A Geotourist digital audio trail, created in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland, has been named ‘One To Watch’ for their compelling platform concept that draws visitors away from global tourism hotspots and helps them experience ancient parts of Edinburgh in a new way.
Geotourist CEO Shaon Talukder, and Sales Director Mo Talukder, received the award at the Responsible Tourism Awards during World Travel Market London. Geotourist joins other global companies and organisations who have been placed responsibility and accountability at the heart of what they do.
Working with Historic Environment Scotland, Geotourist developed a digital audio tour in Holyrood Park with the aim of offering visitors a reason to disperse from the pressure point at Edinburgh Castle, at the top of the Royal Mile. Offering visitors and residents much more than a fabulous backdrop to a stunning city, Holyrood Park plays an integral part in both Scotland and Edinburgh’s history, but it is often overlooked. By creating a digital audio tour that is both free to download and listen to on the Geotourist app, visitors can use their own smartphones to undertake the tour at their own pace. Offering an alternative, highly immersive visitor experience close to the city centre, the tour aims to combat the negative environmental impact and the effects of overtourism on the local community. The trail takes people through Holyrood Park via immersive storytelling and explores its historical, geological and socio-economic role in a naturally socially distant way.
While the tour creates a reason for people to travel to a particular location, it is also providing critical data that enables organisations, in this case Historic Environment Scotland, to understand and track visitor flow. In the case of Edinburgh, this is key to managing the visitor hubs, which are considered by many in the industry as problematic. Analysis of data created by the tour offers the opportunity to more accurately manage visitors, while also meeting their expectations of their experience.
CEO and Geotourist founder, Shaon Talukder, who created the Geotourist concept said: “We are honoured and so very appreciative of this award. The Responsible Tourism Awards represent the pinnacle of how tourism could and should be and we are delighted to be recognised for our work with Historic Environment Scotland. Working on the project, especially during the months of lockdown, it reinforced the importance of protecting and preserving destinations for the people that live and work in them, but also maintain the visitor economy income that is so critical too. Knowing that the tour has generated actionable data that didn’t previously exist and that otherwise would remain uncaptured also reinforced the project’s aims and objectives. Recognition of our work with Historic Environment Scotland on this visitor dispersal project is wonderful as it shows just what is possible when immersive technology and heritage destinations come together.”
For more information on the Holyrood Park, go to Historic Environment Scotland.
