Scots men to attract more women to Scotland

Tourism officials in Scotland are attempting to increase the numbers of female visitors to the country by appealing to their baser instincts.

Visit Scotland is using images of 20 dashing Scotsmen, including a doctor, entrepreneur, film actor, television host and the bagpiper who played at Madonna's wedding, in a new promotion aimed at women from outside of the UK.

The menfolk will feature in a new website - "Date A Hot Scot" – hosting a competition where the winners will get to travel to Edinburgh and meet a "hot Scot".

Contestants, from countries such as the US, France and Germany, must enter the competition as a pair and vote online for who they think is the "hottest Scot".

The prize is a trip for two girl-pals to Scotland in May to meet the men featured in the promotion at a party at Edinburgh Castle.

But of course the promotion is not just about dating one of the Scotsmen featured on the website.

With a population of more than 450,000 single men aged between 20 and 40, it is designed to promote Scotland as a fertile destination for single women.

But if a trip to Scotland fails to uncover Mr Right, a visit to the dramatic Scottish countryside, full of expansive lochs and narrow valleys, can offer some consolation.

The competition is open to residents of the United States, Spain, Germany, Sweden, France and the Netherlands.

For more information, go to: www.dateahotscot.com XXX