Efforts to increase the number of Chinese residents visiting Scotland have been boosted by the unveiling of a new golf-focused travel brochure.

China is seen as one of Scotland's most important emerging markets, with around 11,000 visitors each year worth an estimated £7m to the national economy.

VisitScotland and the Scottish Government have worked with tour operator China Holidays to launch the new brochure in a bid to make it easier for golfers to book holidays to Scotland.

Mike Cantlay, chair of Scotland's national tourism agency, said: "We sell Scotland to the world bringing millions of visitors and billions of pounds to the economy, and golf has a crucial role to play in our marketing activity."

The launch has coincided with one of Scotland's most prestigious golf industry events - Golf Tourism Scotland's (GTS) Gimme Five seminar, which was held at Murrayshall House Hotel and Golf Courses in Perth.

Held to mark the fifth anniversary of GTS' formation, the event enabled industry representatives to debate the key issues that are set to affect the sport in future years.

GTS chair Nick Hunter said: "The industry as a whole is reliant on many constituent parts each of which forms an important link in the chain.

"Understanding what lies ahead for each of these segments will help the industry prepare for what will be an exciting and opportunity-laden five years."