Sustainability top of the agenda at Scottish tourism annual Autumn conference
The sustainability of Scotland’s tourism industry will take centre stage at this year’s Scottish Tourism Alliance Autumn Conference & AGM at the EICC on 7th October.
As the UK enters the final weeks before its planned EU departure date, around 400 industry leaders and senior figures from tourism businesses across Scotland will gather to hear thoughts and insights from Philip Bartlett, Economist at RBS Group around what’s likely to impact our tourism industry in the coming weeks and months.
A special broadcast with Fiona Hyslop MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs will also set the scene for the day which has been built around the sustainability theme and protecting our assets in relation to Scotland’s tourism product, our environmental impact, the future workforce and our existing teams.
Stephen Leckie in his capacity as Chair of Scotland’s Tourism Leadership Group will also provide an update on the current national Tourism Strategy TS2020 with one year left to go, reflecting on the industry’s success and challenges before delegates are introduced to the ‘Draft of the future Tourism Strategy Beyond 2020’, which they will have the opportunity to feed back on in a dedicated round table discussion.
Commenting on the content of this year’s programme, Marc Crothall Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Alliance said:
“With Brexit dominating the many challenges that our industry currently faces, we are all looking to find answers to the questions we have around access to a future workforce at a time when Scotland is facing a depopulation crisis and how our businesses can not only survive but grow profit and invest in our tourism product when facing continued rising costs and uncertainty. The theme that runs throughout the day is around ensuring that we all play a part in protecting and growing a sustainable industry for the future; not just from an environmental impact point of view, but exploring how we can look after our people properly, addressing the mental health issues that exist within our industry and build a strong, happy, inspired and resilient workforce for the future.”
“This is traditionally a sell-out event and I would urge all tourism businesses, whether you’re a restaurant, visitor attraction, transport provider, hotel or activity provider to attend – tourism is everyone’s business. We have a full and varied programme which will be delivered by leading experts and some very inspirational people. Delegates can expect to leave with knowledge and insights that will make a positive difference to their business and influence how they approach these current and future challenges in what is without a doubt the most challenging time our industry has ever experienced.”
