expo buyers

VisitScotland work continuously to identify quality buyers from our key international and UK markets to attend VisitScotland expo.  Buyers from International markets are hosted and in addition to attending expo have the opportunity to participate on one of the many group familiarisation trips or have a specific individual itinerary created for them.  This is a vital component of expo as it enables promotion of the entire country no matter where the event is held. It also ensures buyers experience the Scottish product first hand and develop their own relationships with Scottish suppliers. 

Research results from expo 2011 states that ‘87% of international buyers will feature a place they visited in future programmes’.

Who are the buyers?
Buyers that attend expo are a mix of new prospects to the Scottish market and mature buyers who have are knowledgeable of the Scottish product available. Buyers from emerging markets generally have a higher number of first time buyers than your more developed markets like USA and Germany. From the UK market we ensure that there is a good mix between new and mature buyers.
A buyer could be a Wholesaler, Tour Operator, Travel Agent or Carrier they will often attend expo for day with some markets e.g. USA attending both days.

Research results from expo 2011 state that ‘25% of international buyers and 67% of UK buyers will introduce a Scotland programme for the first time after attending expo.’

Why do buyers attend expo?
Buyers attend expo to find suppliers in order to expand or amend their current programmes or create additional tours.

Research results from expo 2011 states that ’80% of international and 94% of UK  buyers intend to expand their current programmes to Scotland’ & ‘72% of international and 90% of UK buyers intend to create additional Scottish tour programmes’.

Incoming handling agents also attend the event as buyers and as exhibitors. Based in Britain, they promote their expertise in putting together travel arrangements for the overseas consumer, in most cases in conjunction with a Tour Operator. They can be as important to you as the Tour Operators themselves. Take time to visit them on their stands. They will usually be members of UKinbound and/or Scottish Destination Management Association.

You can view a list of buyers attending when you have logged into the exhibitor zone. Please note that this list is updated constantly as we approve more buyers so do keep checking. Our appointment system is buyer led but you can use this list to contact buyers you wish to meet requesting they make an appointment with you.