10 minute read
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.
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Nevis range ski centre. Photo credit: VisitScotland / Paul Tomkins
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.
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.
NEVIS RANGE
Nevis Range Mountain Resort is a huge attraction for visitors from the UK and beyond during both the winter and summer months. The centre has secured an investment of £800,000 towards major renovation work, with £500,000 coming from the Destination Net Zero programme to support Nevis Range’s continuing journey to net zero.
Work has begun on a 22-bedroom hotel, 24-berth bunkhouse, bar and restaurant, bike shop, children’s activity centre, childcare facilities, as well as a covered courtyard with event space. These developments will be built to minimise carbon impact, with a high degree of insulation, low energy lighting and solar panels for power. Initiatives like this are incredibly important in the transition to a net zero economy.
The new facilities are also expected to create up to 50 additional full and part-time jobs.
Chris O’Brien, managing director of Nevis Range, says: “Net zero and climate change are at the top of our agenda as we continue to develop. Electric vehicle charge points, hydro power and a locally sourced produce strategy are just the beginning for us. We are currently engaged in a carbon footprint analysis study that will help us roadmap the best way for us to achieve net zero status.
“This project is possible due to the support of HIE. I’m delighted that both parties share a vision for the creation of quality, sustainable adventure tourism experiences right here in the outdoor capital of the UK.”
GLENCOE SKI CENTRE
A £2m project to transform this major tourist attraction in Lochaber has secured up to £500,000 of funding from HIE, with £250,000 from Destination Net Zero to support Glencoe Ski Centre’s transition to low carbon. The centre is putting the funds towards the construction of a new base station, following the demolition of the fire-damaged building. The new and improved premises will house a bar and café and will be built to significantly reduce energy consumption. A number of elements, such as air source heating, modern standards of insulation and energy-efficient lighting, will all help the centre to lower its carbon footprint.
The new facilities are also expected to create an extra four full-time jobs.
HIE’s area manager for Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross, Alastair Nicolson, says: “Glencoe Ski Centre is of course an incredibly popular spot for winter sports enthusiasts, and a great tourist attraction all year round. We are delighted to be able to help fund the construction of a new facility.
“This development will enhance the appeal of Lochaber as one of the UK’s top adventure tourism destinations, while also providing new employment opportunities and supporting the centre’s journey to net zero.”
THE LECHT SKI CENTRE
A project to transform the Lecht Ski Centre into a year-round attraction has secured more than £73,000 from Destination Net Zero. This will be used to install electric vehicle charging points, build a new play park, improve catering provision and create a new family-friendly mountain bike run. The Lecht is also hoping to transition from paper-based ticketing to a fully automated digital ticketing system, reducing paper waste.
This project will support the Lecht to diversify from a predominantly winter snowsport destination to a year-round adventure tourism destination, enhancing the area’s capacity to support responsible tourism.
Angie Smith, HIE’s head of business growth for Moray, says: “We’ve been working with the Lecht for a number of years now and it is an incredibly important part of Scotland’s wider ski industry and tourism sector.
“The centre provides valuable rural employment, and these developments will safeguard jobs while helping drive tourism’s transition to net zero.”
IMPROVED CYCLE INFRASTRUCTURE AND E-BIKE FACILITIES
Cycling had a real resurgence during lockdown, with families, novices and enthusiasts all taking to roads and trails and discovering – or rediscovering – Scotland’s stunning outdoor landscapes while keeping active. We are seeing a huge upswing in visitors looking for green options that engage in the natural environment and boost wellbeing. The tourism sector has a fantastic opportunity to support Scotland’s ambition to be a net zero destination through enhanced cycle infrastructure and e-bike availability.
This is why Destination Net Zero funding has been earmarked for a range of community and social enterprise-led bike infrastructure assets, e-bike charging points and cycle networks at rural visitor locations and community hubs across the Highlands and Islands. Some of the projects which are being supported are introduced on the following page, but as Anna Miller, head of tourism for HIE, explains, they all have much in common.
“The projects should encourage and enable the use of net zero transport through the use of bikes, e-bikes and improved infrastructure. They will seek to draw tourists away from areas of overpressure and environmental sensitivity and spread visitors across communities and destinations.
“We hope that the projects will also act as a showcase and be a catalyst for increased awareness and adoption of net zero approaches. It’s fantastic that Destination Net Zero funding can be used to support the enhancement of the cycling and e-bike sector, while contributing to our efforts to tackle climate change and boost our drive towards a low-carbon, sustainable tourism future.”
CARLOWAY ESTATE TRUST (CET):
CET is working with community groups and local tourist attractions to offer e-bikes and develop a strategic visitor cycle route which links famous visitor attractions and cultural assets, including the Callanish Stones, Gearrannan Blackhouse village and the Carloway Broch. With the help of £13,115 in funding, CET will purchase a fleet of e-bikes, safety gear and repair kits. This investment goes hand-in-hand with CET’s other low carbon tourism activities, including working with academic partners to develop a digitally interactive guide to connect key cultural and heritage information between and at each attraction. Locals and tourists alike will benefit from use of the e-bikes, and digital brochures will also be available to reduce the carbon impact of printing physical brochures.
Photo credit: Colin Keldie
THE PICKAQUOY CENTRE TRUST:
The investment will provide visitors with access to e-bikes as part of their stay at the centre’s popular campsite, which draws around 8,000 campers every year. This will lower visitors’ use of their own vehicles for travelling while in Orkney, reducing fuel use and congestion around the centre and on routes to popular tourist attractions. The project will also provide campsite users with an opportunity to experience e-bikes and may encourage them to use them more in the future.
Photo credit: North Harris Trust
NORTH HARRIS ARDVOURLIE BIKE TRAILS:
The overall development and construction of a series of downhill all-ability mountain bike trails at Ardvourlie in North Harris, within community-owned woodland and led by the North Harris Community Trust. Supported by a £65,574 investment, the developments will deliver the first phase of the project in the form of electric vehicle (EV) charge point infrastructure, pathway upgrades, new site furniture, improved signage and site preparation works for further development. A major benefit of the trail will be moving the popular visitor walking and cycling route The Hebridean Way off the very busy road – leading to a much better, safer experience.
WOODLAND WHEELS:
The construction of a bike pump track on community-owned land in the Boat of Garten is being assisted with an investment of £26,817. Currently disused wasteland, the redeveloped space will be used for the benefit of visitors and the community, including youth groups and sports events.
Tourism is central to Highlands and Islands life, providing thousands of jobs and attracting thousands of visitors all year round. It sustains many of our local, regional and island economies and communities.
It’s vital that the sector takes decisive action in moving towards a more sustainable future, transitioning from carbon-intensive to low-carbon methods of delivering experiences. We hope that tourism can lead the way in moving to a greener tomorrow, rebalancing our relationship with nature and supporting stronger businesses and community wellbeing.
We are delighted to be supporting the region’s tourism industry on the path to net zero and recovery from the impacts of COVID-19. The cluster of strategic investments will deliver improved visitor experiences, while maximising lower carbon construction methods and processes, including air source heating, local water sources and building to modern net zero standards. This will contribute to a greener sector which demonstrates commitment to Scotland’s net zero agenda and its tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030.
Anna Miller, head of tourism, HIE
THA TURASACHD UAINE CUDROMACH SAN SGÌRE
Tha turasachd aig cridhe beath na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean, a’ toirt seachad mìltean de dh’obraichean agus a’ tàladh mìltean de luchd-tadhail fad na bliadhna. Bidh e a’ cumail suas mòran de na h-eaconamaidhean agus na coimhearsnachdan ionadail, roinneil agus eileanach againn. Tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith a’ toirt taic do ghnìomhachas turasachd na sgìre air an t-slighe gu neoni-lom mar a bhios sinn a’ faighinn air ais bho bhuaidhean COVID-19.
