VisitScotland has announced that it is the primary destination for international association events, as ICCA rankings reveal that the country has accounted for 31% of these events taking place in the UK in 2019.
Last year Scotland hosted 143 association events that met the ICCA criteria, a 2.5% increase in the number taking place in the country compared with the previous year. The results also showed the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh placed higher in the rankings than Melbourne, Vancouver and New York.
The city of Edinburgh was placed in position 31, alongside Glasgow at position 41 and Aberdeen at position 377.
The results followed the findings from VisitScotland Business Events’ first annual Scottish Associations Survey, covering April 2018-March 2019. Its survey revealed that 425,600 delegate days were spent in Scotland, with international association events accounting for 67% of those days.
During this period, association events and conferences contributed more than £206m to the Scottish economy, with repeat visits and extended stays contributing a further £11m.
Gordon Dow, account development manager, Edinburgh First, part of the University of Edinburgh, said: “We are delighted to see to see Edinburgh retain its position as the top city in Scotland for association meetings but also listed as the second most popular in the UK after London. Whilst 2020 has been testing and uncertain for many of us we are confident that Edinburgh can rebuild and continue to attract these fantastic events, which contribute to the wider Scottish economy.”
Rory Archibald, associations & sectors, VisitScotland Business Events, added: “We are really thrilled to see three great Scottish cities listed in the 2019 ICCA rankings. Scotland has continued to attract large conventions and congresses thanks to the world leading innovation, research and pioneering industries that the country has in abundance.
“Looking at the year ahead, we know things are still uncertain and that it will take time to rebuild, but I can say with complete confidence that Scotland has the resolve to continue leading the global Business Events community and a firm resolve to return to the success of recent years. VisitScotland Business Events and our partners will be ready to welcome back our friends and colleagues from across the world to Scotland as soon as we are able to meet face to face again.”
