But the world doesn't end at Fort William, Inverness or Aberdeen. Many tourists have on going connections to other destinations, be it by car, bus, train or tour coach! To them and others joining whatever mode of transport it is - the journey is very time dependant.
ScotRail can't hold a train in Inverness for a few minutes when the sleeper is late, other companies are the same. The X99 from Scrabster To Inverness will only wait so long for the ferry to appear. The Jacobite steam train from Fort William doesn't wait - they all work on a time dependant schedule and expect the passenger to be there for departure.
Tour operators, car hire firms, onward rail transport - simply will not wait.
So, conversely - many tourist journeys are time dependant, some aren't!