Sustainable tourism in Scotland

Claudia Rowse, Rural Development Manager, Scottish Natural Heritage

Landscape, wildlife and outdoor activities are consistently given as the top reasons for attracting visitors to Scotland and for encouraging those living in Scotland to holiday in their own country.   With tourism worth approximately £4 billion annually, half of which is generated in rural areas, it is particularly important for the rural economy.  It is also a significant source of employment for rural communities

There are a number of ways that the work of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) supports sustainable tourism.  As the Government’s statutory adviser on the natural heritage, we ensure that Scotland has an attractive, high quality environment for all to enjoy.  We help visitors enjoy the natural heritage by providing information about what to see and where to see it, we advise the industry on the status and trends of the natural heritage and we provide grants for the development of sustainable tourism.  

Scotland’s natural heritage can play a significant role in addressing some of the challenges of sustainable tourism.  As a product that is available all year round, throughout the country, it can contribute to extending the visitor season as well as to lengthening the stay of individual visits.

This presentation will review the challenges facing sustainable tourism and present case studies on sustainable tourism projects.  In particular, it will look at how a high quality environment can contribute to sustainable economic growth, particularly in rural areas.