part."
The Bo’ness Labour Councillor said networking sessions like the Forth Valley launch event were essential to help tourism businesses during these tough economic times.
He said: "Better informed tourism businesses – with better contacts and awareness of the local tourism market – can only help to encourage visitors to stay longer in an area . . . and spend more money in the local economy. That’s the real power of networking and that’s why we organised this event. It’s really important in the current climate that people show a real passion for their surrounding area and talk up the fantastic attractions, accommodation and eating places we have in Forth Valley."
The new Tourism Partnership consists of representatives from local businesses as well as Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, Historic Scotland, British Waterways, Clackmannanshire Tourism Limited and Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park.
The group is now looking to plan future networking events in the area – to continue the support for local tourism businesses. Partner members are also looking at improved marketing and signage for the area – based on feedback from businesses.
Sinead Feltoe, VisitScotland’s regional director for Edinburgh and East Central Scotland and the secretariat for the Forth Valley Tourism Partnership, said: "Tourism growth is critical to the future of Scotland.
"Particularly in the current climate it’s extremely important for local businesses to work together to get tourism growth back on track. We hope that by encouraging businesses to have more dialogue with each other they will have a better understanding of what is available from their region as a whole.
"VisitScotland promotes the Forth Valley area and its local businesses to the world through local and national marketing campaigns. Only by working closely in partnership can we hope to attract more people to the area."
