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Archived Sustainable Tourism E-newsPositive Impact online - August 2006Welcome to 'Positive Impact online', the newsletter of VisitScotland's new Sustainable Tourism Unit. To receive this e-newsletter 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. |
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Communication is the Key to SuccessSTU want to enhance communication between agencies, organisations and tourism businesses to the benefit of Scotland's natural tourism advantage, the environment. Sustainable Tourism Unit - |
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VISITSCOTLAND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM UNIT
The newly formed VisitScotland Sustainable Tourism Unit is up and running and already identifying and tackling some of the challenges Scotland faces in ensuring that tourism growth is achieved sustainably. Sandy Dear, who previously ran the Tourism and Environment Forum (TEF), has become VisitScotland's first Sustainable Tourism Manager, and he is supported by TEF's admin officer, TOM BROCK RECEIVES OBE
Tom Brock (Chair of Tourism & Environment Forum and Chief Executive of the Scottish Seabird Centre) finally received the recognition he deserves! Awarded an OBE (Officer of the British Empire) in the New Years Honours List, it was presented to him by HM The Queen at Holyrood Palace in July. The award acknowledges Tom's significant contribution to the tourism industry, in particular his continuing support for the sustainable development of the industry. Congratulations Tom! CAIRNGORM LINKS UP WITH LOCAL FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN Cairngorm Mountain Ltd is working with award winning company 'Larder Bytes' to supply its popular 'Ptarmigan Restaurant' with fresh, local, seasonal food. Fife-based 'Larder Bytes' operates an internet-based food supply chain management system, working with supply partners throughout Scotland to cost effectively deliver the best local produce to the best local kitchens. Through coordinating the collection and delivery of orders, using a network of local wholesalers and distributors, they cut transport requirements and carbon emission from unnecessary long-haul deliveries by half-full vehicles.
Source: www.cairngormmountain.com GARDEN TOURISM HELPS TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM VisitScotland has helped develop Scotland's first ever National Snowdrop Festival, which aims to encourage visitors to explore Scottish gardens during the usually quieter tourist months of February and March. By helping to extend the visitor season, rather than focusing activities within the traditional shorter tourist season, gardens and other tourism businesses can work towards making Scotland Europe's most sustainable tourist destination. Businesses interested in being linked with the Festival are asked to contact
BIRD TOURISM BENEFITS LOCAL AREA IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE
Before fledging the nest, the sea eagles of Mull not only dazzled thousands of visitors to the famous Hebridean island this breeding season, but also impressed
Source: www.rspb.org.uk TAKING GREEN DEBATE TO CONSUMERS Research specialist TripVision is carrying out a major new survey seeking consumers' views on the growing 'green debate' and its implications for the travel industry. Supported by the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), the survey will allow the industry to see what the consumer thinks on environmental issues relating to tourism and travel. The new survey questions are targeting consumer attitudes to issues relevant to the tourism industry, particularly attitudes and awareness of carbon offset programmes. The survey results, which will be invaluable in gauging consumer attitudes to 'green' issues, will be unveiled at the ABTA convention in November.
Source: TravelMole.com 'I WILL IF YOU WILL' MAKE THE SUSTAINABLE CHOICE A report commissioned by the Sustainable Consumption Roundtable sets out how a significant shift towards more sustainable lifestyles is possible and positive. But, the report entitled 'I Will if You Will', stresses the importance of leadership from government and business to make green products and services easy for the consumer to buy into. Particularly relevant to the tourism industry, are the suggestions that travellers be automatically given the option to carbon offset their flights to demonstrate the environmental impact of flying; and that the use and promotion of seasonal produce is the most enjoyable way of promoting climate change.
Source: Sustainable Development Commission
GREEN WEEK AT VISITSCOTLAND With sustainability and sustainable growth key challenges for VisitScotland and the tourism industry as a whole, the organisation is drawing its employees' attention to the issue. A focused burst of internal communications, activities and initiatives will form the basis of a themed 'Green Week' aimed at staff working across VisitScotland's network. 'Green Week' (2nd - 8th October 2006) will promote the need for sustainable development and the inclusion of many more businesses within the Green Tourism Business scheme. Staff will be encouraged to make best use of resources, minimise waste and purchase environmentally friendly goods and services.
RIGHT TO GO OFF-ROAD
New advice is available to off-road cyclists on the new right of responsible access, which for the first-time creates a right for cyclists to go off-road. Rhona Brankin, Deputy Environment Minister, launched the helpful leaflet and turned her hand (or is it feet?) to cycling whilst delivering this essential advice to a group of mountain bikers and cyclists. Developed by Scottish Cycling and the Cycle Touring Club (CTC) Scotland, with support from Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the leaflet outlines good practice.
Source: Scottish Natural Heritage FIRST MINISTER WELCOMES NEW VICE CHAIR TO SDC Jan Bebbington, Professor of Accounting and Sustainable Development at the University of St Andrews, has been appointed the new Vice Chair (Scotland) to the Sustainable Development Commission. First Minister Jack McConnell said: "I welcome the appointment of Professor Bebbington as Vice Chair (Scotland)…Her appointment is a key stage in strengthening the Commission's presence in Scotland and in helping to drive the sustainable development agenda forward." The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) is an independent advisory body to government, with a remit to promote and monitor progress in sustainable development across the UK.
Source: Scottish Executive FAST FACT FILES FROM HOSPITABLE CLIMATES
The Hospitable Climates (HC) team has added three new Fact-Files to its portfolio of free-of-charge information documents. The leaflets 'Renewable Energy' and 'Heat Recovery' are designed to help hospitality and leisure managers understand the various technologies available. The third leaflet, 'Making the Most of Your Hospitable Climates Membership' demonstrates how members can improve their profile with customers by publicising membership of the programme. Participants of the programme have achieved combined cumulative cost savings of £13m per year.
Source: Hospitable Climates FOUR WAYS TO WIN Well, it certainly seems that now is the time for ‘responsible’ businesses to get some recognition for all those green practices undertaken. There are four awards coming up which showcase businesses that actively demonstrate environmental responsibility:
UHI SETS NEW COURSE FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM A new Masters course is being launched in the Highlands. The 'MSc in Sustainable Tourism' has been devised by the Sustainable Development Research Centre at Forres and the International Centre for Responsible Tourism which is currently based at the University of Greenwich. The course has been specifically designed to offer flexible learning opportunities and is taught as a combination of distance learning and 'summer school' intensive courses. The course is practically orientated, designed for those who want to make a difference and play their part in improving tourism, whether in the private or public sector. The course adopts a triple bottom line approach to sustainable development - economic, social and environmental - and is market orientated, looking at both the supply and demand issues.
Source: SDRC WHAT DO YOU THINK? A recent poll on the travel and tourism industry website Travel Mole.com, poses the question "Will there be any paper brochures in five years time?" The poll highlights an issue very relevant to our aim of improving the sustainability of the tourism industry. Brochures are often time constrained, so are out of date quickly. They cost you and the environment dearly to produce and the majority ultimately end up in landfill sites. Why not consider developing online marketing and keeping visitors up-to-date with your latest deals and offers?
Source: TravelMole.com |
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 'Watersports Welcome Workshop', Kilmarnock, 5th September
'Sharing Good Practice: The Participant: How was it for us? How was it for them?',
'Making Your Business Greener', University of Gloucester, 10 th October
For more details on these forthcoming events, please visit Events page . Sign Up for Positive Impact online!Click here to receive our news straight to your PC, every two months. CALL FOR STORIES: If you would like to contribute to this or any of STU's publications, please contact us by phone on 01463 723012, by email to enquiries@greentourism.org.uk, or by post to Sustainable Tourism Unit, Thistle House, Beechwood Park North, Inverness, IV2 3ED. All contributions welcome and any comments too! |
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Contact Us
Sustainable Tourism Manager,
VisitScotland,
Cowan House,
Inverness.
IV2 7GF.
Tel: 01463 244671
enquiries@greentourism.org.uk