VisitScotland.com is to replace its controversial existing website with an online travel shop featuring products from agents and operators.
The new site, which launches on 2 April, allows customers to shop by type of holiday, such as city breaks, or by brand.
Chief executive Marco Truffelli said the new site was a good opportunity for agents. “We have tended to work with just the large key agencies, but this opens it up to everyone. “We’re especially interested in working with niche agents and operators, such as golf breaks or skiing.”
The new site also features a visitor guide and there is potential for user generated content.
Truffelli said: “We are getting a sense from the industry about whether they’d like user reviews. This kind of content is likely to become more localised as people look for more specific information.”
VisitScotland.com was launched as a public-private partnership in 2002 and caused controversy because of its commission-led structure.
B&B owner Alan Keith led a six year campaign against the site, saying booking agents and accommodation suppliers were losing out because users were directed to the site’s own call centre rather than the supplier or agent direct. It reportedly made a £1.5 million loss last year.
Meanwhile, Visit Scotland director of visitor engagement Malcolm Roughead said he was looking at establishing an online training programme for UK and Ireland agents. “We want to stimulate more growth in domestic tourism and will looking at working more with ABTA and its components,” he said.
The body launches its new ‘Perfect Day’ ad campaign in spring, with adverts on television, cinema, print and on the London underground.