CUP OF TEA AND A SLICE OF SCOTLAND

VisitScotland.com has designed a £40,000 campaign encouraging cafés and other tourism businesses to work closely in promoting each others’ services to visitors by using personal recommendations and information on the new website, www.visitscotland.com/cafedays.

The new Scottish Café Days website shows visitors where they can get a great cup of tea and a slice of traditional cake while on holiday, as well as promoting the attractions and activities they can experience in the surrounding area.

Over 200 of the best Scottish cafés have joined forces with over 600 other tourism businesses around the country to help give visitors the best possible experience during their time in Scotland.

All the cafés on the new site were nominated by people who have spent time visiting the individual cafés and the things to do and see on their doorsteps.

The campaign came about after research into visitors experiences in Scotland. The 2007 Survey revealed that over 59 per cent of visitors had visited a tea shop or café during their holiday in Scotland. For more information go to www.visitscotland.org

The campaign was launched by GMTV's Glasgow born weathergirl Andrea McLean at the Birsay Bay Tearoom on Orkney, who believes visitors will warm to the idea of being able to get personal recommendations and great first hand advice on where to go and what to see in a particular area.

“There's no better place to relax and unwind than over a hot cuppa and cake in one of Scotland's best cafés, it will help make Scotland a must visit destination come rain or shine!

The Tourism Board are confident that the campaign is a move toward a more innovative approach to continue to attract visitors to Scotland time and time again, bringing small businesses together and attracting tourists in a new and exciting way.

The site allows you to click on a regional map to narrow down your area, offers competitions and a list of cafes best suited to your visit, whether its specifically family friendly, near to a castle or museum or nearby a wildlife hotspot.