A FUND set up to bring conferences to Scotland has boosted the economy by £200 million, it has been declared.

The VisitScotland Conference Bid Fund has helped bring dozens of business events all over the country since being set up in 2012, with bookings in place down to 2022.

Local authorities or destination organisations can apply for backing to secure events on a match-funding basis. The events in question must also tie in with Scottish Government target sectors, which range from energy, aerospace and chemical sciences to food and drink and the creative industries.

The £200m value to the economy is based on 97 events having been booked for venues around Scotland, following marketing investment of less than £2m, VisitScotland said.

Neil Brownlee, head of business events at VisitScotland, said: “The business events industry is a key sector which supports not only conference centres and hotels throughout Scotland, but also hundreds of other operators not normally associated with tourism, such as AV companies, independent caterers and unique venues.

“These events also create important links between industries, and these opportunities are key to driving even more business events to Scotland alongside agencies, trade shows and strategic partnerships.”