The new #GlasgowIsOpen campaign, which launched on 15 July to promote the city to locals and day visitors has been quickly embraced by businesses and consumers in the first four weeks of activation.
Coordinated by charity Glasgow Life with support from Glasgow City Council, the campaign is aimed at encouraging Glaswegians and day visitors to be tourists in the city and support local businesses and attractions to help stimulate Glasgow’s economic recovery in the aftermath of Covid-19.
More than 100 retailers, restaurants, bars, hotels, attractions and tour providers have already responded to the call to participate in the Glasgow Business Reopening Register survey.
The reopening register is a key component of the campaign and will help Glasgow Life’s destination marketing team continue to profile the city’s businesses in campaign activity, content creation and media outreach to target audiences over the coming months.
The inspirational #GlasgowIsOpen launch film has already been viewed more than 55,000 times across social media channels, while a series of compelling digital features and blogs across People Make Glasgow channels has been produced as part of the campaign including:
- Know Before You Go: A new practical guide to visiting Glasgow including travel tips, advice on staying safe and what you can enjoy when you’re here.
- Explore Glasgow’s Neighbourhoods, which uncovers the city’s hidden gems stunning architecture and amazing parks.
- City Shopping Guide.
- How to be a tourist at home in Glasgow.
- Dine out in Glasgow.
- Experience Glasgow’s amazing food scene from home.
- Partnership blog with City Sightseeing Glasgow featuring tour guide Katie Tennent
- Partnership blog with Walking Tours in Glasgow
Activity has also included promoting the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ UK Government initiative, which launched this week, as well as working with VisitScotland to encourage Glasgow’s tourism businesses to sign up for ‘We’re Good to Go’ accreditation.
This new UK-wide industry standard and consumer mark demonstrate that businesses have the required Covid-19 protocols in place and the scheme has been communicated across PeopleMakeGlasgow, Glasgow Tourism and Visitor Plan and Glasgow Life social and digital channels.
City businesses are being asked to get involved in the #GlasgowIsOpen campaign by:
- Following People Make Glasgow social channels and using the campaign hashtag #GlasgowIsOpen when sharing the launch film and other content across their own social media and digital channels.
- Sharing their re-opening/open for business images via twitter @GlasgowTourism using the #GlasgowIsOpen hashtag.
Councillor David McDonald, Chair of Glasgow Life and Depute Leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “I am delighted at how quickly our citizens and local businesses have got behind the #GlasgowIsOpen campaign to help boost the city’s economic recovery from Covid-19. It is heartening to see Glaswegians and day visitors once again enjoying Glasgow’s shops, restaurants, bars and attractions as well as witness the enormous efforts made by businesses in the city centre and across Glasgow’s neighbourhoods to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for their customers.”
Sharon Morrison, Communications Director at City Sightseeing Glasgow and a member of the Glasgow Tourism and Events Response Group (GTERG), said: “We are thrilled to be back in business and once again taking customers around our wonderful city and its unique attractions. The #GlasgowIsOpen campaign is most definitely helping to shine a light on tourism businesses across the city and showcase how you can have an amazing staycation right here in Glasgow.”
Ryan James, Chair of the Glasgow Restaurateurs Association and also a member of GTERG, said: “This is a time for everyone to work together for the benefit of the whole city and the #GlasgowIsOpen campaign has really captured the Team Glasgow spirit as our restaurants, cafes and bars serve up outstanding food and drink, coupled with our famous warm and friendly hospitality, to local customers and day visitors.”
Phase two of #GlasgowIsOpen activity will go live later this month and will dovetail with the reopening in August of the much-loved and iconic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.
