THE SOCIETY of American Travel Writers (SATW) stopped off in Perthshire for a whistle stop tour of the area’s top attractions and hotels.

The tour, which tied in with the group’s 52nd annual conference in Manchester, attracted over 20 of America’s top travel writers, who familiarised themselves with Fife, Perthshire and the Highlands.

They visited a variety of locations, including the Dunkeld House Hotel, The Ardeonaig Hotel and Restaurant, Blair Castle and Edradour Distillery.

VisitScotland’s North American PR manager Fiona Stewart said she hoped the benefits of the media coverage would be felt for years to come.

“VisitScotland research proves that travel articles are a significant influence on the destination choices of visitors, so a partnership with the premier organisation for travel writers in America is extremely beneficial for Scotland,” she said.

VisitScotland’s Perthshire area director Vicki Miller added, “This provides us with an ideal opportunity to highlight exactly what the area has to offer in terms of accommodation, visitor attractions and places to eat.”

“In order for us to be successful in our ambitious growth plans for tourism in Perthshire, it is crucial for us to attract visitors who have the ability to really sell the area to one of our most important markets.”