Sustainable tourism charity The Travel Foundation has partnered with The Travel Corporation (TTC) and VisitScotland on a pilot project to tackle emissions in tourism.
The scheme is one of a package of climate action projects in the Destination Net Zero programme, developed after Cop26 was held in Glasgow last year.
The Destination Net Zero programme is funded through the Scottish government’s Tourism Recovery Programme and developed by the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group (STERG).
The TTC project aims to develop a framework for addressing “Scope 3” emissions in tourism – those that occur in activities such as accommodation, ground transport and food production.
It will involve TTC’s Scotland-based brands such as Haggis Adventures, Highland Explorer Tours and The Skye Inn – plus group touring brands such as Contiki, Trafalgar and Insight Vacations, and Red Carnation Hotel group, which will open the five-star 100 Princes Street in Edinburgh later this year.
TTC has recently developed a carbon calculator that will help with “Scope 3” estimates and be integral to setting the group’s carbon reduction targets.
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The Travel Foundation is also working with VisitScotland and Scotland’s three economic development agencies on other tourism climate projects.
Pilot schemes are taking place in Glasgow, the Outer Hebrides, and Inverness & Loch Ness to support destinations to develop climate action plans.
It is hoped that new processes and tools developed during projects can be applied across Scotland and beyond to help travel and tourism organisations plan a strategy towards net zero.
Jeremy Sampson, chief executive of The Travel Foundation, said: “Scotland has adopted a leadership role on climate action in tourism, and the work we are doing now will improve understanding of – and hopefully resolve – some of the challenges that all destinations are facing as they plan their transition towards net zero. It is important that other destinations follow in Scotland’s footsteps, and we hope these initiatives will create useful tools, guidance and a way forward.”
Shannon Guihan, chief sustainability officer and head of TreadRight at The Travel Corporation, added: “As we embark on our own ambitious path to reduce our carbon, the need to engage directly with progressive destinations is clear to us.
“We, as the visitor and Scotland, as the host in this case, can identify practical steps to address our Scope 3 emissions, addressing the challenge from the perspective of supply and demand jointly rather than in our own silos.
“Our brands such as Haggis Adventures, Highland Explorer Tours, Trafalgar and more are dedicated to operationalising Scotland’s own net zero ambitions.”
VisitScotland and the Travel Foundation helped to draft the Glasgow Declaration on Climate Action in Tourism, which was launched at Cop26. The Travel Foundation is now delivering the Glasgow Declaration in partnership with the UN’s World Tourism Organisation.
Picture credit: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam