15th September 2020: Another ‘must read’ from former colleague, and international Tourism guru, Tom Buncle as he draws some big conclusions around the state of international travel and tourism as much of the world stands on the edge of a second wave, or at least a major new spike in the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In Tom’s own words: ‘The COVID-19 pandemic is being tipped to precipitate worldwide economic and social change as momentous as the invention of the printing press, the industrial revolution, the end of two World Wars, and the internet. A ‘new normal’ is about to be unleashed’.

COVID-19 Impacts: Supporting the arts sector’s recovery from COVID 19

15th September 2020: Last month we undertook a survey of the Scottish population on behalf of Creative Scotland to find out how the population has engaged with arts and cultural activities during the COVID 19 crisis and how they are feeling about returning to arts events and venues as the sector reopens. Click on the button below to download the summary and the full report from Creative Scotland’s website

COVID-19 Impacts - How have Scots been spending their recreation time outdoors during the Coronavirus lockdown?

Thursday 30th July - Scottish Natural Heritage have just released the results from a survey we undertook for them earlier in the summer - to support their Make Space for Nature campaign. Click on the link below to discover the extent to which Scots used the additional time they had available to spend more time outdoors, exploring their local area as part of their daily exercise routine or to enjoy increased time in their garden

Over half of Scots are planning a home holiday in 2020 - though there are concerns in rural communities about visitor arrivals

15th July 2020:  As the Scottish tourism industry re-opens for business on 15th July, we are releasing the latest results from the July wave of the Scottish Tourism Index. Find out how Scots are feeling about air bridges, crowded English beaches, physical distancing in tourism facilities and visitors arriving in their communities. And we share the potential scale of the home holiday market this year - where Scots will visit and when and where they will stay. Click below to find out more!

COVID-19 Impacts - The desire for home holidays amongst Scots strengthens as difficulties of overseas travel increase

10th June 2020:  Click below to access the results from the second wave of our Scottish Tourism Index - monitoring the views of the Scots population on holidays and tourism during the COVID-19 lockdown. Four weeks after our initial survey, we see interest in home holidays strengthening as trips elsewhere in the UK or further afield diminish in popularity. We also look at how Scots feel about the 14-day quarantine rules and how this may help domestic tourism as well as focusing on transport considerations. And there is evidence to suggest a need for tourism businesses to demonstrate clear adherence to health and hygiene standards when the industry opens up.

COVID-19 Impacts - Engaging with the outdoors during and beyond lockdown

4th June 2020: We recently partnered with Outdoor Recreation Northern Ireland on a survey of the NI population. The survey found
that during lockdown many people increased the amount of time they spent outdoors with health and wellbeing benefits. To find out more, click on the link below.

COVID-19 Impacts - How do Scots families feel about holidays during COVID-19 compared to Empty Nesters?

27th May 2020: We have completed some additional analysis of the early May Scottish Tourism Index to better understand how feelings vary across the population.  To find out more, click below to download this ‘add-on report’.

COVID-19 Impacts - What do Scots think about holidays during this pandemic?

15th May 2020:  Click below to access the first results from our new monthly monitor of Scottish opinion about holidays and leisure as we enter the eights week of COVID-19 induced lockdown. 

COVID-19 Impacts - Navigating the Lockdown Labyrinth

12th May 2020: There’s going to be a lot of ink spilled this week as Boris Johnson unveils more details of his plan for how we exit lockdown, there’s still a lot of unanswered questions and unknown implications.  When is the safest time to unlock? How much can be changed without risking a second peak? Are we easing restrictions too fast? Or are we going too slow? 

In this guest article, experienced Data Analyst and Statistician, Russell Bradshaw leads us through the complexities of the statistical analysis being played out each day on our televisions as decisions are made on when it might be safe to ease certain elements of COVID-19 lockdown

COVID-19 Impacts - Opportunities for a Green Recovery?

8th May 2020: During lockdown the reduction in traffic on our roads and fewer planes overhead mean that the air seems cleaner and the sounds of nature are more noticeable. Social distancing has made some of us feel more connected to our local communities as neighbours make an effort to check in on each other and we do what we can to support local businesses.  Yet whilst these changes feel like ‘silver linings’, to what extent are they just a blip or is there potential to tackle the climate crisis as we take steps to recover from COVID?

Tourism after COVID-19: Dodo or Phoenix?

22nd April 2020: Another ‘must read’.  Former colleague, and international Tourism guru, Tom Buncle updates his thoughts on the impact of COVID-19 on global travel and tourism some 5 weeks after his initial blog.  After this virus is over, will tourism die a death like the dodo? Or will it be reborn like a phoenix in a form we can’t even contemplate at the moment? Click on the button below to visit the blog on Tom’s Yellow Railroad website.

COVID-19 impacts: Accessing greenspace - not equal for all

6th April 2020: The message remains clear - to reduce the spread of COVID-19, we must minimise social contact on our limited excursions outdoors.  But this is challenging for those without ready access to gardens and private outdoor space. Click below to read our analysis which shows that 12% of the English population do not have such access.

COVID-19 impacts: visualising changes in UK travel behaviour

2nd April 2020: An illustration of how the anonymous data generated by mobile phone movements can be used to provide new insights on how people travel - here we focus on the days just prior to COVID-19 lockdown in the UK.  Click below to see this analysis.

COVID-19 impacts: It’s a Pandemic, not a bank Holiday!

23rd March 2020: As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, authorities are taking steps to reduce the speed of infection including strong recommendations on social distancing. This of course means that we all must make significant changes in how we work and live, but how do we balance this against the known mental and physical health benefits of spending time outdoors? Click below to read our thoughts.

COVID-19 impacts: Where next for Scottish football?

14th March 2020: On Friday 13th March, the Scottish football authorities took the inevitable decision to suspend the 2019-20 football season until further notice as a result of the horrific spread of COVI-19 across the globe.  Longer term, what might this mean for Scottish football?  Click on the link below to read our initial thoughts. 

Coronavirus: The Canary in the Coal Mine of the World Economy?

9th March 2020: This is a ‘must read’.  Not our point of view this time - but that of an esteemed former colleague, and one of the foremost experts in global tourism marketing, Tom Buncle.  He has provided his perspective on the potential impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on global travel and tourism.  It’s extremely thought provoking and well worth a read.  Click on the button below to visit the blog on Tom’s Yellow Railroad website.