AN ambitious plan to boost food tourism in Scotland by a tasty £1 billion will involve the creation of a national board.
Made up of leaders from organisations including Scotland Food & Drink and Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA), the board will aim to significantly increase visitor spend on food and drink.
Launched by the First Minister on the Isle of Arran in August 2018, the first-ever Food Tourism Action Plan sets out a bold ambition to increase visitor spend on food and drink and outlines a vision to become a globally recognised food tourism destination.
Visitors to Scotland already consume £1bn worth of produce each year and now the industry aims to double this by 2030 under the blueprint.
The joint initiative between the Scottish Government and industry represents a significant commitment from the country’s leading sectors – food and drink and tourism – to capitalise on their respective strengths and the global demand for destinations to offer quality food and drink, with clear provenance and real, memorable experiences.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said: “I’m confident that the experience and expertise of the board will be invaluable in driving forward the joint Scottish Government and industry Food Tourism Action Plan, which aims to deliver an extra £1bn of visitor spend on food and drink by 2030.
“Products like Scotch whisky, Scotch beef and Scottish salmon are already renowned throughout the world, and our historic cities, rugged islands and scenic countryside makes us a top destination for tourists.
“So, it’s about bringing those two sectors together and ensuring that the potential of our amazing natural larder is used to enhance the visitor experience even further.”
Chaired by Marc Crothall (pictured), chief executive of STA, and project managed by Fiona Richmond, head of regional food at Scotland Food and Drink, the board will oversee the development and implementation of the plan, with a clear responsibility for ensuring that the actions are delivered and the ambition realised.
The rest of the board will be made up of 19 figures from the hospitality, tourism, agritourism, wholesale and catering sectors, selected for their extensive skills, expertise and commitment.
“The formation of such a strong, diverse board with representation across all of Scotland’s food and tourism sectors marks a hugely important step forward in realising the bold ambition set out in the Food Tourism Action Plan,” said Crothall.
“Passion for people, produce and place is round our table in abundance, with strong reach into destinations, individual sectors, education, production and supply. I look forward to working with the board in the coming months and years to deliver our actions and grow Scotland into a number one global destination for food and drink.”
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