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Discuss this article (0 Comments)Glasgow gets going
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Saturday, 09 August 2008
zoomGlasgow's rich cultural heritage makes it a popular option for Middle East travellers all year round.
Scotland is on the rise as an emerging market for Middle East travellers and one of its major cities Glasgow, is quickly gaining popularity says Scott Lang.
Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city and in recent years has attracted more than 10% of the market share of Middle Eastern travellers to the UK, according to the 2007 Office for National Statistics' International Passenger Survey.
Its rich cultural heritage, museums and galleries, stunning architecture and close proximity to the countryside and highlands make Glasgow a popular option for Middle Eastern travellers all year round explains Poling Lee, trade promotions executive, Middle and Far East, international marketing, Visit Scotland.
Eighty-five percent of Middle Eastern travellers visit London, but with so many carriers operating flights to Glasgow, people are starting to venture further north now.
"People have common misconceptions about Scotland; that it is cold and very isolated, but these are slowly starting to change," says Lee.
"We have a very temperate climate and seasonal changes in wildlife, vegetation and local produce, which are great selling points for the region."
With the increase in passenger traffic from the Middle East to the UK up 11.7 million since 2000, Scottish operators are trying to capitalise on attracting visitors from southern hot-spots such as London Lee states.
"Eighty-five percent of Middle Eastern travellers visit London, but with so many carriers operating flights to Glasgow, people are starting to venture further north now."
Connections to Glasgow have been made easier with Emirates Airline flying daily to the city from Dubai since 2004.
"Glasgow via Emirates is a relatively straightforward flight and passengers arrive with very little jetlag," says Visit Britain Middle East marketing manager Carol Maddison.
"Emirates is also flying to Newcastle, which is another gateway for access to Glasgow and southern Scotland."
The direct flight to Glasgow is slowly making the city a popular holiday destination with figures indicating a 5% increase in passenger traffic this year explains Emirates corporate communications media relations manager Jonathan Hill.
"It takes a while for new routes to become firmly established, although the direct flight has eased passenger movement between Glasgow and the UAE and has provided another channel for trade as well as a handy alternative to travelling via London."
Glasgow's fresh and invigorating climate provides an ideal getaway environment for visitors and the range of activities for families and couples offers a refreshing variation to the standard holiday package.
City tours, museums and weekend markets provide plenty of family options, while couples and incentive groups will enjoy visiting one of the numerous world-class golf clubs, whiskey distilleries or shopping malls.
The city has many accommodation options to suit all groups, from luxury hotels to baronial mansions on offer all year round.
In addition to the major resorts and hotels, visitors can also opt to stay in a number of traditional Celtic castles dotted around the highlands for a more traditional experience, either fully catered or self-catered.
"A lot of things we offer are high-end living, which appeals to the Middle Eastern traveller," says Maddison.
"A new and popular trend that we are starting to see is families that hire big houses and castles and use them as a base to access the surrounding countryside."
Cameron House, located on Loch Lomand - approximately 25 minutes from Glasgow city centre - is popular during the summer months and offers seasonal bed-and-breakfast packages and half-price room supplements.
From Cameron House visitors can access the rugged terrain of Scotland's west coast as well as visit Glengoyne Malt Whisky Distillery, Inverary Castle, Stirling Old Town Jail and Charles Mackintosh's hill-house.
HOW TO SELL TO:
Couples/honeymooners
The River Clyde and Glasgow Green Walk: A pleasant walk from the centre of Glasgow, which takes visitors past many of the city's architectural wonders. The trail meanders through Saltmarket, Trongate and the Merchant City, which features boutique shops and numerous café's and bars.
Families
The Tall Ship: Moored at Glasgow harbour, the Tall Ship houses and exhibition that tells of its fascinating story of navigating the globe four times, and what life was like for the sailors on board.
Burrell collection
The award-winning building welcomes visitors to the riches of Sir William Burrell's unique collection.
There are art objects from Iraq, Egypt, Greece and Italy, and tapestries, stained glass and sculptures from medieval Europe. The collection also features the works of masters Degas and Bellini.
Groups
Gallery of Modern Art: The gallery offers four floors of exciting and stimulating images by living artists. The floors are named after the four elements of fire, air, earth, water and the images showcase the best of Scottish and international art talent.
The gallery also houses a fashionable rooftop cafe with panoramic views across the city.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
What Gaudi is to Barcelona - Charles Rennie Mackintosh is to Glasgow. This eminent architect, designer and artist is celebrated around the world today as one of the most significant talents to emerge in the period which spans from mid 1890s to the late 1920s.
Most of his surviving work can be found in or around Glasgow and it is as attractive today as it was breathtaking to those at the time.
Luxury/top end
Shopping: Visitors should plan for excess baggage on the return journey now as Glasgow is second only to London as Britain's most important shopping city.
There's excellent shopping in Princes Square and Buchanan Galleries, which houses a designer mall with names like Liberty, Laura Ashley and Burberry, while Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street have most of the high street names. Wander along Byres Road in the West End, where Glasgow's Bohemia are at home.
Couples/honeymooners
The River Clyde and Glasgow Green Walk: A pleasant walk from the centre of Glasgow, which takes visitors past many of the city's architectural wonders. The trail meanders through Saltmarket, Trongate and the Merchant City, which features boutique shops and numerous café's and bars.
Families
The Tall Ship: Moored at Glasgow harbour, the Tall Ship houses and exhibition that tells of its fascinating story of navigating the globe four times, and what life was like for the sailors on board.
Burrell collection
The award-winning building welcomes visitors to the riches of Sir William Burrell's unique collection.
There are art objects from Iraq, Egypt, Greece and Italy, and tapestries, stained glass and sculptures from medieval Europe. The collection also features the works of masters Degas and Bellini.
Groups
Gallery of Modern Art: The gallery offers four floors of exciting and stimulating images by living artists. The floors are named after the four elements of fire, air, earth, water and the images showcase the best of Scottish and international art talent.
The gallery also houses a fashionable rooftop cafe with panoramic views across the city.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
What Gaudi is to Barcelona - Charles Rennie Mackintosh is to Glasgow. This eminent architect, designer and artist is celebrated around the world today as one of the most significant talents to emerge in the period which spans from mid 1890s to the late 1920s.
Most of his surviving work can be found in or around Glasgow and it is as attractive today as it was breathtaking to those at the time.
Luxury/top end
Shopping: Visitors should plan for excess baggage on the return journey now as Glasgow is second only to London as Britain's most important shopping city.
There's excellent shopping in Princes Square and Buchanan Galleries, which houses a designer mall with names like Liberty, Laura Ashley and Burberry, while Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street have most of the high street names. Wander along Byres Road in the West End, where Glasgow's Bohemia are at home.
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