Traveling after the pandemic will be one of the main plans for most people—the freedom to get out and be free from strict restrictions and have fun again. Scotland is preparing for them.
Scotland is one popular tourist destination in the UK. The country enjoys a vast range of scenic views, from beautiful countryside and gardens to refreshing beaches. All these, combined with other historical features like ancient castles, museums, and art galleries, have included the country on the destination lists of many tourists in the world.
The country enjoys a wide range of cultures and histories. When mixed with modernization, it’s unrivaled. Golf and breathtaking golf courses, whiskey, Scottish food, and a rich history knitted in the Scottish tales have made the country a tourist haven.
A tourist hub
While it’s true that Scotland is a tourist hub and you can get a good taste of the country at any point, getting tour guides will make the experience better. Several private tour guides such as Private Chauffeur Scotland and many others who have excellent knowledge of their country will help you embark on memorable tours.
The diversity of Scotland allows tourists looking for several different vacation themes to enjoy it all in one place. Those looking for an action-themed vacation can explore beautiful beaches or hike ice-peaked mountains. Those who want a relaxing theme can visit the fantastic golf courses. For tourists seeking to learn the rich culture can take varied museum tours. Sampling a variety of Scottish whiskeys is a trip on its own.
Here are some of the six top tourist attraction sites in Scotland:
• Edinburgh Castle
The Edinburgh Castle is a show of Scotland's history. The fantastic rock castle with an excellent architectural design makes it tower over its surroundings. This makes it a top tourist site. The castle is a sign of Scottish military strategy and might.
• Loch Lomond
This lake sits a few kilometers out of Glasgow. It’s a great tourist attraction because of its row boating activities and hilly surroundings. The lake is a favorite among nature lovers as it allows them to hike, row, or enjoy the sight of red deer and other animals.
• The Isle Of Skye
The Isle of Skye is known to be a favorite for bird lovers. The forested island with sandy beaches and waterfalls is home to many wildlife species. It’s connected to the Scottish mainland through a bridge. However, travelers have an option to use a ferry to get to the picturesque island.
• Kelvingrove Arts Gallery And Museum
For art lovers and those seeking to dive into rich Scottish history, this should be your first stop. The museum contains some of the artworks by prominent artists in the region, jewelry, and many stone-age tools. The architectural design of the museum is also artistic and a top tourist stop.
• Loch Ness
This is a famous lake in Scotland and the larger UK. One major reason is because of the legend of a beast in the lake. However, the beautiful and historic Urquhart Castle and the green village of Drumnadrochit have made this region a favorite for most people visiting Scotland.
• Ben Davies Mountain
The Ben Davies mountain is a top tourist destination for those looking for an action-themed vacation. The rocky mountain allows for ascends for beginners to pro climbers, attracting many climbers yearly. Its height also provides a great view of the areas below it.
Setback in tourism
However, one significant setback to the Scottish tourism industry was the coronavirus pandemic. This period saw travel restrictions put into place and a ban on public gatherings. For this, a country that gets over a million visitors yearly was hit hard by the new rules. It subsequently affected its economy, considering the role played by tourism in the county’s economy.
Getting ready for 2022
In a move to get the tourism sector back on its track, the government and stakeholders are working together to set up a plan that will ensure the continued support of the sector.
Here are some of the steps taken to ensure success:
1. Government funding businesses
Most tourism businesses were hit hard by the pandemic, as revenues and income for people depending on the sector decrease. With a plan to get back on track, the government has funded local businesses and helped them relaunch their business. This will help the whole country prepare for tourists in 2022 when things hopefully get back to normal. By avoiding the slow start, the country has proven to be ready to receive tourists again.
2. Setting up a recovery plan
Together with other stakeholders, the government has set up a recovery plan to get the industry back on its feet. Strategies such as marketing, organizing festivals, and preparing events will help sell Scotland's tourism sector worldwide and get as many people as possible visiting the country once again.
3. Offering education and business development plans
The country’s national tourism board called VisitScotland has set up a program to provide information about new opportunities, how best to engage prospective clients, and how to recover customers lost during the pandemic. This educational program has insights on maneuvering businesses within the pandemic and how to build from its impact. The program will also help companies reach international markets and get more clients.
4. Coordinating the implementation of protocols
For the tourism industry to make a comeback, the correct protocols must be set up to adhere to safety measures set in response to the virus. This ensures that the visitors will be safe once they get to visit Scotland. Once the protocols are observed and put in place, the sector will be ready to reopen safely and eliminate another closure risk.
5. Conducting economic analysis
Through its different departments, the government conducts an economic analysis on the most affected areas, the areas to give prioritization, and what new sectors to venture into. This will help the tourism sector prepare for a relaunch and be ready to receive many visitors once normality resumes.
6. Researching on the global tourism sector
By conducting research on the global tourism sector, Scotland has placed itself in a proper position to reopen and boost its tourism. This will help them have enough data on bookings and schedules and determine the best time to reopen its sector for international tourists. The country will also manage to know about how other countries are preparing for post-pandemic recovery.
7. Part reopening
There have been cases of local tourism businesses and other tourist sectors reopening, which is good news. This will mean that by 2022, the sector would have found its feet again, and it will be ready for a significant number of tourists. There’s hope that many businesses will be receiving visitors and lay a foundation for a bigger number with time.
8. Developing a digital marketplace
The main aim of a digital marketplace is to ensure that businesses are connected to clients and other international tour operators. This will help them to keep track and interact with clients. It’s also to provide updates on their new developments.
The digital marketplace will enable even small businesses to connect with many buyers and schedule appoints. It will also help reduce gatherings in response to pandemic regulations.
9. Setting up promotional activities
To recover lost time, the government and other stakeholders are working to develop new content for businesses. The content aims to create significant buyer traffic and keep them updated on the tourism sector's situation. Methods such as reminding them of their past experiences about Scotland and what new things to expect will increase their desire to visit Scotland.
10. Increased partnership
There has been an increased partnership between the government and other tourism sector players to help bring back the industry's glory days. This partnership will involve funding, education, and marketing to ensure that Scottish tourism is sold globally to bring in more visitors. This is part of a recovery plan which will also see small businesses benefit from the program.
11. Hiring new staff
As the country’s tourism sector is preparing to make a comeback, most hotels and businesses are hiring new staff. This is in preparation for the forecast that there will be more visitors coming in during the springtime. In general, as it is believed that the coming years will have many tourists, this move will greatly help the business sector deal with many tourists.
12. Scaling the budget requirements
Scotland readied itself for a potential tourist boom by scaling a long-term budget to help businesses get back on track. Instead of focusing on the short term, it has its eye on the sector's long-term stability in a way that will also provide an economic shield to small businesses.
Visiting Scotland again
With a well-laid out strategy to get the industry back, 2022 might be a good year for the tourism sector. Once tourists worldwide are assured of good services, they’ll go back to touring all the beautiful places in the country.
Traveling after the pandemic will be one of the main plans for most people—the freedom to get out and be free from strict restrictions and have fun again. Scotland is preparing for them. With all the diversity the country has to offer, they should expect more and more people. But as they come, Scotland will be ready.
