Archived Sustainable Tourism E-newsTEF E-News - Issue 11 - March 2006Welcome to the new issue of the Tourism and Environment Forum (TEF) E-Newsletter, full of information about green issues affecting Scotland's tourism industry. To receive our e-news every two months, tick the box at the bottom of the Contact Us form and tell us your email address. It's as simple as that! Sit back and let us keep you updated with green tourism news from across Scotland.
Communication is the Key to SuccessTEF want to enhance communication between public agencies, organisations and tourism businesses to the benefit of Scotland's natural tourism advantage, the environment. TEF – working together to sustain Scotland's natural assets |
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HUNT IS ON FOR SCOTLAND'S ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY BUSINESSES
The search is on for Scotland's leading environmentally-friendly businesses following the launch of the Vision in Business for the Environment of Scotland (VIBES) Awards 2006. The awards are open to any business and organisation across Scotland that brings benefits to its bottom line through improvements to environmental performance. Aiming to recognise and reward these achievements, VIBES is open to Scottish organisations of all sizes, whatever sector they are in. Now in their seventh year, the VIBES awards are managed by a partnership of organisations including Forward Scotland, the Scottish Executive, the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland and CBI Scotland, and are sponsored by Rolls Royce Inchinnan and Allied Distillers, both previous national winners. Forward Scotland chaired the 2005 awards and is delighted to resume the Chair's role for the 2006 awards. Obtain an application form by contacting Linsey McGillivray, VIBES Awards co-ordinator on 01896 754 797 or visiting the awards' website: |
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WORLD’S FIRST SUSTAINABLE HOTEL SITING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION GUIDING PRINCIPLES RELEASED Against a backdrop of predictions that the tourism industry will double in size over the next 15 years, Conservation International and the International Business Leaders Forum have published Sustainable Hotel Siting, Design and Construction - which will dramatically help hotel companies to build more sustainable and more environmentally friendly tourist developments. Nine of the world's largest hotel companies - including Marriott, Hilton and Starwood - actively supported the development of the book and are now determining how best to implement the principles outlined in the publication. As well as the need to preserve the environment and avoid wastage of resources, businesses are increasingly realising that a more sustainable approach means a longer-term business proposition. Sustainable development is a concept that for many is easily understood but difficult to put in practice. This publication will help the hotel industry do just that. For more information: |
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IS TURIN THE MOST “GREEN” OLYMPICS? “The Turin 2006 Olympics have set an extraordinary precedent of good environmental policies,'' explained Toroc President Valentino Castellani at the presentation of the Olympics' sustainability programme to a group of foreign journalists. ''We are the first organizing committee to have built the facilities as part of a strategic environmental assessment, the first to have taken the trouble of obtaining the Iso 14001 certification and the first to have launched a close collaboration with the UNEP, the United Nations environment agency.'' The protocol for the efficient use of natural resources and the compensation of the environmental impact of the facilities dates back to 2003. ''Some Olympic sports, like the bobsleigh and the ski jump, are not environmentally friendly because they take place at large facilities,'' said UNEP's Eric Falt. ''But what you can do is reduce their environmental impact, and Toroc has done this very well, showing great attention for the land at all levels. I don't know if they can be considered the best Olympics from this point of view, but they have certainly been prepared in the best of ways.'' Falt praised, for example, the policies adopted for the waste produced at the competition sites and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. ''The latter of these is an extraordinary innovation, which can give a lesson to upcoming sporting events.'' This will start with the soccer World Cup, which will take place in Germany soon after the Winter Olympics. For more information: |
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INVESTMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT Major employers throughout Scotland, including local authorities, health boards and the private sector, will be challenged to provide staff and visitors with real alternatives to using the car. Scotland's new regional transport partnerships (RTPs) have been awarded £1 million of Executive funding over the next two years to encourage employers to develop sustainable transport plans through the appointment of dedicated travel plan officers. They will work with major employers to help produce specific packages of measures for commuters and business travellers. The plans will look at ways of reducing single occupancy car use by actively encouraging other options like public transport, car sharing and teleconferencing. Transport Minister Tavish Scott said: "Many Scots drive to work without being aware of the alternatives. A more sustainable transport system for the future means less pollution and congestion. This devolved government is committed to promoting travel choice and helping people switch to better environmental options like walking and cycling, car sharing and public transport. "The new RTPs are ideally placed to work with employers in their region. That is why we have given them funding to support this important work. This will ultimately help all employers play their part in developing viable alternatives to car use." For more information: |
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LIGHTHOUSE IMPROVEMENTS HELP DECORATE OTTER HIDE ON SYKE
For the first time in 10 years, Forestry Commission Scotland's Otter Haven at Kylerhea, on the Isle of Skye, has been temporarily closed to allow a major overhaul of the facilities and enhancement of features to the site to take place. Wildlife enthusiasts however will only have to wait until the beginning of April, when the work is due to be completed, before returning to the popular visitor attraction. The temporary closure and up-grading of the Otter Haven has been timed to coincide with work taking place at the neighbouring Northern Lighthouse Board's (NLB) Kylerhea light. NLB have been planning work at the light for the last 12 months during which time they have been liaising with Scottish National Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland to ensure maximum safety to the wildlife at the site while work on the light is in progress. It is anticipated that during the work, the routines of the nearby otter population will alter and the mammals are likely to be active during the twilight hours of the day. This would make observations at the Otter Haven difficult. As a result, Forestry Commission Scotland have seized the opportunity to close the site temporarily and conduct a major overhaul of the facilities. For more information: |
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LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BENEFIT FROM MARINE PARK Representatives from 24 national organisations met in Perth on 20th February to discuss the initial work that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has carried out so far on developing a coastal and marine national park, including a paper on the added value that a park could bring. The Scottish Executive has proposed to establish a coastal and marine national park in 2008. SNH has been asked to provide advice to ministers by March 2006 on the legal and policy framework of a coastal and marine national park, as well as a list of potential areas which would be appropriate. Experience from other national parks shows that communities are likely to benefit from the increased tourism to the area, while the branding associated with being part of the park helps to promote local goods and services, the SNH paper notes. For more information:
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SNH WELCOMES CONSULTATION ON NATIONAL SCENIC AREA PROPOSALS Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has welcomed the consultation on management proposals for Scotland's National Scenic Areas, launched on 8th February by Environment Minister, Ross Finnie. National Scenic Areas represent some of Scotland's most beautiful and iconic scenery and are of enormous social and cultural value, bringing many economic benefits, particularly through tourism. They include areas of land considered of national significance for their outstanding scenic interest that should be conserved as part of the country's natural heritage. The consultation paper, 'Enhancing our Care of Scotland's Landscapes' seeks views on drafts proposals for the management of landscapes and scenery, and will run until 24th April 2006. The document is available on the Scottish Executive website at www.Scotland.gov.uk/consultations. For more information: |
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HAVE YOU VOTED YET?
To help celebrate and promote its 75th anniversary, The National Trust for Scotland has teamed up with The Scotsman to search for the 'Seven Wonders of Scotland'. The project aims to stimulate debate about what really stirs the emotions of people in Scotland and what makes them feel proud of their nation. 30 potential wonders are being endorsed by high-profile figures in The Scotsman and a public vote will decide on the final seven, which will feature in a special ‘Wonder of Scotland’ magazine to be published by The Scotsman on 8 April.
A number of Trust properties are in the shortlist, including Glencoe, St Kilda, Iona, and Staffa as well as wonders associated with its properties, such as Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Vote for your personal ‘Seven Wonders’ at www.scotsman.com/7wonders or see The Scotsman for details. Voting closes on 21 March and everyone who takes part can also take advantage of 18 months of Trust membership for the price of 12. For more information: NATIONAL PARK BUSINESSES GO GREEN
The Cairngorms National Park Authority recently joined forces with VisitScotland to encourage local tourism businesses to ‘go green’, with a series of 3 seminars about the Green Tourism Business Scheme. The free seminars focused on the simple but practical things that businesses can do to qualify for membership of the scheme, and the benefits that these measures will present to the business and the environment. Free follow-up site visits were also offered to businesses attending, and those businesses found to be meeting the criteria for at least bronze level of the scheme were able to join the scheme on a complimentary basis for their first year. The events were very popular, with 52 businesses attending in total. Site visits are ongoing, but already 10 silver and 7 bronze awards have been made. Another seminar is planned for the Spring and any tourism business within the Cairngorms National Park who would be interested in attending should contact Heather Galbraith at the Cairngorms National Park Authority on 01479 870545 or HeatherGalbraith@cairngorms.co.uk. For more information: CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM On the 2nd February, VisitScotland hosted a seminar on climate change and tourism. Paul Watkiss from AEA technologies explained how climate change will affect the Scottish landscape. Nicola Bainbrigge from the Future Foundation described the eco consumer, identifying a number of trends such as authenticity and over-regulation. Emma Johnson from the Carbon Trust demonstrated how organisations of the future will need to position their brand when sustainability becomes a serious issue of consumer choice in the near future, drawing comparisons to organic food stuffs. Darryn McEvoy from Manchester University talked about a major research study in the North of England and finally Stuart Housden from the RSPB showed examples of how climate change is affecting species and habitats. For copies of the presentations please link to:
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Wildlife Tourism Familiarisation Trip, Edinburgh, 14 March 2006 "Old Stories, New Technologies" Workshop, SNH Battleby Conference Centre, near Perth, 15 March 2006 Wildlife Tourism Familiarisation Trip, Kelso, 22 March 2006 WiSe Training & Accreditation Scheme, Nairn Sailing Club, Nairn, 23 March 2006 Tourism Innovation Day, Perth Concert Hall, Perth, 28 March 2006 Wildlife Tourism Familiarisation Trip, New Lanark, 30 March 2006 Isle of Arran Wildlife Festival, 27-31 May 2006 For further details on forthcoming events, click here |
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Contact Us
Sustainable Tourism Unit, VisitScotland,
Thistle House,
Beechwood Park North,
Inverness, IV2 3ED.
enquiries@greentourism.org.uk