Scotland’s staycation spenders and day-trippers are being urged to spend using Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards as a way to support businesses in every region of the country.
According to the local government, local gift cards have the “power to inject millions of pounds into the nation’s tourism trade.”
Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards are local gift cards for each of the country’s 32 local authority areas.
They are part of a project funded by the Scottish Government delivered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) working alongside Perth-based fintech Miconex.
The gift cards can only be spent in the regions on which they are branded, with people being urged to embrace them as a new form of local currency.
National tourism agency VisitScotland, a strategic partner of Scotland’s Towns Partnership, is backing calls for consumers to use the card and businesses to sign up to accept them.
Rob Dickson, VisitScotland Director of Industry & Destination Development, said: “As the schools break up and many of us prepare to become visitors on our summer holidays, it is really important that we help the industry to recover by supporting local tourism businesses who have been hit hard by Covid-19 over the last two years.
“I would hope that the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards encourage people – both visitors and locals – to get out and about and perhaps spend money in places they haven’t previously visited.
“Every time they take a trip, a day visit or a meal out and become a tourist in their own region, it helps these vital tourism businesses recover.
“We know the cost of living is having an impact on spending habits and gift cards can help people find something to suit their budget.
“The tourism sector is one of the most important sectors in Scotland and tourism is a positive force – it brings in money, creates jobs and underpins many of the services that we all rely on.”
The number of businesses across the country registered to accept the gift card is steadily rising and has already topped 3500.
V&A in Dundee is among the merchants, joining other attractions, accommodation and activity providers in doing so.
Erin Thompson, Retail Manager at V&A Dundee said: “We strongly believe in supporting local businesses and initiatives close to home here in Dundee.
“Joining the Scotland Loves Local Dundee Gift Card, which obviously has many shared aims with promoting and supporting local businesses, seemed like the perfect fit for our ethos of forging partnerships and nurturing local design-led talent.
“When you choose local, you’re making a personal investment in your community. It makes such a difference.”
Colin Munro, Managing Director of Miconex said: “Over the last 8 months, we’ve been working alongside local authorities, business improvement districts and Chambers across Scotland to onboard businesses to the regional Scotland Loves Local Cards.
“The range of businesses on each card, including accommodation, leisure and attractions, shopping and services, represent an exciting tourism proposition for both inbound and domestic tourists.”
Scotland Town Partnership (STP) Chief Officer Phil Prentice added: “Tourism attractions and hospitality businesses can be among the biggest winners from the Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards.
“These are a great way of exploring some of the best of what the nation has to offer, potentially injecting millions of pounds into the economy and supporting local businesses as we do.
“The gift cards are a significant tool in the Scotland Loves Local campaign, encouraging everyone to think local first.”
Cards are available to buy at: https://scotlandgiftslocal.com/
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