Applications for Scotland’s top tourism awards are going online for the first time ever making it easier and more environmentally friendly for businesses to enter this year.

The search is on for the country’s finest tourism businesses with the launch of the Scottish Thistle Awards 2007 at the country’s biggest travel trade fair, VisitScotland’s Expo in Edinburgh.

The awards honour tourism businesses which excel through quality and innovation and are widely recognised as one of the top accolades in the industry.

The 16th Scottish Thistle Awards will see the introduction of two new categories and the expansion of an existing category. Tour operators who encourage UK and international visitors to come to Scotland and businesses which use PR to promote their services are eligible to enter for the first time.

VisitScotland Chief Executive Phillip Riddle said: “Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at VisitScotland and the introduction of online applications and judging for the Scottish Thistle Awards this year will help us contribute to making Scotland a greener destination.

“It’s good to see UK and international tour operators being recognised for the important role they play in bringing visitors to Scotland and helping us achieve our shared ambition to grow tourism revenues by 50% by 2015.

“We are in one of the world’s most competitive industries so it’s encouraging to see more tourism businesses using creative ways to promote themselves and remind visitors that there’s always more to do and see in Scotland.

The finalists will be announced in September with the overall winners announced at the glittering Awards Ceremony and dinner at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre on Friday 26th October.

For further information:

• Scottish Thistle Awards