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Wester Ross aiming to become Highlands’ first major sustainable tourism destination


By Philip Murray

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Glen Docherty in Wester Ross.
Glen Docherty in Wester Ross.

WORK to make Wester Ross the Highlands’ first major sustainable tourism destination was highlighted when dozens of leading industry figures gathered at a special conference.

Nearly 80 of the region’s tourism industry representatives came together at the Gairloch Hotel earlier this month to discuss how to drive Wester Ross towards a more sustainable future.

The Sustain Wester Ross’ event was jointly organised by Visit Wester Ross and the Wester Ross Unesco Biosphere.

Highlights from the two-day event included a video link presentation with the Snaefellnes region of Iceland – an area which, alongside the Highlands, has enjoyed a significant increase in tourism over recent years.

Delegates were able to learn more about Iceland’s approach to visitor management and examine ways in which similar methods could be activated in the local area.

Other speakers at the two-day event included Green Tourism Ltd and The Scottish Tourism Alliance, with discussions as to how Highland-based Unesco sites such as the Wester Ross area can deliver a package of sustainable tourism goals.

A talk by Tom Campbell, chairman of the North Coast 500, demonstrated how businesses can work together to develop an ethos of sustainability.

The event finished with the presentation of a new Destination Management Plan for the Wester Ross area – a proposal led by Visit Wester Ross and the Wester Ross Unesco Biosphere aimed at the long-term future of the area.

Douglas Gibson, project co-ordinator at Visit Wester Ross, said: “It is more important than ever before to focus on collaboration, working together to share learnings and become more sustainable, as a region.

“I’d like to extend my thanks once again to the team at the Gairloch Hotel for hosting us over the two days. We received so many positive comments about the hotel’s friendly staff.”

David Whiteford, chairman of the North Highland Initiative, said: “It was greatly encouraging to see so much local input.

“School pupils impressed everyone in attendance on day one by producing and catering a full lunch menu.

“Sustainability in the farming sector was a particularly important topic at the event, including discussion of how cost should not always be the decisive factor in buying produce. The message is clear: if you buy local, you’ll buy sustainably, creating benefits to the local economy and businesses throughout the north.”

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