School pupils across the North-east are being challenged to imagine what tourism could look like in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in 2036 as part of a special creative competition marking 10 years of VisitAberdeenshire.
Launching this week to coincide with the new school term, the initiative invites primary and secondary school pupils to explore the future of one of the region’s priority growth sectors through a series of age-appropriate projects focused on visitor experiences, future travel, destination marketing and sustainable tourism.
The competition has been designed to support Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence and Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) objectives, encouraging young people to develop creativity, communication, research and critical thinking skills while learning more about the visitor economy and its impact on local communities.
Pupils will be asked to think about how visitors might experience Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire a decade from now, considering everything from innovations in travel to new attractions, technologies and sustainable tourism solutions. A range of supporting resources and research links will be provided to help schools develop their ideas.
Three project options are available for each age category, giving schools flexibility to select challenges that best suit their pupils and curriculum plans.
Primary schools (P4-P7) and secondary schools (S1-S6) may submit up to two entries each, with schools encouraged to select their strongest submissions for judging. Entries can be completed by individuals, groups, classes or year groups.
Submissions will be assessed against four key criteria: creativity and originality, understanding of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, clarity of idea or message, and overall effort and presentation.
The competition will run from 19 August until 5pm on Friday 9 October 2026. Judging will take place between 12 and 23 October, with winners announced during the week commencing 26 October.
Winning and runner-up entries will receive certificates across all project categories, with a total of 12 awards available. Winning entries will also be showcased through VisitAberdeenshire communication channels and displayed at the North East Tourism Conference on 4 November 2026, providing pupils with an opportunity to share their vision for the future of the region with tourism and business leaders.
Chris Foy, CEO at VisitAberdeenshire said: “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, said: “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 wishing to participate should contact info@visitabdn.com to request a resources pack for the project.