Archived Sustainable Tourism Newsletters

Positive Impact - Issue 5 - Summer 1998

Your guide to the best of natural Scotland

When is the best time to see Scotland's orchids? Are wild cats really wild? Where are you most likely to see otters? Wild Scotland, a site by site guide to the best of natural Scotland, answers these and many other questions.

Available in good bookshops, the guide has been written by James McCarthy, a former Deputy Director for Scotland of the Nature Conservancy Council, and includes a chapter by Duncan Bryden, manager of the Tourism and the Environment Task Force, on issues relating to green tourism and visitor use.

With details of 160 sites and 32 pages of striking colour wildlife photography, the guide is an indispensable travelling companion for anyone keen to explore Scotland's natural heritage.

What value in communicating your green credentials?

The tourism industry depends heavily on the natural environment. As a result, managing your tourism business in a way that is sympathetic to the environment should not be regarded as a public relations exercise. However, many operators are finding that there are now significant marketing advantages to be gained from 'going green'.

Businesses which have acted to improve their environmental performance, and they range from international hotels to village B&Bs, have discovered a whole host of audiences keen to hear about it. Not just customers, and potential customers, but also the media, employees, and local communities. Such businesses have benefited from keeping their messages simple and accurate, and by emphasising what they have achieved in relevant terms such as cost savings.

And, with a MORI poll (see Positive Impact 4) showing that 61% of consumers believe that environmental issues are important when choosing a holiday, the marketing opportunities for businesses committed to sustainable tourism are set to grow.

Going Green with the Green Tourism Business Scheme

The Scottish Tourist Board's Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) was officially launched at Scotland's Travel Fair in April when three exhibitors received their 'green tourism' plaques.

Developed by the Tourism and the Environment Task Force to encourage tourism businesses to 'go green', the scheme is, at present, open to serviced and self catering accommodation providers but will include visitor attractions in the future. Participation in the scheme will benefit businesses by improving management practice and generating cost savings, extending marketing opportunities, and reducing environmental impact.

At Scotland's Travel Fair, Lord Gordon of Strathblane, the STB's new chairman, presented silver plaques to both Kings Manor Hotel, Edinburgh, and the Golf View Hotel, Nairn, and a bronze award to Tulloch Lodges, a self catering property at Forres.

To find out what's involved contact Quality Assurance, Scottish Tourist Board

Thistle House, Beechwood Park North, Inverness IV2 3ED. (Tel 01463 723031).

To complement the GTBS, the Tourism and Environment Task Force has also developed a 'Going Green' handbook. Participants on the GTBS automatically receive a copy, but extra copies (at £15.00 each) can be ordered from the Task Force (see address details page 4).

Information, email and green tourism on-line

Later in 1998, the Scottish Tourist Board intends to unveil Project Ossian on the World Wide Web. At the heart of the project is an electronic database detailing the whole Scottish tourist industry. While this information will provide potential visitors with easy access to any tourist service via the Internet, it represents but one way in which new 'information technology' can benefit those operators who are committed to promoting sustainable tourism.

Most obviously, the advent of e-mail has brought a revolution in communication. Not only is it paper-free, but it is cheap, providing contact worldwide for the cost of a local phone call. It makes sharing information so much easier - whether with customers, suppliers or the media.

And, of course, the Internet has raised expectations about the amount of information available on any issue. With practice you can find out about environmentally-friendly suppliers, 'green' products, sustainable tourism courses, international environmental organisations and successful eco-tourism businesses from Australia to Iceland. It can help to bring your business, whether it is located in a city or a glen, into contact with new ideas, new products and new customers.

For the Scottish tourism industry, the Internet heralds a host of new marketing opportunities. Significantly, however, those tourism businesses which can demonstrate a commitment to the environment may well find their message appeals to many among the online global audience.

Have you got an opinion about National Parks?

The Government has asked Scottish Natural Heritage, one of the partners in the Tourism and Environment Task Force, to develop proposals for a National Park system in Scotland and to present these proposals early in 1999.

In the current debate surrounding National Parks, their role with regard to sustainable tourism and visitor services has become one of the major issues. Naturally, many people in the tourism industry have opinions on the subject, and you currently have an opportunity to contribute to the debate through SNH's consultation process. To express your views on any of the issues raised by National Parks in Scotland, write to :

Dominic Counsell, Proposals for Scottish National Parks, Scottish Natural Heritage, 12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh EH9 2AS.

Access to the countryside - your opportunity to contribute

The legal, recreational and land management aspects of public access rights in the countryside are currently being review by Scottish Natural Heritage at the request of the Government.

SNH has asked the Access Forum to help it undertake the review and, as an initial stage in the gathering of information, the Forum is inviting you to contribute your views by simply writing a letter which states your opinions on the matter, gives your experience of access, or presents any facts and figures relevant to the debate.

If you wish to comment, then send your correspondence to :

Paul Esrich, Scottish Natural Heritage, Recreation and Access Group, 2 Anderson Place, Edinburgh EH6 5NP.

If you want all or part of your comments to be confidential, please say so and this will be respected.

What should we be telling visitors?

The Tourism and Environment Task Force is going to produce a leaflet which will help visitors make informed environmental choices while on holiday in Scotland. We imagine that the leaflet will cover subjects such as litter, clean beaches, the use of local produce, the Green Tourism Business Scheme, wildlife sites, footpath initiatives and so forth. Visitors will be able to pick up this leaflet in tourist information centres, visitor centres, etc.

To help us compile this leaflet, we would like to hear from you with your suggestions as to the kind of 'green' information we should be providing visitors. Should we include examples of environmentally-friendly businesses? Should we advise on their choice of destination? Do we recommend 'green' activities? Let us know your thoughts by writing to Duncan Bryden at the Tourism and Environment Task Force.