THE future of Scottish tourism has been mapped out in a new VisitScotland report as the organisation marks it 50th anniversary.
Tourism Futures 2069 takes a tongue-in-cheek look forward into 2069 and unveiled what visitors might be enjoying on their trips to Scotland.
Authored by VisitScotland’s insights department, the report suggests hotels might introduce robot butlers and be fitted with in-room fitness bikes, allowing guests to exercise while boosting the building’s sustainable energy stores.
A potential launch of Boeing’s Hypersonic airliners in the 2040s could lead to flights from New York to Scotland taking just two hours.
When it comes to food and drink, the study, which was published as Scottish Tourism Month kicks off, shows that Scotland should still be providing the world with delectable fare, but with the population potentially including processed insect protein in their diets. Midge haggis, it is suggested, could be a highly desirable delicacy for foreign visitors.
VisitScotland’s latest campaign could be marking the 55th anniversary of Outlander – the hit TV show which aired for the first time in 2014. Villages like Culross in Fife might be populated with 7D holographic characters from the show and allow fans to immerse themselves in an episode from the TV classic.
The report explains that rural areas could be protected from over development and benefit from better transport and digital connectivity. It predicts they could become vibrant communities that accommodate artisans, farmers and distillers.
Chris Greenwood, VisitScotland senior tourism insight manager and author of the paper, said: “Scottish tourism has been a huge success story both economically and socially over the last 50 years and the aim of this research paper is to look at a potential future of tourism by examining the mega-trends which may have influenced society by 2069.
“Developing a strategic foresight can help organisations embrace opportunities, challenge barriers and make sure we look to the future – which we can’t predict for certain but we can test our assumptions now to make better decisions for tomorrow.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel