MOVING TOWARDS DESTINATION NET ZERO A £1.47m investment package is set to support tourism businesses and local communities in the Highlands and Islands on the vital journey to a greener and stronger future. With climate change on everyone’s minds, green tourism in the Highlands and Islands has been given a boost with a new investment package from the Scottish Government. Destination Net Zero is a £4m programme to support tourism businesses, communities and destinations as they move to a more sustainable, profitable and low carbon future. Some £1.47m will be invested in the Highlands and Islands. A STUNNING ENVIRONMENT, A STRONGER FUTURE The Highlands and Islands tourism sector draws heavily on the attraction of the region’s stunning natural environment – which is already feeling the effects of the world’s climate emergency. As we adapt to the climate change challenge, we will not only meet ambitious Scottish net zero targets and contribute to a healthier planet, but we will seek to attract higher value, more responsible visitors – which means a stronger future for our businesses and communities. People are increasingly opting for sustainable experiences, so going greener and speeding up the adoption of sustainable production and consumption will benefit the Highlands and Islands in more ways than one. HIE is delivering the programme of support across the region, and a number of strategic projects are benefiting from the funding. One such project is the rebuild of the Fair Isle Bird Observatory, which has received almost £200,000 worth of Destination Net Zero funding. This will go towards creating a new, sustainable and energy-efficient building, using power from the island’s community-owned renewable energy grid as well as from the building’s own solar panels. Nevis Range, the Lecht and Glencoe mountain ranges are also benefiting from support, as is the cycling and e-bike sector.
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Nevis range ski centre. Photo credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
A LIFT FOR MOUNTAIN RESORTS’ NET ZERO AMBITIONS Mountain ranges in the Highlands attract thousands of visitors a year from home and abroad,playing a vital role in our tourism industry. The snowsports industry in Scotland employs over 1,000 people and makes a £31m contribution to the economy. In the summer season, mountain resorts attract visitors as part of the growing demand to use chairlifts and other facilities to access trails and biking routes, and to pursue nature-based experiences. But mountain ranges are also considerable consumers of energy. Redevelopment of the visitor experiences with sustainability and net zero at the heart of the operations showcases the region’s resorts as an environmentally conscious choice, driving up visitor numbers and attracting more people to the local areas. This is why three mountain resorts in the Highlands are major recipients of the Destination Net Zero package of support. The significant investments will not only support the net zero ambitions of the three resorts but will increase the provision of critical infrastructure and services for visitors all year round. Activities being funded include better overnight parking facilities, responsible waste disposal, electric vehicle charging points, a conversion to paperless ticketing and climate change educational offerings for young people.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME... The Destination Net Zero programme is a key part of the Scottish Government’s wider £25m Tourism Recovery Programme. Destination Net Zero is being delivered on behalf of the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group by HIE, VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and partners. The programme includes new information and advice for businesses and communities on transitioning to low carbon, an awareness raising campaign and funding support.
