Schoolchildren across Aberdeenshire are being invited to envision the future of tourism in the region over the next decade through a new creative competition. The initiative coincides with the tenth anniversary of VisitAberdeenshire, the official destination marketing and management organisation for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, which was formed through the merger of Visit Aberdeen, Visit Royal Deeside, and Banffshire Coast Tourism Partnership.
Launched at the start of the academic term, the competition engages primary and secondary school pupils in exploring one of the North East’s priority growth sectors. Participants will tackle age-appropriate projects centred on visitor experiences, future travel, destination marketing, and sustainable tourism. The initiative is structured to align with Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) objectives.
The Curriculum for Excellence, Scotland’s national curriculum for children and young people aged 3 to 18, aims to cultivate successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens, and effective contributors. Similarly, the DYW strategy, introduced in 2014, is designed to better prepare young people aged 3-24 for the professional world by fostering stronger ties between businesses and education.
Through the competition, pupils are encouraged to develop creativity, communication, research, and critical thinking skills, simultaneously deepening their understanding of the visitor economy and its local community impact. They will consider potential innovations in travel, new attractions, emerging technologies, and sustainable tourism solutions that could define visitor experiences in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire ten years from now.
Supporting resources and research links will be provided to assist schools in developing their project ideas. Each age category, encompassing Primary 4 to Primary 7 and Secondary 1 to Secondary 6, offers three project options, providing flexibility for schools to select challenges best suited to their pupils and curriculum plans.
Schools may submit up to two entries, with individuals, groups, classes, or year groups eligible to participate. Submissions will be evaluated against four key criteria: creativity and originality, understanding of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, clarity of idea or message, and overall effort and presentation.
The competition concludes on Friday, October 9, 2026, at 5pm. Judging will occur between October 12 and October 23, 2026, with winners announced during the week commencing October 26, 2026.
A total of 12 awards will be presented, with winning and runner-up entries receiving certificates across all project categories. Furthermore, winning entries will be prominently showcased through VisitAberdeenshire’s communication channels and displayed at the North East Tourism Conference on November 4, 2026. This platform offers pupils a unique opportunity to share their visions directly with tourism and business leaders.
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VisitAberdeenshire celebrates 10 years of tourism leadership in the North-east of Scotland.
Chris Foy, CEO at VisitAberdeenshire, commented: “As VisitAberdeenshire marks a decade of tourism leadership, the competition provides a unique opportunity for young people to help shape the conversation about what the future of tourism in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire could look like.”
Jamie Hutcheon, Director of DYW North East, added: “At DYW North East, we are delighted to support this project, which is an example of how young people learn best through experience. By working with VisitAberdeenshire on a real challenge, participants will gain valuable skills, build confidence and develop a deeper understanding of the tourism sector. At DYW North East, we believe these kinds of employer-led experiences are vital in helping young people connect education with the world of work and discover future career opportunities in the north-east.”
Schools interested in participating should contact [email protected] to request a resources pack for the project.
