VisitScotland Green Tourism Business Scheme
VisitScotland Quality Assurance
• • • • • • Hotels, Inns, Guesthouses, B&Bs Self Catering Holiday Parks Visitor Attractions Food Hostels & Bunkhouses
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Walkers, Cyclists, Golfers, Bikers, Pets, Children,Film Crews, Anglers Welcome schemes
Access for visitors with disabilities Green Tourism Business Scheme
Grading Across the Holiday Experience
Tourism - Perceptions:
• • • People pressures Unsightly Developments Litter The impact of other industries is underestimated:
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Commercial Forestry
Over Grazing Farming Methods
Scotland– key markets
• • • • USA France Germany The Netherlands
Ecotourism markets:
• USA
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Germany The Netherlands Canada
Many potential visitors in key markets believe that Scotland
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Has diverse and dramatic landscape Retains a wide range of flora and fauna Is rural, rugged and “remote” Is an “outdoors” activity destination Is clean and green
Factors in holiday choices
• Scenery/Good Views 36%
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Weather
Peace and Quiet Local people are friendly Cheap/Cost Unspoilt Easy to get to
30%
28% 27% 22% 21% 20%
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Only one person in 50 believes that the tourism industry is doing a great deal to reduce its impact on the environment 15% believe it is doing a fair amount 30% believe that it is doing a little 10% believe that it is doing nothing at all
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The Green Consumer
• • • 10-25% of the population “environmentally discriminate” in purchases as a matter of course Larger mainstream who do so occasionally Small group who do not - “Browns”
Recognising the potential
• • • Intercontinental Marriott Hilton
Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts
• • Over a 7 year period - Cut its energy expenditure by 27% Aims to conserve natural resources and energy without jeopardising customer satisfaction
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Because “Tourism threatens the very cultural and environmental resources on which our future prosperity depends”
The Green Tourism Business Scheme
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Improving management practice particularly cost saving opportunities
Extending marketing opportunities Improving profile through compliance with environmental law and reducing environmental impact
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The Green Tourism Business Scheme
• • Compulsory measures including minimum standards Management
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Communication
Energy Water Purchasing Waste minimisation Transport Wildlife and landscape
Hospitable Climates
• • Complementary Mutually supportive
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Promoted by VisitScotland Quality Advisors
5 GTBS bonus points
Green Tourism Business Scheme
• • 1997 - launch Gold, Silver Bronze
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2006 - 619 businesses -7% of all businesses in QA
Tourism Framework for Change: - 33% of all businesses in QA by 2010 - 100% of all businesses in QA by 2015
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New entry level – stepping stones towards Bronze
Obstacles
• • • Joining fee Retention Perceived conflict with Star scheme - in fact, high proportion of Gold are 4 and 5 Stars
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Changing behaviour
Doing some of it already?
Across all sectors
• • • • • • Hilton Sheraton Radisson SAS Edinburgh International Conference Centre National Trust for Scotland Edinburgh Castle
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SYHA
Gleneagles Hotel
VisitScotland Quality and Standards
tony.mercer@visitscotland.com visitscotland.org green-business.co.uk