Next year will be a “year like no other” for Scotland, First Minister Alex Salmond has declared.
Scots will decide the country’s future in an independence referendum in September while 2014 will also see Scotland host massive sporting events such as the Commonwealth Games and golf’s Ryder Cup.
In addition, more than 400 events are planned as part of the second Year of Homecoming celebrations, which aims to attract tourists from across the world to Scotland.
The First Minister highlighted these key events as he said Scots were looking forward to “an amazing 12 months ahead”.
In his St Andrew’s Day message, Mr Salmond said Scotland’s national day was a time to “celebrate our history, our people and of course our culture”.
The celebrations for the day also kick-start Scotland’s winter festival season, which runs through Hogmanay until Burns Night on January 25.
“This year, those winter festivals are particularly special, as we look forward to an amazing 12 months ahead,” Mr Salmond said “In September, as part of a peaceful, democratic and civic process we will vote in a referendum on whether to become an independent country.
“It’s leading to an exciting and important debate from all political perspectives on the sort of country Scotland aspires to become.
“But 2014 will be a year like no other for Scotland as we prepare to host a range of events across the country that’s why Lonely Planet has named Scotland as one of the three top countries in the world to visit next year.”
In his message, which was filmed in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park and in the city’s Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome both venues for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games the First Minister said: “We are welcoming the world with our Year of Homecoming with more than 400 events taking place across the country and we’re hosting two of the greatest sporting events on the planet.”