Sail Scotland launches Shop to Ship Marketplace to boost marine tourism spend

Marine tourism industry membership group, Sail Scotland, has launched a new web-based platform to better connect local businesses with visiting leisure crafts, yachts and cruising vessels.

The new scheme promotes the purchase of local seafood, fresh food, and arts and crafts, but in a manner that respects the wishes of communities regarding visitors stepping ashore at destination ports, anchorages and harbours in light of Covid-19

The scheme is in response to the recent phase of the Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance that will see a further opening of tourism activities across Scotland.

Tourism Secretary, Fergus Ewing, says: “As we see the further re-opening of our tourism and hospitality sectors, I am delighted that Sail Scotland are introducing their Shop to Ship initiative. It recognises the opportunities for cross-selling food and drink that tourism delivers, often in our most remote areas. It also enables individual businesses and their host communities to be recognised as welcoming destinations, with the processes tailored precisely to local circumstances and built in from the beginning. It’s also a part of the wider work, across a range of partners, to encourage everyone to responsibly and safely enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of being close to or on Scotland’s ‘blue’ spaces, especially during this Year of Coasts and Waters.”

The further easing of lockdown will allow yachts and boats to visit remote areas and island communities. The Safe Sailing Guidelines, published by Sail Scotland as part of the national framework for a recovery in tourism, asks visiting yachts to Respect the Destination by planning ahead, making a considered arrival and thinking local. Sail Scotland recognises that no two destinations are the same, so the platform aims to connect the producer and the consumer as easily as possible in a way that suits local wishes.

“The effective closure of Scotland’s tourism industry has had a huge impact on our food and drink producers, many of which relied on a thriving tourism and hospitality sector,” comments Fiona Richmond, Head of Regional Food at Scotland Food & Drink. “With restrictions beginning to unwind and businesses seeking to find new ways of working, it’s great to see innovative initiatives like the Shop to Ship Marketplace, which provides a fantastic digital platform for local businesses to reach new customers.”

hip campaign will be promoted widely by Sail Scotland, Scotland Food & Drink, destination groups, and user social media channels to the rural business network and marine tourism users. The platform is available for businesses to register at sailscotland.co.uk/registration.