Regional Directors at VisitScotland are more than strategic leads – they’re passionate advocates for the places they call home and use their regional insight and knowledge to help sustainably grow the visitor economy in their regions.
In this article, David Adams McGilp, Regional Director for Argyll & the Isles shares how his local roots and industry experience help shape the direction for the region’s tourism and events industry.
I've worked for VisitScotland for 17 years and was originally recruited as Regional Director for Glasgow & West Central Scotland. I worked with 8 local authorities until 2010, when an internal restructure took Argyll & Bute away from the wider Highlands & Islands and I was delighted to take on the responsibility for the place where I live.
I bring many years of experience working with local authorities and other public bodies, parliamentarians and Scottish Government personnel; and I worked in the industry too - my family owned a caravan park with self-catering units, I worked in a hotel bar full-time, was the Director of Marketing for an independent museum, set up my own tourism consultancy and managed a Heritage Lottery Fund landscape partnership scheme. I think knowing what's good for business and what's good for communities makes me sympathetic to diverse needs and ambitions.
I enjoy making a contribution to sustainable growth, and I think it is important to be a voice for the region. I love Argyll - I've lived here most of my life and want to do what I can to influence long-term decisions that affect residents as well as visitors.
Image of David. Credit: Kevin McGlynn
To support the sustainable growth of the region’s visitor economy, the Argyll & Isles Strategic Tourism Partnership was established – it includes Argyll & Bute Council; Argyll & Isles Tourism Co-operative; Highlands & Islands Enterprise; Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park and VisitScotland.
The members of this group have all been appointed due to the experience and expertise they bring in several areas including:
addressing seasonality and visitor circulation (including sustainable transport),
Rural Growth Deal and Community Regeneration Fund project and other investment prioritisation and catalytic potential
community aspirations
responsible and sustainable tourism
marine and coastal infrastructure development
commitment to quality of experience
Wreckspeditions, based in Dunoon, offers powerboat tours from Holy Loch Marina to landmarks like Bute, the Cumbraes, and the Sugar Ship Wreck.
The purpose of the Partnership is to agree strategic priorities, set objectives and provide authoritative industry overview.
The Partnership's blend of business representation, public sector support and delivery is respected for ambition and realism, and sympathy for community needs and the protection of the natural, cultural and heritage assets of the region.
The Partnership sets overall strategic direction, produces action plans and targets (including the recently published Tourism Plan 2025-2028); and encourages collaboration on destination and product development and market intelligence.
A brilliant recent example of how the Partnership has worked together was the inaugural Clipper Round the World Yacht Race stopover in Oban in 2024. Thanks to the successful delivery of a programme of events for residents and visitors, partners are now working on a bigger and better Host Port event when the Race returns in July 2026.
Read the Tourism Plan 2025-2028 on the Wild About Argyll website
Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2023-2024. Credit Brian Carlin, 16 Degrees South
Through my role as Regional Director, I represent VisitScotland on the Argyll & Isles Strategic Tourism Partnership, and, as well as providing strategic advice and regional insight, I coordinate support from across our organisation to the region. This includes invaluable support on travel trade, regional marketing, dynamic consumer messaging, press and public relations, events and festivals; and destination and product-led promotional activity.
In addition to my commitment to the tourism partnership, I have a lead role in marine and coastal tourism development, and work with colleagues and partners across the country on port, harbour and marina project proposals. The maritime region of Argyll & Isles is exceptionally well-placed to take advantage of increasing interest in water-borne activities and how they stimulate wider destination development.
David (centre) welcoming the Ha Long Bay yacht crew with a well-deserved dram.