TOURISM Business Improvement District (TBID) Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) has launched a second edition of its award-winning Climate Action Plan for the destination.
The 2023-2025 Climate Action Plan follows a review of the 2022-2023 plan by a steering group of VILN members and stakeholders. This latest plan has an increased focus on member and tourist-based goals and targets that will meet the five pathways of the Glasgow Declaration, whilst also showcasing the sustainable development goals VILN is contributing to.
The 2022-2023 Climate Action Plan, which has now been completed with 87.5% of the plan being implemented, was well-received, winning a trio of awards: The Climate Champion Award at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards 2022, 2022 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories, and the Green Destinations ITB Earth Award.
“We are delighted to launch our Climate Action Plan for 2023-2025,” said Bryony Beck, Destination Development Manager at VILN. “Climate action and sustainability are at the forefront of the Inverness Loch Ness destination, and this latest edition of our Climate Action Plan will monitor our destination’s progress and impacts while also delivering actions for improvement.
“It is by working collaboratively with stakeholders that we will ensure what we do going forward is in the best interests of our people, our visitors and our environment.”
Targets and actions within the plan include the creation of a carbon calculator on the VILN website, sessions on reducing carbon footprint for VILN members, increasing the number of water top-up stations and exploring options for sustainability trails around the destination, among others.
Michael Golding, CEO at Visit Inverness Loch Ness, added: “We are really proud of our progress since launching our first Climate Action Plan in 2022, and this is just the beginning.
“Through the plan, we aim to create a stronger and more sustainable destination for our membership of 496 tourism businesses, 44 communities and our visitors who are drawn here from around the world.
“Within the plan, we have a range of climate actions and targets which we hope will also provide a positive message to others for sustainable and environmental action within our destination. We want to change mindsets across our membership and destination so that everyone is included in sustainable development of the climate action plan.
“This year the actions and targets are place-based, tailored to Inverness Loch Ness. With these, we hope to continue to be a leader in climate action.”
The Climate Action Plan will be conducted over a two-year period due to VILN’s upcoming ballot in March 2024.
To find out more about sustainable tourism at VILN and to read the Climate Action Plan 2023-2023, please visit www.visitinvernesslochness.com/sustainable-tourism.
