Destinations

Scotland Calls on Canada

From breathtaking scenery and epic adventures to live music and culinary delights, VisitScotland’s Keith Campbell can easily list off many compelling reasons to inspire Canadians to visit the destination. Many of these elements are showcased across Scotland’s latest marketing campaign called Scotland is Calling.

Campbell, Market Development Manager – Canada for VisitScotland, joined delegates from Scotland in Toronto last night to celebrate the return of WestJet service, including the airline’s inaugural flight between Toronto and Edinburgh taking off on June 2.

“Canada is one of our most important international markets and at a time where there are important commercial decisions to be made by airlines to determine which routes to operate, the confidence shown by WestJet to not only restart their Halifax to Glasgow service for summer 2022, but to offer new routes from Toronto to Edinburgh and Glasgow makes connectivity between the two countries stronger not just for tourism, but for the wider economies,” he shared.

Monica Stevenson, Team Lead, Travel Trade, for WestJet, highlighted that WestJet is approaching a return to pre pandemic route levels.

“This summer WestJet will serve 43 domestic, 23 transborder, 16 Caribbean and eight transatlantic destinations marking a 94% restoration of our pre pandemic routes,” she said. “Most notably, we’re thrilled to be reinvesting in transatlantic connectivity, creating opportunities for Canadians to explore the enchantment of Scotland and Europe.”

Gary Cox, Head of Aviation, Scottish Government, who was on hand for the arrival of WestJet’s Toronto to Glasgow flight, said load factors from Canada are strong.

VisitScotland’s efforts continue in Toronto today with two workshop sessions for the travel trade, ahead of a virtual session tomorrow.

For travellers looking for itinerary inspiration, Campbell said the newly launched UNESCO Trail is the first of its kind to bring together 13 UNESCO sites into one trail.

In the photos:

  • Campbell, Stevenson and Cox at the event
  • The recent scene at Glasgow Airport welcoming back WestJet