Formal Board Paper 3 - STAP Update 25 Sept 2026

This document contains an annual update on the Cairngorms National Park Authority's Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (STAP) for 2022 to 2027, which helps the National Park meet its goals and supports Scotland's wider tourism strategy. The Park Authority and its partners are delivering the plan, with a mid-term review suggesting only minor adjustments. Recent developments include the impact of the Glenmore and Abernethy wildfire on visitor numbers and ongoing discussions about implementing a visitor levy. Key activities have seen a successful winter marketing campaign, helping to attract visitors throughout the year, and progress in promoting cultural heritage, while efforts are also underway to understand and address barriers for lower-income visitors. In 2025, the visitor economy brought in £522 million from 2.6 million visits and five million visitor days, though businesses report concerns about bureaucracy, costs, staffing, and future visitor levy legislation. The next STAP, covering 2028 to 2032, will begin development in 2027.