Companies in Scotland have been criticised for outsourcing to India, but now tourism leaders are to encourage more businesses in India to come here.
Companies in Scotland have been criticised for outsourcing to India, but now tourism leaders are to encourage more businesses in India to come here.
VisitScotland is courting the rupee this week in an effort to recoup a share of the fastest-growing large economy in the world alongside China.
Sending work such as IT and call-centre provision to India is said to have helped fuel its economy, and more than half of UK companies now outsource work to Asia.
VisitScotland is now showcasing this country's luxury hotels, conference centres and world-class corporate facilities in a trip to the east, in an effort to bring some work back.
It said its events will generate significant exposure for Scotland, with presentations, seminars and networking with corporate contacts across the business community.
VisitScotland claimed developing the Indian market will have an impact on the Scottish economy, to which business tourism already contributes more than £911m.
Recent statistics show that tourism from India is increasing rapidly, with the number of visitors doubling between 2002 and 2006, while visitor expenditure has tripled in the same period.
The tourism body added that most of those visiting on business extend their trips to enjoy other aspects of Scottish hospitality and tourism, making this a lucrative sector.
Led by VisitScotland's business tourism unit, the visit to Hyderabad and Bangalore, two of the largest potential Indian markets, will include presentations, workshops and networking dinners with key corporate contacts.
Scottish venues are already seen as an attractive location as an international "shop window" for companies seeking to hold conferences and boost their business across the world.
Among delegates expected to attend the India conferences are Aurobindo Pharma, a major pharmaceutical manufacturer in Asia, Namdhari India, a leading event management company, Granules India, Madura Garments, GVK Biosciences, the Bank of Maharashtra, and Ganjam Nagappa and Sons, known for traditional couture jewellery.
Caroline Packman, head of VisitScotland's business tourism unit, said: "India is a significant emerging market for us and it's a crucial time to visit to show them Scotland is a must-visit destination with superlative corporate facilities."
The unit is also considering other emerging markets and is working with leisure leaders at VisitScotland on joint initiatives to China, after already taking teams to Russia.
A VisitScotland spokesman said: "It (Russia) was a great success, and the feedback from both the Scottish businesses visiting and the Russian meeting planners was very positive.
Export links with the three countries are already established, with India, Russia and China all significant markets for the whisky industry.
Overall tourism to Scotland from India in 2006 was 22,000 visits and the spend was £25m, with 12% of these visits being business related.
The number of visits is double what it was in 2003 (10,180 visits), and the spend is more than three times the figure in 2003 - £7.16m.
The move is part of a wider target to increase tourism by 50% to £1.6bn by 2015.
The spokesman said: "If we can tap into overseas markets such as India, we are confident this can be achieved."
