The Aberdeen and North East Scotland Ancestral Tourism Partnership is a membership organisation for businesses and organisations across the North East of Scotland and beyond who can play a role in the promotion of resources to assist those interested in researching their family history.
The benefits to your business or organisation of membership are:
- Contribute to developing ancestral tourism for the benefit of communities in the region
- Gain a competitive advantage through special marketing opportunities available only to members e.g. website presence, potential media exposure
- Early access to the results of research into ancestral tourism or other relevant market intelligence obtained by the Partnership
- Networking with like-minded people and organisations, opening up collaboration opportunities
- Learn from others about ancestral tourism and the opportunities it offers
- Influence ancestral tourism strategy in the region
- Opportunity to become a part of the steering group and make a practical contribution
- Opportunity to be individually profiled in a regular feature on our website
Membership is:-
| Beneficial | There are good reasons to become a member for your benefit and the benefit of your community |
| Affordable | Membership is only £25 per annum, a small investment that can make a big difference |
| Available now | Contact me via email, by using the details below or download the membership application form |
Ancestral Tourism is recognised throughout Scotland as a popular and growing pastime, generating millions of pounds for local economies. Research by VisitScotland shows that ancestral tourists spend more per day than the average visitor to Scotland, they stay longer in the areas that they visit and many also visit outwith the peak summer season. With an estimated 50 million people worldwide of Scots descent, the potential market is vast.
A prime strategic target for North-East Scotland is to increase the number of tourists visiting the region. As part of this drive, the Aberdeen and North-East Scotland Ancestral Tourism Partnership was formed in January 2011 to lead the development of ancestral tourism in the region for the benefit of the individuals, businesses, organisations and communities involved. Working in close collaboration, the existing partners have already published a printed directory of local resource providers, which is now about to go to its fourth edition, created an increasingly popular dedicated website (www.northeastscotlandroots.com), and organised a hugely successful workshop which attracted over 70 participants.
The Partnership has been promoted via sponsored flyers inserted in Landmark bedroom Folders, located in local hotel rooms, for the past two years and articles citing its success have been included in a recently published Tourism Intelligence Scotland Opportunities for Growth guide, in Your Family History Magazine and in articles in Your Family Tree and Upbeat magazines. In 2014 we held the hugely successful Routes to your North East Roots family history and heritage fair at Haddo House. Following this, it was decided to hold a similar event annually. Members will benefit from being able to book a stall at these events for free.
In the longer term we aim to promote ancestral tourism in the North-East of Scotland by building partnerships with tourism-related businesses and providing a forum for the exchange, collection and distribution of information.
We look forward to welcoming you as a member of the Partnership. All that is required in order to join is to complete the application form and return it by email to membership@northeastscotlandroots.com or alternatively send your application to Membership Secretary, ANESATP, Aberdeenshire Libraries, Meldrum Meg Way, Oldmeldrum, AB51 0GN. An invoice for the membership fee will then be issued in due course.
If you would like any more information about membership, or about our plans for 2015 and beyond, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Alison Smith
Membership Secretary