National Trust for Scotland Boosts Local Tourism with Gift Cards – Scottish Business News

47 National Trust for Scotland places are now part of economy boosting Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards across the country, enhancing tourism credentials for the initiative

Encouraging local exploration and local spending is behind a new partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card.

The conservation charity is now accepting one of the 19 regional Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards at 47 of its places across Scotland, including castles, gardens, museums, houses, mills and palaces.

The Gift Cards will be accepted at on-site gift shops, supporting many local and independent suppliers, and they can also be used for admission to the properties and in their cafes.

Places include Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire, Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Falkland Palace and Garden in Fife, The Tenement House in Glasgow, Brodie Castle and Estate in Moray, Branklyn Garden in Perth, and Preston Mill in East Lothian.

The Trust partnership further enhances the tourism credentials of the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card, both for encouraging exploration of their local area by locals and driving tourism across the country. 

Leisure and attractions, accommodation, food and drink and shopping are four of the sectors supported by the card.

The partnership with the Trust also assists the charity’s vital conservation work, with sales at properties supporting the protection of Scotland’s nature, heritage, and beauty for everyone.

Andrew Roberts, Head of Retail at the National Trust for Scotland, said: “Partnering with Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards is an excellent opportunity for us to engage with our local communities, encouraging them to visit our amazing places and support the Trust’s vital conservation work.

“It also helps to promote our places as shopping destinations. Our ambition is to provide the best gift shops selling Scottish and sustainable products.

“We seek out the most creative and talented local makers and suppliers to create an inspirational product range that you’d be unlikely to find anywhere else – including unique products made in Scotland exclusively for us.

“And partnerships like this one help to inspire an even greater connection with our communities.”

The Scotland Loves Local Gift Card was introduced in 2021, delivered by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP) working alongside Perth-based fintech Miconex.

Each card can only be spent in the regions on which they are branded, locking spend into local communities.

Over £15 million has been spent through the Scotland Loves Local Gift Card to date, with over 7000 Scottish local businesses part of the initiative.

The cards are purchased both by consumers, and by organisations for staff rewards and incentives.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership chief officer Kimberley Guthrie said: “It’s fantastic to have the National Trust for Scotland on board with the Scotland Loves Local Gift card programme.

“We are lucky to have a wide offering of places to visit across Scotland and tourism plays a critical role in local communities.

“This is an important step forward in locking in spend and encouraging people to explore what’s on offer in their local area, whilst offering gift card users a greater choice on where to spend.”

Colin Munro, managing director of Miconex said: “A Scotland Loves Local Gift Card is the starting point for a journey of local exploration, including places to visit, eat, shop and stay.

“47 National Trust for Scotland places joining 19 of the regional cards marks an important step in the development of the initiative to not only drive tourism across the country but also to further our mission of offering ultimate local choice.”

Scotland Loves Local Gift Cards are available to buy at: https://scotlandgiftslocal.com/