NEIL ROBERTSON
TRAVELS WITH A KILT
Neil has carved out a successful business promoting Scottish tourism and his Instagram account has 23,000 followers. Visits to his Twitter account are up 7% since lockdown began. “I have definitely seen an increase in followers, although perhaps not as many as I usually would at this time of year, particularly with foreign tourism on hold. But there are certainly more Scots exploring Scotland, on day trips, long weekends and shorter staycations.
“There is a positive vibe to be found in Scotland. There’s a lot to see and do, which international tourists pick up on but which we can be ignorant of when we live here day in and day out. We miss all the nooks and crannies.
“There’s no doubt people are enchanted by Scotland and that’s because it has so much to offer, from the history and the whisky to stunning scenery, coastlines and beaches. There are very few places in the world that can compete. “Holidaymakers just have to look past the weather. There is no guarantee of sun, even in the height of summer.
“Given this pandemic, there may be an increase in people saying holidays aren’t about sitting in the sun, it’s more about having experiences you will never forget, like climbing a hill or wild swimming in freezing cold water. Whatever you are looking for, Scotland will have something that delivers. It’s nice that people are appreciating Scotland more, and hopefully this is a sign of things to come.
“I think in the years to come we will see quite a few Scots hanging around for their holidays, maybe not necessarily for their big holiday but for smaller ones.
“The industry as a whole has taken a gigantic knock, but hopefully this spell of Scots holidaying at home can ride it through the storm.”