Sail Scotland

Virtualreality ‘bucket list’ videos get international launch, inspiring boating visitsto Scotland

Sail Scotland has unveiled a series of 360 degree virtual reality videos to encourage visitors to discover Scotland by boat.

The marketing body for Scottish marine tourism launched the videos on Saturday 18th January, giving the 250,000 visitors to the Dusseldorf Boat Show the opportunity for an immersive, on the water experience of some of Scotland’s extraordinary islands, coastal destinations and canals. The boat show is an international industry highlight, providing a high-profile platform for the launch of the innovative videos.

Visitors are invited to explore eight inspiring must-visitlocations through the 360 degree videos. These each give a taste of Scotland’sunique coastlines and islands, culture, heritage and wildlife. The virtualreality (VR) series spearheads Sail Scotland’s #MustSeaScotland campaign,created in partnership with the National Trust for Scotland, Diageo and CalMac,and supported by VisitScotland.

A virtual visitor might find themselves on approach to StKilda, as the islands tower out of the storm-tossed waters of the AtlanticOcean. They will discover the stories of the ancient landscape and the resilientpeople who made a home here, and marvel at the hundreds of thousands ofseabirds clamouring high above on sea stacks and cliffs.

Another virtual journey reveals the Isle of Islay, a gatewayto the Western Isles cruising grounds. Visitors can take in the sweeping baysand spectacular views, before glimpsing behind the scenes at one of Islay’srenowned whisky distilleries and joining sea kayakers to explore the dramaticcoastline.

Mingulay, Canna, Oban, Skye and Inverness, the Moray Firth andHighland canals also all feature in the series of high tech videos. In additionto inspiring sailors to Scotland’s waters, the videos are designed to encourageother visitors to explore by boat, as well as to discover Scotland’s coastaltowns and attractions. In the virtual visit to Staffa, holidaymakers stepaboard a trip boat to explore the island’s surreal volcanic rock columns and themagic of Fingal’s Cave, while the virtual voyage to Islay is aboard a CalMacferry. Video visitors to the picturesque seaside town of Oban discoverhighlights including Oban Distillery, McCaig’s Tower and Dunstaffnage Castle.

Each 360 degree video also has an accompanying ‘behind thescenes’ video. These reveal a fascinating glimpse into the making of the virtualreality videos, which were created for Sail Scotland by Airborne Lens using thelatest film techniques and state-of-the-art camera technologies.

Sail Scotland works year-round to encourage visitors to theunique destinations and experiences Scotland offers. The #MustSeaScotlanddigital campaign aims to generate £1m for Scotland’s economy through visits byboat. The videos can be viewed on mobile phones and on computers, as well asthrough VR headsets, making them easily accessible. Once video users’ attentionis caught by their virtual reality experience, they can link to opportunitiesto find out more, plan their visit and make bookings.

The #MustSeaScotland campaign supports the National MarineTourism Strategy and Tourism Scotland 2020 and offers a fitting introduction toScotland’s Year of Coasts and Waters 2020. This themed year is designed toinspire visitors and locals to explore and experience our unique shores.

Alan Rankin, Chief Executive of Sail Scotland, said: “Havingvisited many of the stunning locations featured in the videos, I believe the360 VR format is the next best thing to getting out there. The videos have atrue ‘wow’ factor and I would encourage everyone to experience them forthemselves.

 “Sail Scotland workshard with our members and partners to promote our wonderful sailing and boatingwaters, and to encourage visitors to our extraordinary coastal landscapes.Being at the largest consumer show of its kind in Europe with such innovativematerial is a great start to the year.”

Gavin McDonagh, Chair of Sail Scotland, added: “We’redelighted to showcase our multi-media #MustSeaScotland campaign and state-of-the-artvirtual reality videos at Europe’s biggest customer-facing boat show. This isalso a great example of how Sail Scotland promotes Scotland and the marinetourism industry.”

David Adams McGilp, VisitScotland Regional LeadershipDirector, said: “The VisitScotland Growth Fund award is about encouragingcollaboration within Scotland’s tourism industry to develop innovativemarketing campaigns which will grow the visitor economy. It’s therefore greatto see this campaign, which is led by Sail Scotland, partnered with NationalTrust for Scotland, Diageo and CalMac, launch these immersive films. They givea superb virtual taste of some of the country’s best coastal locations and willhopefully encourage visitors to come to Scotland to experience our coasts andwaters for real.”

The #MustSeaScotland virtual reality video series, including behind the scenes videos, can be viewed online on Sail Scotland’s YouTube channel, at www.youtube.com/user/sailscotland.

Sail Scotland

• Follow us on twitter: @sailscotland
• Sail Scotland Ltd is the Scottish marine industry’stourism marketing organisation. It is a membership based organisation, withmembers ranging from small holiday companies to large multi-national marinas.
• Sail Scotland works together with marine tourismbusinesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industrycontinues to grow.
• For information on sailing and boating holidaysin Scotland go to www.sailscotland.co.uk
• For information on other leisure and businesstrips to Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com

Year of Coasts and Waters 2020

• Scotland’s Coasts and Waters will be showcasedthroughout 2020 and celebrated with a programme of activity designed to supportthe nation’s tourism and events sectors. 
• The year, led by VisitScotland, will sustain andbuild upon the momentum of Scotland’s preceding Themed Years to spotlight,celebrate and promote opportunities to experience and enjoy Scotland’sunrivalled Coasts and Waters, encouraging responsible engagement andparticipation from the people of Scotland and our visitors. 
• A year-long programme of events, activities andideas will shine a spotlight on the impact our waters have had on Scotland,from the formation of beautiful natural features to the creation of ournational drink – whisky. 
• Join the conversation using #YCW2020
• See www.visitscotland.org/news/2020/welcome-to-ycw2020for further information.