Priority for mental health help’
Scots urged to share view from home in campaign
People are being urged to share images online of the view from their window as part of a campaign to create a virtual vision of Scotland during lockdown.
Tourism organisation Visitscotland hopes the #Awindowonscotland initiative will help spread some cheer and remind people of the sights waiting for them to discover once the restrictions end.
Twitter users who want to participate are asked to take a picture of a view from their property and post it on social media using the hashtag #Awindowonscotland and their location, such as #Stirling, #Aberdeen or #Glasgow.
Visitscotland said the tourism industry is facing its toughest challenge at the moment, with national and international travel restrictions in place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The new campaign will carry a clear “stay at home” message but aims to allow people to show their part of Scotland to the world.
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive of Visitscotland, said: “At the moment it is important we stay at home, but while we can’t get out, we saw an opportunity to create something that will remind people of what Scotland has to offer when this is over.
“When people are apart and feeling isolated, it is more important than ever to bring them together in an act of solidarity to show the warm, welcoming and friendly spirit of Scotland’s people. “#Awindowonscotland will spread the love of our home towns, villages and cities from across Scotland to our friends, neighbours and visitors and expand the window for the world during this challenging time.
“We hope this campaign will also offer tourism businesses an outlet to showcase their own views of Scotland and inspire visitors to see them for themselves when they can in the future.”
Visitscotland said it is closely monitoring the situation as it develops to ensure it is in the best position to work with the Scottish Government and other key partners to manage what is happening as effectively as possible.
Earlier this month Visitscotland released a film asking would-be visitors to Scotland to dream about visiting but not to travel until later.
Created by the national tourism organisation’s marketing team, working from their own homes, to remind visitors what Scotland has to offer, the short film included footage of Skara Brae in Orkney, Loch Ken in Dumfries and Galloway, Airlie Monument in Angus, and Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire.