AN INITIATIVE to promote the Ayrshire and the Clyde Islands as a top tourism destination is celebrating a successful first year, reaching a potential audience of more than 25 million people despite the global pandemic.

The Coig – Gaelic for Five – was launched as a not-for-profit industry-led organisation at the start of 2020, promoting five routes which join up the region and market the whole of Ayrshire and the Clyde Islands of Arran, Bute, and Cumbrae as a tourist destination for the very first time.

Campaigns have targeted potential leisure visitors from the UK and Ireland, encouraging them to visit Ayrshire and the Clyde Islands when travel restrictions allow.

Gillian Black, director of sales at The Marine Hotel, Troon, said: “The Coig is an amazing initiative that caught the attention of our potential travel trade clients during ‘Scotland Reconnect’ appointments a few months ago.

“The event itself was a great opportunity to showcase The Marine Hotel and our unique Ayrshire region. International clients were delighted with the information on The Coig routes as it became apparent that operators were looking for ‘something different’, and this makes Ayrshire and the Clyde Islands an ideal choice.”

Visit thecoig.com/