\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Hundreds of sea creatures rescued from ghost fishing gear in the Clyde<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n However, he cautioned that Scotland may not be ready to take advantage of these trends, because of many areas having patchy transport and hotel infrastructure, and a lack of facilities such as high-end dining.\n<\/p>\n \n Greenwood\u2019s predictions come after a year that has seen a limited spend by domestic holidaymakers offset by a booming international visitor market.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cOn paper, 2025 looked robust,\u201d he said.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cInternational visitor spending continued to grow, North American tourists continued their love affair with Scotland, and \u2018set-jetting\u2019 fuelled by yet another round of streaming hits, from the most recent Guillermo del Toro\u2019s Frankenstein to established classics such as Diana Gabaldon\u2019s Outlander.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cBut just under the surface, the domestic reality was more evident.\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cCost of living has been an ever-present factor in visitor sentiment.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWhile it perhaps reflected domestic consumers\u2019 view of thrift and choice with a foreign holiday, the latter half of 2025 has morphed it into a growing budget constraint for many British families.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cWhile the Americans were buying cashmere in Edinburgh<\/a>, locals were more selective on weekend breaks.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n He said the squeeze on domestic visitors \u2013 particularly families and younger travellers \u2013 is likely to continue next year, with many expected to replace longer holidays with short, high-intensity local breaks.\n<\/p>\n \n He said: \u201cThese \u2018micro-speriences\u2019 are often mid-week, hyper-local (within a two-hour drive), and focus on a single, high-value activity: a specialist food tour, a bespoke hiking guide, or a two-night glamping stay with a unique offering like stargazing or foraging.\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cThe goal is maximum emotional return for minimum time and cost.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n READ MORE:<\/strong> New papers reveal plans for Scottish independence referendum in 2011<\/strong><\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n He also said Scotland stands to benefit from a surge in visitors looking to reconnect with the land through high-end stays on working farms, where they can experience things such as field-to-plate dining and regenerative agriculture tours.\n<\/p>\n \n He described the so-called \u201cfarmcore\u201d trend as a lifeline for Scotland\u2019s rural economy, as it monetises the landscape without requiring new builds, and keeps high-margin revenue in local areas.\n<\/p>\n \n At the same time he predicted a growth in professionals in their 40s and 50s seeking a \u201cmicro-retirement\u201d by taking month-long trips where they work part-time or disconnect entirely.\n<\/p>\n \n Unlike the \u201cmicro-sperience\u201d market, these slow travellers \u201cstay in one place for weeks, and they spend significantly more in the local supply chain than the \u2018tick-box\u2019 tourist\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n However, he said holiday businesses risk missing out on this trend if they do not offer amenities such as high-speed wifi and extended stay rates.\n<\/p>\n \n Greenwood said these trends take place as tourism businesses continue to have to adapt to a changing operating landscape in Scotland.\n<\/p>\n \n The short-term let licensing scheme became an administrative reality for many self-caterers in 2025.\n<\/p>\n \n Next year will also see the first visitor levies coming into effect, beginning with Edinburgh in July, which will see visitors pay an additional charge for overnight accommodation.\n<\/p>\n \n Greenwood said Scotland\u2019s brand is \u201crespected and renowned\u201d, and there is no question it will remain a popular choice for holidaymakers.\n<\/p>\n \n This is not least, he said, because of international events including the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Glasgow<\/a>.\n<\/p>\nFairy Pools, Skye (Image: Getty)\n<\/p>\n