A new television advert promoting Homecoming Scotland 2009 was launched yesterday featuring a host of Scottish celebrities, including Sir Sean Connery, Lulu, Chris Hoy and Sandi Thom.

The advert, which will be broadcast around Scotland until December 5, shows a mix of stars of song, sport, and screen each singing a line from Dougie MacLean's famous anthem, Caledonia, to encourage Scots to take part in more than 200 Homecoming celebration events next year.

Golfer Sam Torrance, actor Brian Cox, singers Eddi Reader and Amy MacDonald, and Scottish rugby players Kelly Brown and Thom Evans also took part in the TV campaign. Locations from around Scotland, including Speyside, Orkney, Dumfries and Glencoe feature in the advert, which was created by VisitScotland and EventScotland. As well as being shown on Scottish screens, the advert will be placed on several websites, including YouTube, to encourage a worldwide audience to visit Scotland in 2009.

The Homecoming Scotland events mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of national poet Robert Burns.

First Minister Alex Salmond, who launched the advert, said: "Caledonia is a song that resonates with Scots the world over. For those far away it is a reminder of strong bonds, full of the promise of return. That is what makes it the perfect anthem for our Year of Homecoming."

Singer Sandi Thom said: "Scotland is a small country with a big heart. It's also a very proud, gracious, homely nation. Everyone from my experience that has visited Scotland has said they felt welcomed. Singing for this advert has been amazing, and being part of Homecoming has awakened me in terms of who I am and where I've come from."

Helen Campbell, group marketing manager for VisitScotland, said: "I think it's important to ensure that the Scottish people are behind the Homecoming campaign.

"The sentiment of Homecoming and the emotion of the advert will also appeal to a wider audience. It is essentially about coming back to your roots and taking pride in them, so choosing the song Caledonia was an easy decision. I think this helps root Scotland in the minds of people as a destination to visit next year."