The Shetland Tourism Association has been invited by Visit Scotland to inspire people to Love Local during the festive period. The #ScotlandLovesLocal campaign initiated by Scotland’s Towns Partnership encourages people living in Scotland to support their local businesses.
Love Local – inspiration
Visit Scotland have created this handy #ScotlandLoveLocal infographic which you can share
Top tips for supporting Love Local
Create new website information 'things to do'
It's important to keep your website up-to-date and creating new content such as ‘things to do’ in Shetland is a fantastic way of supporting other local businesses. Shetland with Laurie has a great blog and regularly recommends lots of local businesses in Shetland and things to do.
Giving the gift of a voucher
Consider adding or advertising gift vouchers on your website or social media. Here are some Shetland businesses which are offering gift vouchers:
The Original Cake Fridge and Tea Room
Creating an offer for locals
Businesses across Scotland have been engaging with a local audience and offering local only offers. Comrie Croft in Perthshire offered local residents 50% off accommodation bookings (specific dates) as their Love Local promotion.
Connect with your local Destination Management Association
Many areas across Scotland have a local tourism association... which is us! Feel free to connect with us at info@shetlandtourismassociation.org we love to hear from any individuals or businesses working within the tourism sector in Shetland.
Spread the word
You can like and follow the Shetland Tourism Association on Facebook where we share members posts and local information. The Visit Scotland social media team will also highlight inspiring things to see and do across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #ScotlandLovesLocal and #ScotlandIsNow. You can join in by using the hashtag or resharing posts.
#ScotlandLovesLocal toolkit
Scotland’s Town Partnership has created a handy toolkit highlighting ways to get involved in #ScotlandLovesLocal - including images, branding and a webinar showing how to use the resources and promote the love local message. You can find the toolkit on their website.
What's VisitScotland doing?
They've launched a marketing campaign to support the #ScotlandLovesLocal activity, encouraging people who live in Scotland to support local businesses and events and become a tourist where you live (if safe to do so).
Their activity includes a virtual Christmas marketplace showcasing a wide variety of what Scotland has to offer.
Get involved
Submit your offer/promotion/initiative
Do you have an existing offer or are you running an initiative supporting local businesses that Visit Scotland can help promote?
Businesses and events across Scotland can provide Visit Scotland with details on any existing or new offers or initiatives to feature as part of their latest festive marketing promotion to support #ScotlandLovesLocal.
These offers will feature within the dedicated campaign webpage on VisitScotland.com to help inspire locals to explore their own doorstep, throughout December.
Already promoting an offer, initiative or promotion to your local audience, then Visit Scotland would love to hear from you.
Submit your offer
In line with the #ScotlandLovesLocal campaign activity VisitScotland invite businesses to submit an offer promotion or initiative for the #ScotlandLovesLocal campaign or make a general enquiry.
Please note that they are not bound to select or proceed with any offer / promotion or initiative, and reserve the right to cancel or remove these offers at any time. They also reserve the right to amend the selection category as necessary.
Terms and conditions
By completing and sending an offer / promotion or initiative to Visit Scotland, the businesses/partner/tourism group is agreeing to comply with their terms and conditions. You should carefully review and ensure that you understand and accept the terms and conditions before completing and sending any offers.
You also acknowledge that any personal data that is provided will be handled by VisitScotland in accordance with their Privacy Policy.
Join a community of business owners and operators who share your ambition to make your businesses more profitable, successful and innovative as we seek to maximise opportunities in the growing tourism sector in Shetland.