Combine a Scottish Hollywood movie star, a world-renowned event and a free round of golf where the game began and you create something truly amazing. This week, Tourism Minister for Scotland, Jim Mather heads to the Ryder Cup in Louisville, Kentucky to announce Scotland's plans for the Ryder Cup in 2014 and also next year's Homecoming Scotland 2009 tourism initiative.

Next year Scotland celebrates Homecoming Scotland 2009 with the return of the British Open to Turnberry in Ayrshire, and with it comes an open invitation to golfers from throughout North America to travel to the Home of Golf.

To highlight the 2009 programme of celebration, acting legend Sir Sean Connery has provided a voiceover to a new film, promoting Scotland as a must-visit golfing destination and also to position the country as host to the Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles.

Sir Sean Connery said 'I've been a lifelong supporter of golf and Burns, so to combine the two in order to promote Scotland's year of Homecoming was a real privilege. I hope that the film will do justice to Scotland's reputation as the home of golf'.

With the wealth of golf courses throughout Scotland, golf clubs are the only thing that golfers will need, and as from January 25th (Burns Day) until November 30th (St Andrews Day), players are being invited to sign up for a free four-ball in Scotland. VisitScotland's Drive It Home campaign gives golfers the opportunity to secure a tee-time at the Home of Golf for free! More information is available here – www.homecomingscotland.com.

Speaking on the day of the launch, First Minister Alex Salmond said: 'Next year – the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns - provides a fantastic opportunity to invite people from around the world, whether they have a family link or an affinity for Scotland, to come home for our 'Year of Homecoming'.

Scotland is the home of golf and the sport is one of the centrepieces of our Homecoming year. It is tremendous that Sir Sean Connery has provided the very distinctive and inspirational voiceover for our film. Hollywood's big name producers couldn't persuade him out of retirement, but Homecoming has!'

The United States is Scotland's number one market for golf visitors, with an annual estimate of 45,000 golfers travelling to Scotland each year.

Peter Lederer, VisitScotland's Chairman said 'We are sending an invitation to the world for golf enthusiasts to come and join us in our year long Homecoming celebrations next year. The golf DVD and 'Drive It Home' initiative gives us a chance to encourage international visitors to experience Scotland, the home of golf, first hand.'

Packages for travel to Scotland are available now. Best of Scotland Holidays are offering a Luxury Golf Package to St Andrews and the West Coast from $5055 per person. To book this vacation or to find out more information about travel to Scotland visit www.cometoscotland.com.

NOTES:
2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national poet, Robert Burns, with the programme's design guided by Scotland's unique position as the home of Burns himself, Golf, Whisky, Great Minds and Innovations, and Scotland's culture and heritage which lives on at home and through Scotland's global family.

* Information on travel to Scotland can be found here - www.cometoscotland.com.

* US is Scotland's number one market for golf visitors, with an annual estimate of 45,000 US golfers travelling to Scotland and spending £70 million. Golf tourism generally generates an estimated annual £160 million impact on Scotland's economy.

* The 'Drive it Home' Promotion was developed by VisitScotland as its lead international golf promotion to support Homecoming Scotland 2009 and has the full endorsement of the Scottish Golf Union. 'Drive It Home' will focus on Scotland's lead international golf markets of the US, Canada and Sweden. The promotion will also roll-out across all other international Markets

* Homecoming Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government and is managed by EventScotland, the national events agency, in partnership with VisitScotland, the country's national tourism agency. It aims to engage Scots at home as well as motivate people of Scottish descent and those who simply love Scotland, to take part in an inspirational celebration of our culture, heritage and some of the many great contributions Scotland has given to the world.

For more information on Homecoming Scotland please visit: www.homecomingscotland.com

Contact:
Fiona Stewart – PR Manager, North America, Asia/Pacific, VisitScotland on +44 (0) 131 472 2033 or at fiona.stewart@visitscotland.com
or
Susan Russell, PR Executive – North America, Australasia, VisitScotland on +44 (0) 131 472 2041 or at susan.russell@visitscotland.com