VisitAberdeenshire has launched its new responsible tourism toolkit, designed to empower tourism businesses to adopt sustainable and inclusive practices.
This toolkit is designed to help businesses navigate the increasing demand for environmentally conscious experiences, while also offering guidance to ensure an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.
Available to download from VisitAberdeenshire’s website, the toolkit also offers checklists and actionable steps to make small but impactful changes.
The toolkit has been created with North-east tourism businesses in mind and addresses key areas for growth such as sustainability and climate action, inclusivity, and community engagement.
An important objective in this toolkit is how businesses can create commercial opportunities while having a positive impact on the environment and the local communities.
Included within the guide are case studies from other businesses, who are demonstrating sustainable and inclusive practices. Businesses are also encouraged to tell their own responsible tourism story, and the toolkit provides tips to communicate this effectively.
Millie Clarke, head of tourism development, VisitAberdeenshire, said: “The responsible tourism toolkit offers practical resources, and expert advice on topics such as energy efficiency, waste reduction and biodiversity.”
The ‘purple pound’ is the term used to describe the collective spending power of disabled people and their households. The estimated total spend on all tourism trips in Scotland by those with an impairment is £1.69billion per year.
Millie Clarke continued: “The ‘purple pound’ is a hugely valuable market segment, yet only 10% of businesses have a strategy for this market.
"The guide is a helpful tool to understand customers’ needs, from physical impairments to neurodiversity, and the practical steps businesses can take to improve the visitor experience.”
Click here to access the toolkit.