Archived Sustainable Tourism E-newsTEF E-News - Issue 8 - August 2005Welcome 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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LEADING THE WAY FOR GREEN TOURISTS
Tourism Minister Patricia Ferguson officially launched Forum member VisitScotland's new 'Green Guide' at Elcho Castle in Perth, one of the many green attractions featured in the guide. The guide is a free publication profiling all Scottish tourism businesses that have an environmental grading (Gold, Silver and Bronze) through the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS). The guide will help travellers make green holiday choices by identifying green accommodation and attractions. For more information:
TOUR OPERATORS ARE FIRST TO GAIN GREEN TOURISM AWARDS Two well-established tour operators are the first of their kind to achieve accreditation under VisitScotland's Green Tourism Business Scheme. The Radical Travel Group, which runs 'HAGGIS Adventure' tours of Scotland, has achieved a Bronze award under the scheme, and C-N-Do Scotland, a walking holiday operator, attained the highest award, Gold. The GTBS award reflects a businesses commitment to the environment and is designed to help businesses improve their environmental performance and protect one of Scotland's most important assets, its natural environment. 'HAGGIS Adventures' has also been awarded Gold member status in Edinburgh Council’s innovative Keep Edinburgh Clean awards. For more information GUIDING SCOTLAND'S WILD VISITORS The growing numbers of visitors attracted by Scotland's wildlife are the target of a new guide and website that was launched at the Highland Adventure Safaris' base near Aberfeldy in Perthshire. Forum member, VisitScotland has teamed up with Wild Scotland (the National Association of Wildlife Operators) and the country's leading conservation agencies to produce the 84 page full colour 'Wildlife Scotland' brochure that highlights around 250 key wildlife attractions throughout the country. For more information: MAKING IT EASY TO CHOOSE LOCAL FOOD & DRINK Scottish Enterprise has published a printed version of their online directory of Scottish food and drink suppliers which helps tourism businesses source supplies locally. The use of locally produced fare can then be used as an important element of marketing, setting establishments apart from their competitors. The directory lists hundreds of Scottish companies which supply basics like fruit, vegetables, meat and dairy products, but also hand-made chocolates, cakes, drinks, smoked fish, and organic lines. For more information: HOSPITABLE CLIMATES DELIVERS ENERGY CHARGED RESULTS Hospitable Climates has announced that Scottish tourism businesses involved in the initiative are yielding yearly savings in excess of £13 million, whilst reducing annual carbon emissions by 53,000 tonnes. Hospitable Climates is an energy efficiency advisory programme for the UK hospitality industry and is delivering major cost savings to the 4,000+ businesses currently signed up to the programme. The programme is run by the HCIMA (Hotel & Catering International Management Association) on behalf of The Carbon Trust and offers a free-of-charge advisory service designed to help reduce energy consumption in the UK hospitality industry by as much as 40 per cent - improving bottom-line profits and customer experience. For more information: TOURISM IN THE HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS GETS ACTIVE! Running until June 06, a second round of funding is now available for activity and cultural based tourism businesses in the Highlands and Islands. The EU-funded 'HIE Activity 2' aims to support businesses in the activity holiday, visitor attractions and the events sectors to enhance quality, through more targeted, niche tourism product development and marketing. Start-up and existing businesses may be eligible for support with activities ranging from adventure-based to more passive or cultural pursuits such as visual arts, events and festivals. For more information: TOURISM SCHEME SUPPORTS INITIATIVES THAT ENCOURAGE VISITORS TO STAY LONGER A new grant scheme in Fife is addressing one of TEF's key aims for sustainability by offering support to initiatives which encourage longer staying visitors to the area. The Small Grants Scheme for Tourism is open to community organisations, trade associations, charitable and voluntary group's, tourism businesses and similar bodies and is funded by Fife Council's Development Services and the Fife network office of VisitScotland. For more information:
'COASTIE' MASCOT DELIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL MESSAGE TO CHILDREN A new mascot has been launched by the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust to encourage children to use the Fife Coastal Path whilst thinking about the environment around them. 'Coastie', the winning design from a Fife-wide schools competition, has been developed as a vital element to the 'Pathfinders' project to develop three specially designated children's walks along the Coastal Path. The colourful mascot will encourage children and their parents to explore the coastal environment in a responsible way. For more information: SURVEYING SCOTLAND'S NATIVE WOODS AND FORESTS
The first phase of the most comprehensive survey ever undertaken of Scotland's native woods and forests is under way. Surveyors from Forestry Commission Scotland and Forest Research will spend the next few years discovering exactly how much and what type of native woodland Scotland has remaining. Leading the work will be Dr Zoe Laird, based at Forestry Commission Scotland. Dr Laird commented that protecting the native woodland is important on many levels but economically, woods are increasingly significant in key industries such as green tourism and recreation. "Activities such as wildlife watching, mountain biking, horse riding, forest holidays and many others are growing significantly and providing new jobs and business opportunities in many small and often fragile rural communities, and native woodlands are very attractive places to enjoy these activities." For more information: THE HOME OF GOLF IS HOME TO WILDLIFE Thousands of golf spectators flocked to St Andrews for the 2005 Open Championship last month. A new guide encouraged visitors to enjoy the important wildlife found living on the world famous Old Course. Deputy Minister for the Environment and Rural Development Rhona Brankin was in the Fife town to mark the launch of the Environmental and Management Guide published by The Royal & Ancient (R&A), which highlights the important wildlife and habitats found on and around the greens. Ms Brankin said: "Scotland is recognised worldwide as the home of golf and I am delighted to see golfing and environmental bodies working together here in St Andrews to protect the natural heritage of the local area for the benefit of future generations. With 530 courses covering almost 30 thousand hectares of land and fresh water, this proves that the golfing sector in Scotland has the potential to be a leader in sustainable development." For more information: DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 'Butterfly Tourism Workshop' (final workshop), 24th August, Mugdock Park, East Dunbartonshire. 'National Whale & Dolphin Watch Week' , 13th – 21st August. 'Planning in Scotland' , 6th September, Corn Exchange, Edinburgh. 'Green Jobs: Examining the Scottish Executive's Strategy' , 16th September, Edinburgh. 'Collecting and Propogating Seed from Native Trees and Shrubs' , 21st September, Perth. 'Your Place, My Place, Our Place' , 12th October, SNH Battleby Centre, Perth. For more forthcoming events, please click here. |
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Contact Us
Sustainable Tourism Unit, VisitScotland,
Thistle House,
Beechwood Park North,
Inverness, IV2 3ED.
enquiries@greentourism.org.uk