Date :
25/03/2015
Experiences connecting visitors with their pasts are growing in popularity around the world. And, with many travellers to Scotland passionate about their links with locally-born ancestors, now could be the perfect time to find out more about tapping into the growing demand with this upcoming ancestral tourism event.
Ancestral tourism
With technology and social media making it easier for people to learn more about their family trees, there’s a growing market for ancestral tourism and activities which can help visitors connect with their pasts.
Scotland’s rich history gives it a place in the hearts of thousands of travellers every year, many of whom visit because of personal connections or family tales of Scots-born ancestors.
As a result, the demand for activities based around ancestral tourism is on the rise and there are fantastic opportunities for Scottish businesses of all types to help visitors learn more about their family history, create experiences that will never be forgotten and develop a strong and lasting bond with the area.
Learning about our past
When it comes to developing your ancestral tourism offering, it can be difficult to know where to start. That’s why the Engage with Strathclyde programme is holding its specialist event - Ancestral Tourism in Scotland: Learning More About Our Past.
Being held on Wednesday 6 May in Glasgow, this free event explores the delivery of family history, genealogy and heritage in Scotland, to both national and international tourists.
With insights from a range of speakers involved in the delivery of heritage tourism projects, this is a fantastic opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from those at the forefront of the sector and pick up hints and tips on how your business could get involved.
In the afternoon there will be a workshop on ‘Digitising the Ancestral Visit’ which will explore how digital solutions might generate, facilitate and improve experiences for ancestral tourists and further develop this important tourism market for Scotland.
There will also be an opportunity to learn from experienced professionals in the ‘Ask the Experts’ session and network with providers and business owners from right across the tourism sector.
Venue and registration
Ancestral Tourism in Scotland will take place at the Technology and Innovation Centre in the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. Registration is open from 9.45am – 10.30am and the morning session will run from 10.30am – 1pm.
Lunch will then be provided before the afternoon workshops start at 2pm. Attendees must choose between the ‘Digitising the Ancestral Visit’ or ‘Ask and Expert’ sessions.
The event is part of Engage with Strathclyde – a week of events promoting the University of Strathclyde’s external partnerships that enhance research and teaching.
Don’t miss out on this great chance to learn more about the exciting opportunities in ancestral tourism – register today to book your place.
Additional resources
Ancestral Tourism in Scotland – download our free guide
Access the handy Ancestral Tourism Toolkit to learn more about marketing your business to the ancestral tourism visitor.
Review Ancestral tourism research reports
Read VisitScotland’s brand new Ancestral ebook for guidance on helping your visitors walk in the footsteps of their ancestors.