'Appy Days!
VisitScotland hits the top five in iTunes download
chart
An innovative iPhone app launched by VisitScotland at the end of
last year is sitting above the likes of Tripadvisor and British
Airways in iTunes’ top free travel apps chart, boasting more than
15,000 downloads so far.
Produced in association with Historic Scotland
and the National Trust for Scotland, the VisitScotland Days Out app
capitalises on the Scottish staycation trend.
Launched in November and available to download free from the
iTunes store, the app features an ‘Inspire Me’ button which allows
the user to select their location, give the phone a shake and,
fruit-machine style, it will spit out ideas for things to see and
do in the vicinity.
Extensive information on days out from partners Historic
Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland, VisitScotland
Information Centres, ASVA attractions, a selection of Quality
Assured visitor attractions and restaurants are all pre-loaded on
to the app, along with various seasonal offers from tourism
businesses nationwide. And, in the year of Active Scotland,
activity providers such as surf schools, golf courses and places to
hire bikes also feature.
Malcolm Roughead, Chief Executive of
VisitScotland, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the success of
Days Out - VisitScotland’s very first app. It has proved an
innovative and useful tool for both visitors and locals and we hope
that Days Out will prove an even bigger hit when it is ‘refreshed’
later this year, offering users twice as much to see and do.”
Stephen Duncan, Historic Scotland’s Head
of Commercial and Visitor Operations, said: “Historic Scotland
is very keen to promote the use of social media in order to reach
new audiences. The Days Out app has been a great success and
is an engaging and innovative way to let people know about the
wonderful visitor attractions they have in their vicinity.”
Ian Gardner, Marketing Manager of the
National Trust for Scotland, said: “It’s great news that this app
has proved so popular. We’re sure it’s encouraging lots of people
to get out and explore Scotland and all the places that the Trust
cares for all over the country.”
The VisitScotland Days Out App is
available to download from the iTunes store.
ENDS
For further information
contact:
Notes to Editors
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its
core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to
Scotland.
- The organisation has three key roles:
- To market Scotland to all parts of the world to attract
visitors
- To provide information – and inspiration – to visitors and
potential visitors so they get the best out of a visit to
Scotland
- To provide quality assurance to visitors and quality advice to
the industry and partners to help the industry meet and strive to
exceed customer expectations
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make
tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to
grow.
