Case study detail
On the edge. Copyright Visitscotland / Scottish Viewpoint.
Tourism and Environment Forum
Contributed by:
Sandy Dear
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The Tourism & Environment Forum is a partnership of public and private organisations set up to promote sustainable tourism in Scotland. We recognise that the environment is the Scottish tourism industry's main asset and we are working to ensure that both tourism and the environment are well managed
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Overview
Sustainable Tourism in Scotland
Tourism is Scotland's most important industry, injecting £4.5 billion annually into the Scottish economy. Tourism is Scotland's fourth largest employer, employing 197,000 or 9% of the workforce (13% in the Highlands & Islands). It pays the wages of more people than the oil, gas and whisky industries combined. If we are serious about tackling sustainability in Scotland we must make sure that Scottish tourism is sustainable.
Since 1996 the Tourism and Environment Forum (TEF) has worked to encourage greater sustainability – economic, environmental and social – in Scottish tourism. TEF leads and supports efforts to make Scotland the most sustainable tourism destination in Europe.
With initiatives ranging from green schemes for hotels and B and Bs to accreditation projects for whale and dolphin watching operators, Scotland can claim to be at the forefront of sustainable tourism development.
And TEF has been working hard to help Scotland become the number one wildlife tourism destination in Europe – generating significant socio-economic benefits, especially in rural areas.
An important aspect of TEF’s work has been to define what needs to be done to make Scottish tourism more sustainable. As a result of extensive consultation TEF published Scotland’s first Sustainable Tourism Statement in February 2004.
The Statement highlights 7 objectives that TEF members feel must be tackled if progress is to be made towards greater sustainability in Scotland’s tourism industry. These objectives are;
1. a more even spread of visitors year-round
2. more tourism businesses actively enhancing and protecting the environment (e.g. joining GTBS)
3. greater investment in tourism people and skills
4. a better integrated quality tourism product that meets visitors’ demands and encourages them to stay longer and spend more
5. a clearer understanding of tourism impacts
6. greater involvement of communities in tourism planning and development
7. greater use by visitors of Scotland’s public transport system
Working towards these aims is a long-term job. But at least we have the backing of Scotland’s visitors. Visitor Attitudes Surveys in 1999, 2001 and 2004 showed without doubt that Scotland’s wonderful environment is our most important tourism asset. Nature, wildlife and clean air are given as key reasons for coming on holiday to Scotland. And nearly 90% of our visitors say that two of Scotland’s most important attributes are its peace and quiet.
Everyone working in Scottish tourism has a part to play in making sure that the industry develops sustainably. From B and B staff to activity holiday providers to the managers of large city hotels we can all do something that helps to reduce the impact that tourism has on our environment.
The Tourism and Environment Forum will continue to guide, support and lead efforts by all those involved in Scottish tourism to make our industry the most sustainable in Europe.
To find out more about the Tourism and Environment Forum see our website www.greentourism.org.uk
Key features
land use
regeneration
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