Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau today (25 July) announced that the conferences and events which took place in 2006 generated more than £46 million for the area, an increase on the overall economic impact of business tourism of 11.9 % compared to 2005.
 
“Business tourism is crucially important to the local economy of the Dundee and Angus area,” said Karen Tocher, the bureau’s business tourism manager. “It is estimated that conference delegates spend on average three times more than leisure tourists during their stay, factoring in costs including transport, accommodation and food and drink. More than 236,000 delegates attended events, conferences and meetings throughout 2006 resulting in a direct expenditure of more than £9 million.”
 
A wealth of key events were held in the city and surrounding area throughout 2006, which contributed significantly to the value of business tourism, such as the Transatlantic Studies Association Annual Conference and the Scottish Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons Annual Conference, with both conferences attracting a host of delegates from the UK and abroad.
 
“Dundee is increasingly gaining recognition as an exceptional business tourism destination both in the UK and internationally,” said Tocher. “This is directly reflected by the figures demonstrating the economic value of this sector to the region. More than 7% of delegates who attended events in 2006 were from outside the UK while over 31,000 bed nights were booked in Dundee and Angus as a result of business tourists visiting the area to attend conferences and meetings.
      
“Looking towards the long term future, the aim of the Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau is to continue to successfully generate and support events in the area with the target of increasing the value of business tourism by 40% over the next five years. Further establishing the city as a leading conference destination on a global scale will play a key role in fulfilling this objective while further investment and support for business tourism from both Dundee City Council and Angus Council and industry partners will also contribute extensively towards this goal.”
 
Commenting on the rise in business tourism, councillor Joe Morrow, economic development convenor for Dundee City Council, said: “The figures released today indicate the hugely positive impact that business tourism has in terms of the local economy of the Dundee & Angus area. By continuing to raise the profile of the area to the world wide market, the region can further capitalise on the associated economic benefits of this sector.”