Student has designs on Oban tourism
Project design student Tori Hamilton is looking for groups, businesses, organisations and members of the wider community to join her in a tourism journey into the future.
Now in her final year at the Glasgow School of Art, Hamilton is putting together her degree show project which takes a look at how the community can engage in order to stay relevant and attract new audiences.
After speaking to Breege Smyth, arts and culture coordinator at the Rockfield Centre, and Bid for Oban’s Andy Spence among many, Hamilton will be running a workshop on Saturday April 13 to start discussions and everyone is welcome.
‘My role as a designer is to use creative research, public involvement and engagement tools to illustrate the potential of Oban and how it can benefit the community,’ she explained. ‘Together we will challenge assumptions and identify characteristics of the millennial segment that are most likely to cause a significant disruption in the way the tourism sector is currently structured.
‘I am here to act as a mediator with no intent to make any significant changes in the community, purely to use my role to listen and reveal opportunities that might not have been shown or relevant before.’
Born in Glasgow, Hamilton was brought up around Oban and most of her family are from Connel and Fort William.
Bearing that in mind, she is keen to explore what she describes as a significant shift in the ‘mindset’ of travellers and embrace the changes to benefit both the destination and its community.
‘Locals are not a sideshow, but rather one of the major attractions of a destination,’ she continued.
‘Today, fewer and fewer want to be identified as tourists.
‘Instead, new generations of travellers seek out experiences that not only provide a photo opportunity, but also get their hands dirty and immerse them in the destination.
‘The travellers yearn for a sense of localhood, looking to enjoy the true, real and authentic experiences, which makes a destination stand out and unique.
‘The delivery of an authentic experience depends upon the support of the community and the liveability and appeal of Oban depends on our ability to ensure a harmonious interaction between visitors and locals.
‘Therefore my project is focused around engaging with as many locals as possible to ensure they are much as part of this process in my project as I am.’
Hamilton’s project will be showcased at the Glasgow School of Art show and also in London at the beginning of June this year.
For more information or to book a place on the workshop, which will be held at the Rockfield Centre on Saturday April 13, contact tori hamilton0411@gmail.com