The future's bright, the future's Scotland

This year marks our 50th anniversary and in celebration we've taken a tongue-in-cheek look forward into 2069 and unveiled what visitors might be enjoying on their trips to Scotland. 

Tourism Futures 2069, authored by our Insights department explains rural areas could be protected from over development but benefit from better transport and digital connectivity and a vibrant country environment evolves for artisans, creatives, farmers and distillers.

Hotels might introduce robot butlers as an enhanced extra and in-room fitness bikes mean guests can exercise while boosting the building’s sustainable energy stores, possibly earning themselves restaurant vouchers as they build-up miles and watts.

A potential launch of Boeing’s Hypersonic airliners in the 2040s could lead to flights from New York to Scotland taking just two hours. But the ability to fly five times the speed of sound may not appeal to all and those looking for a slower pace could enjoy the revival of huge airships decked out with mod-cons by 2069 for a super-comfortable trip around the globe.

The dirigible balloons might have to compete for airspace with flying taxis and rockets taking visitors on low orbit earth experiences through the Northern Lights from space ports at Prestwick in Ayrshire, Leuchars in Fife and Lossiemouth in Moray.

When it comes to food and drink, the study shows that Scotland’s larder should still be providing the world with delectable fare but with the population potentially including processed insect protein in their diets, midge haggis could be a highly desirable delicacy to visitors.

The Development of Tourism Act came into force in 1969 and an official Scottish Tourist Board was established with government funding. Since them the tourism industry has gone from strength to strength and shows little sign of stopping with the next 50 years yielding a wealth of tourism possibilities.