Councillor Brian Goodall, chair of Fife Council's housing and communities committee said: "We want to encourage all Fifers, wherever they may be to think now about this initiative and come home to visit Fife.

"There is so much to see and do in Fife and when you add to this the many special events and festivals we are planning for 2009 there will never be a better time to visit 'The Kingdom'.

"Fife Council has also just expanded our genealogy service to meet the growing demand from people wanting to trace their family trees – what better excuse could there be for people wanting to return to their roots than this."

Linda Temple, Fife's events strategy co-ordinator, said "Event organisers in Fife are starting to buzz with excitement at the thought of being part of this world-wide promotion of Scotland and we are confident that the diverse range of events and festivals being planned in Fife for next year won't fail to encourage people to come home as well as draw in people from across Scotland and, indeed, further afield.

"We are contacting all event organisers in Fife to start to pull together details of their events which fit into the Homecoming themes and it's these events which will raise Fife's profile on the national stage."

Ms Temple cited StAnza – the only festival devoted to poetry with a chance to hear world class poets such as Carol Ann Duffy and Peter Porter in exciting, atmospheric venues throughout St Andrews.

Other events in the early planning stages include a quirky music event in Anstruther with a Burns connection, The Carnegie Festival in Dunfermline, events in Culross, major motorsports events at Knockhill Racing Circuit, the historic re-enactment group Medieval Methil, Burntisland Heritage Trust, Fife's Museums Forum and a host of others are all looking to deliver something special".

First Minister Alex Salmond last week called for all Scots to invite Scotland's international friends and family to join the year of Homecoming 2009 and unveiled the nationwide programme for 2009 of over 100 new and enhanced events, designed to celebrate Scotland's first ever year of Homecoming.

Inspired by the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland's national bard, Robert Burns, Homecoming 2009 will be a celebration of the great contributions Scotland has made to the world.

It's also a chance for Scots around the world to reconnect and engage with their heritage. In the lead up to January 2009 this nationwide event programme will expand and develop as event organisers add their events to the calendar.

The programme of events is based around five main themes - the Bard himself, whisky, golf, great Scottish minds and innovations and Scotland's culture and heritage.