Tuesday May 19th 2026
VisitScotland Connect 2026 at the SEC in Glasgow
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Tourism businesses in the Borders took part in a ‘speed dating’ experience at Scotland’s flagship travel trade event.
VisitScotland Connect 2026 at the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) in Glasgow gave tourism operators the opportunity to meet face-to-face with domestic and international travel buyers over two days of prearranged meetings.
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. It helps open access to Scotland’s key markets, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the UK.
The activity generated by VisitScotland Connect helps support 11,500 tourism related jobs across Dumfries & Galloway and Scottish Borders.
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.
Scottish businesses were given 12 minutes to showcase their experiences before moving on to the next buyer.
Among the businesses attending were Galashiels-based The Great Tapestry of Scotland, an immersive visitor centre exploring Scotland’s rich history, innovation and heritage through vibrant textile storytelling, exhibitions and learning experiences, celebrating national identity and creativity.
Yvonne Wagoun ,travel trade representative for the Great Tapestry of Scotland, said: “As a relatively young visitor attraction, building international visibility is critical. Platforms such as VisitScotland Connect have played a central role in this journey.
“Now in our third year of attendance, VisitScotland Connect remains a cornerstone of our business development activity, providing high-value opportunities to engage directly with travel trade buyers and build meaningful, long-term relationships.
“We have developed a growing network of travel trade partners, opening up new routes to both domestic and international markets. This has contributed to increased visitor numbers, supported more consistent year-round visitation, and created a stronger foundation for revenue growth.
“This growth has required us to continually adapt. We have invested in staff training, refined our product offer, and enhanced the overall visitor experience, supporting both organisational growth and future investment.”
There were also several organisations with locations in the South of Scotland in attendance including The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland, Johnston’s of Elgin, Edinburgh Woolen Mill, Crieff Hydro Group, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, Scotrail and Historic Houses Scotland.
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