Time & Date:

8.30 am, 10.30 am and 1.30 pm - Friday 25 April

Where:

Online

What:

This month marks SCOTO’s third birthday, and on Friday 25 April, we’re inviting communities across Scotland to join us in marking the occasion by celebrating Community Led Tourism Awareness Day.

To inspire and celebrate throughout SCOTO’s Birthday, we’ll be hosting THREE (as we’re three!) PRESS PAUSE PODCASTS.  We’ll be talking live to three special guests at 10 am, 11.30 am and 1.00 pm asking them to Press Pause and answer some key questions on what community led tourism means to them. Join us to celebrate and ask your questions.

Time & Date:

Wednesday 15 to Thursday 17 October

What:

LOCALfest25 - the inaugural celebration of community led tourism in Scotland.

Where: Dunkeld and Birnam

In Person

LOCALfest25 is a three-day festival of regenerative tourism taking place from 15 - 17 October in the stunning Perthshire communities of Dunkeld and Birnam. Everyone will be welcomed as a temporary local to immerse themselves in community-led tourism in action.

Whether you’re a local, live in another Scottish community, are a tourism business or a visitor, do join us for three days of fun and inspiration.

For more information see the Localfest25 website.

Time & Date:

Thursday 5 & Friday 6 March 2026

What:

SCOTO's Annual Conference

Where: Glasgow

In Person

The dates for the fourth SCOTO Annual Gathering 2026 are set! We're moving back into Tourism Month of March so mark your diaries for our annual conference on Thursday 5, and Friday 6 March.

We're also very excited to announce that we'll be heading to Glasgow for the 2026 event.

Time & Date:

Thursday 4 & Friday 5 March 2027

What:

SCOTO's Annual Conference

Where: TBC

In Person

The dates for the fifth SCOTO Annual Gathering 2027 are set! Mark your diaries for our annual conference on Thursday 4, and Friday 5 March.

Time & Date:

Thursday 27 March

Where:

Online

What:

SCOTO MARCH Online Gathering:

For our March online Gathering, we’ll be discussing the outcomes and actions from the Breakout Sessions at the SCOTO Gathering. There will be time for further discussion and any questions on the topics covered.

If there’s a particular subject you’d like a future Gathering to focus on, let us know!

We’ll also be sharing the report on the Gathering survey and would love to hear your thoughts as we begin planning for next year’s event.

We know there’s never enough time to hear about your news—both successes and challenges—so we’re setting aside space at the start of the evening for just that.

Book below:

Time & Date:

Thursday 27, and Friday 28 February

What:

SCOTO's Annual Conference

Where:

In Person

The third SCOTO Annual Gathering 2025 dates are set! Mark your diaries for our annual conference on Thursday 27, and Friday 28 February. Having been North to Kingussie and then South to Dumfries, this year, we will head East to Angus. We plan to have Learning Exchanges this year on the first day and anticipate having our bursary grants available from the Scottish Community Alliance to help with travel and accommodation. Stay tuned for more updates!

Time & Date:

6 - 7 pm, Thursday 30 January

What:

SCOTO's Monthly Online Gathering

Where:

Online

For the first online Gathering of the year we spotlight the EU Leader Project, Flourishing Destinations, an inspiring initiative. The project connected communities in Belgium, Romania and Scotland and explored how tourism can contribute to the vitality and flourishing of the local community. Led locally by the Angus Tourism Cooperative, Murton Trust, and Flourish9, it’s a shining example of collaboration and innovation. The evening will also be a great introduction to the the SCOTO National Gathering this February, as we will meet many of the organisations involved in the Learning Exchanges and on the conference day.

During the session, we’ll hear directly from several key participants as they share invaluable insights and lessons learned from the project—insights we can all apply to help our communities thrive. You can read more about the project here>

We will of course have SCOTO updates and news for you too.

Time & Date:

Thursday 5 December, 6-7 pm

What:

AGM & SCOTO Online Gathering

Where:

Online

We’re delighted to invite you to the SCOTO Annual General Meeting, which is open to all Networkers.  It is an opportunity to meet fellow members, review our progress, and shape our direction for the coming year.

Formal notification will be issued soon, but for now, the date for the AGM will be Thursday 5 December, 6-7 pm, and you can book your place below.

Time & Date:

6 pm - 7 pm,  Thursday 29 Aug

What:

Showcase and conversations/questions

Where:

Online

In light of the VisitScotland announcement on the closure of all remaining VICs by 2026, we have decided to provide a monthly online ‘CHAT’ over the summer. These will specifically explore what some of our communities have already done to provide visitor information and offering tips to any community affected by the closures – or simply wanting to enhance visitor information provision in their local area.

The SCOTO Network has many community-run hubs and information points across Scotland that have tailored their services to meet the needs of both locals and visitors, and we look forward to showcasing a number of them to inspire you.

For our final summer conversation, we will be showcasing the Discover Cullen Tourist Office, which is entirely managed by dedicated volunteers. This organisation has been instrumental in enhancing Cullen's reputation as a friendly family destination and once you get there the Centre provides a warm and friendly local welcome to all visitors. It’s a great example of how to set up a Visitor Information Centre with volunteers, sharing their experiences and aspirations

Time & Date:

6 pm - 7 pm,  Thursday 28 November

What:

SCOTO Online Gathering

Where:

Online

For our next SCOTO Online Gathering, we’ll be sharing inspiring initiatives from across the SCOTO Network. These are practical examples of how organisations have boosted their visibility or developed new income streams to support their long-term sustainability. Drawing on the expertise within the SCOTO Network, this session offers a unique opportunity to learn directly from those actively making a difference on the ground.

We will of course have information about our AGM in December and our third SCOTO Annual Gathering in February 2025!