VisitScotland - Steve Mathieson

VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourist board. Working closely with private businesses, community groups, public agencies and local authorities, they support the responsible growth of the tourism and events sector so that the whole country benefits. VisitScotland strive to ensure that visitors experience the best of Scotland, enabling the most to be made of all of the outstanding tourism assets and realising its potential. The overall purpose of the agency “is to drive the visitor economy, growing its value to Scotland” and their vision is that they “contribute to a vibrant and dynamic visitor economy, creating better places for people to live, work, and visit”.

For Shetland, they provide advice, inspiration and information for those visiting or considering a visit to the Isles. This includes walking routes, history and heritage, nature and wildlife, food and drink, activities and accommodation options. VisitScotland works closely with strategic partners in Shetland, sharing any insights, information, statistics and future expectations they have on tourism and helping to inform strategic thinking. VisitScotland provides a tourism perspective and strives to demonstrate how tourism can bring benefit to the community and residents of Shetland.

VisitScotland encourages growth of the tourism industry in Shetland as a sustainable enterprise, encouraging slow, green and eco-tourism. It promotes Shetland as a visitor destination, looking to spread the benefits of tourism throughout the isles and extend the tourist season. It helps to fund events such as the Tall Ships in 2023, and through its Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund VisitScotland has helped to develop projects such as the Hermaness Board Walk in Unst, the Scalloway Caravan Park and the Hoswick Visitor Centre car park.

Find out more about VisitScotland on their website.