News

With a month to go the Tay Country Tourism Conference is building real momentum, with an inspiring line‑up of speakers.

We’re delighted to announce that Jóhannes Þór Skúlason, Managing Director of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF), and Carrie-Ann Lightley, writer, speaker and content creator, specialising in accessible travel, and Dougie Cameron, Interim Chief Executive of Pitlochry Festival Theatre will join the programme of keynote speakers.

They will join industry leaders Sam Weston, Head of AI & Marketing at 80 Days, and Vicki Miller, Chief Executive of VisitScotland.

We’re delighted to welcome Alistair Heather, well-known local figure, Scottish tour guide, writer and TV presenter who will be our host for the day.

Dougie is Interim Chief Executive of Pitlochry Festival Theatre. He joined the organisation in 2022 as Director of Finance and Operations, leading the delivery of the Theatre’s commercial strategy. Prior to Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Dougie held senior finance and operations roles at Centre for the Moving Image, Sky, Coca-Cola and Scottish & Newcastle.

Dougie will take part in a Q&A session about Pitlochry Festival Theatre and their plans for this year. Hear about their recent multimillion pound investment, Out in the Hills Festival and their exciting new 2026 programme.

Specialising in accessible travel, Carrie-Ann is a leading content creator who inspires disabled people to explore the world and works extensively with the tourism sector to support and advise businesses on accessibility.

Bringing to the conference practical advice and tips for tourism businesses, Carrie-Ann will share how when accessibility is treated as a journey rather than a box to tick, it becomes a powerful way to improve visitor experience and widen who feels able to travel.

Chief Executive of VisitScotland, Vicki provides vision, leadership, and strategic direction to her team as well as stakeholders in the Scottish tourism and events industry, and wider community.

Vicki is responsible for developing our international strategy and championing Scotland, at home and abroad, as a world leader in 21st century tourism.

Setting the scene for the day, Vicki will share the latest insights and trends shaping the tourism landscape.

As Managing Director of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association (SAF), Jóhannes represents tourism businesses across Iceland, ensuring the growth and development of the sector while promoting Iceland based on respect for the country and its people.

Johannes will share how destination resilience, data driven insight, and strategic marketing, innovation, and investment sustain Iceland’s tourism sector as its largest export industry.

Sam is Head of AI & Marketing at 80 DAYS, a creative and digital marketing agency specialising in hospitality and travel. With over 20 years’ experience, Sam leads the agency’s AI strategy and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies, while directing its global marketing strategy.

Artificial intelligence (AI) will be a key topic for us on the day, and Sam will examine how AI is transforming the travel sector and advise how to move with it.

We’re also pleased to be joined by local tourism and events industry speakers from Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross and Fife, who will share their stories on how they are delivering great visitor experiences and supporting the local visitor economy and their communities.

The Tay Country Tourism Conference 2026 will take place on Tuesday 3 March at the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee.

The event supports the Tay Cities Region Tourism Framework published this year, which outlines shared regional priorities for strengthening the visitor economy across Fife, Dundee, Angus, and Perth & Kinross – outlining how the region can move forward ‘Tay-gether’ in coming years.

The conference is organised and delivered by VisitScotland in partnership with Dundee, Angus, Fife, and Perth & Kinross Councils.

Check out the full conference programme and register for the conference at the Tay Country Tourism Conference website.