The boss of a Scottish incoming operator and destination management company has been elected as the new chairman of UKinbound.
Cashel Travel managing director James Aitken will take up the position at the trade organisation on February 6 succeeding Mark McVay.
Aitken has more then 30 years of senior level experience in the UK and Irish inbound tourism industry.
He has set up and run four companies and founded Edinburgh-based Cashel Travel in 2000.
Aitken is also managing director of specialist operator Great British Trips, based in Manchester.
He said: “My key priorities as chairman will be to try and help more young people enter the inbound tourism industry, widen the association’s membership across the UK and ensure that our industry continues to receive the respect it deserves within government and across all political parties.”
Aitken has sat on the UKinbound board since 2014, was president of the Scotland chapter of the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence for two years.
He has also served on the travel trade steering group of VisitScotland