VisitScotland has called for tourism businesses to work together in an effort to make Scotland the first carbon neutral tourism destination. The call is made in VisitScotland’s Annual Review 2005 – 2006 which was launched last week and features a case study on the Outer Hebrides Area Tourism Partnership.

The Outer Hebrides Area Tourism Partnership was the first of the seventeen areas in Scotland to complete their Area Tourism Action Plan outlining needs and priorities to drive forward change at a local level.

Members of the partnership include representatives from the Outer Hebrides Tourism Association, Cormhairle nan Eilean Siar and Western Isles Enterprise. Angus Macmillan, Area Director of VisitScotland Outer Hebrides, said “We are delighted our Area Tourism Partnership has been highlighted in the VisitScotland Annual Review.

“It has been a real achievement to be the first in Scotland to complete our Action Plan, this was only possible through the commitment and support from the Outer Hebrides Tourism Association. With the industry involved in this process through the local Tourism Association we have a far greater chance of success, it really is an excellent example of partnership working.”

One key area of activity outlined in the Action Plan is in relation to sustainability of the stunning environment in the Outer Hebrides and this is reflected across Scotland in VisitScotland’s call to encourage businesses to work towards Scotland becoming a carbon neutral destination.

Scotland is already well known as a ‘clean, green’ destination, with 80 per cent of visitors saying that the environment is what they like best about Scotland. However, competing countries also have a similar reputation, VisitScotland feels that much more needs to be done to make the most of this opportunity.

VisitScotland’s Chairman Peter Lederer said: “We can gain a competitive advantage on a global scale by marketing Scotland as the world’s first carbon neutral tourism destination. We already have some great examples of innovative environmental practice in Scottish tourism. I’d like to see every tourism business in Scotland contributing to this aim. Working together, there’s a real opportunity for us to help Scotland become a world leader.”

Explaining the possible benefits of this approach, he continued: “Becoming a carbon neutral destination will help the bottom line. There are huge potential benefits, not just for the tourism industry, but for everyone living and working in Scotland. We need to make a step change and grab this unique opportunity for Scotland to lead the world.”

VisitScotland has introduced several initiatives to promote sustainable tourism in Scotland, including the Green Tourism Business Scheme and a new Sustainable Tourism Unit. VisitScotland also plays a part in the Sustainable Tourism Partnership and is one of the funding partners for a study into the potential benefits of a voluntary carbon off-set scheme for Scotland.

Steps tourism businesses can take to work towards becoming carbon neutral include establishing their carbon footprint, measuring and reducing their energy use, using local produce and introducing green transport schemes for their staff.