From The Scotsman, 25-Sept-2003
By William Lyons
The Scotch whisky industry claims to have taken a significant step in realising its tourism potential with the appointment yesterday of Chris Conway as the first Scotch Whisky tourism development manager.
Conway, a former marketing manager with Whyte & Mackay, will initially work with hotels, restaurants and distillery visitor centres to develop new ways of using whisky as a means of attracting tourists to Scotland.
Plans currently under consideration include setting up "whisky embassies" throughout Scotland where tourists can learn more about their favourite drink and encouraging restaurants to develop more whisky-based dishes.
The £100,000 project - unveiled by the deputy First Minister and enterprise minister, Jim Wallace, and Ian Good, chairman of the Scotch Whisky Association - is being led by the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre.
Funding is coming from Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland and the Scotch Whisky Association.
Good said: "More than a million people visit 40 distillery visitor centres throughout Scotland every year.
"The industry is a great ambassador for Scotland. Chris with his depth of experience can build on this."