VisitAberdeenshire goes purple for responsible tourism opportunity in North-east of Scotland

 VisitAberdeenshire is highlighting the value and worth of the ‘Purple Pound’ as part of a series of workshops and webinars to promote accessible and inclusive tourism. Estimated to be worth £17.1 billion to the UK’s tourism sector, the ‘purple pound’ represents a significant market opportunity for any destination and has been identified as a priority for tourism growth in the North-east. 

Next week, VisitAberdeenshire is hosting a webinar in collaboration with VisitScotland to help businesses understand the benefits of inclusive tourism. On Thursday 5 October from 10am, VisitAberdeenshire will welcome Marina DiDuca, Inclusive Tourism Manager at VisitScotland, who will present on the importance of the inclusive tourism market to Scotland and in the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire area. Marina will also highlight the growth potential of providing a quality visitor experience for all visitors, top tips for making changes to businesses and introduce VisitScotland's Inclusive Tourism Toolkit. 

Attendees will also hear from Carrie-Anne Lightly, Head of Marketing at AccessAble and one of the UK's leading accessible travel bloggers and writers.

The session is part of VisitAberdeenshire’s Tourism Development Programme, which officially kicked off this week. It also begins a series of inclusive and accessible tourism-themed events in the run up to Purple Tuesday on Tuesday 7 November, a social movement and change initiative that is working to improve the customer experience for disabled people every day of the year.

Chris Foy, CEO, VisitAberdeenshire said: “Meeting the needs of visitors with a wide range of requirements is a growing opportunity for the tourism sector, as well as being the right thing to do. Next week’s session provides a good opportunity for businesses to understand how to improve customer service for all that will in turn boost the region’s reputation as an inclusive and accessible destination.”

Marina DiDuca, Inclusive Tourism Manager at VisitScotland, said: “Scotland is a naturally welcoming destination – a fact we’re incredibly proud of. Inclusive tourism ensures that all visitors can have a great experience without barriers.

“By partnering with VisitAberdeenshire, we aim to show businesses in the North-east how even the most minor changes can create opportunities for engaging with this valuable tourism market.”