Across 20 long-term projects, Cairngorms 2030 will bring about transformational change in the Cairngorms, benefitting people’s health and wellbeing, delivering on climate change and enhancing nature across the National Park.
Volunteer Cairngorms supports and develops volunteering for nature, the environment and physical activity across the Cairngorms National Park. Start your volunteering journey here!
Tourism is vital to the Cairngorms National Park, accounting for 30% of the economy and 43% of employment. People have been visiting here for centuries to appreciate the outstanding landscapes, wildlife and huge range of activities.
We welcome around two million visitors a year. Over half of those visitors, and two thirds of international visitors, say that National Park status is an important influence in their decision to visit. However, it’s crucial that visitors don’t undermine the very things that attract them in the first place - landscapes, wildlife, culture and tranquillity.
A tour of The Cairn Distillery
Steve Campbell
Skiers being towed up the slopes on Cairngorm Mountain
Kenny Lam / VisitScotland
Loch an Eilein picnic
Mark Craig
European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas
Since 2005, shortly after the area was designated as a National Park, we have been accredited with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas, a practical management tool that enables National Parks and other protected areas to develop tourism sustainably based on five principles:
Giving priority to protection
Contributing to sustainable development
Engaging all stakeholders
Planning sustainable tourism effectively
Pursuing continuous improvement
Every five years we submit a new Sustainable Tourism Action Plan, along with our National Park Partnership Plan, and details of tourism delivery over the previous five year period. This is assessed by a panel of experts and includes a verification site visit. We were most recently accredited in 2023.
Cairngorms visitor survey
We commission regular research to help us understand what motivates people to visit the area and what their experience is when they are here.
This document contains a findings report from a visitor survey conducted by MEL Research for the Cairngorms National Park Authority between May 2024 and April 2025. The survey aims to understand visitor demographics, experiences, and satisfaction levels within the National Park, which is the UK's largest national park. Data was collected via face-to-face interviews and, for a trial, an online survey, although the online data wasn't included in the report due to concerns over its representativeness. Key objectives include monitoring visitor profile changes, understanding accommodation and travel experiences, and identifying variations among visitor subgroups. The report highlights visitor origins, motivations, activities undertaken, transportation methods, and opinions on park facilities, with most visitors being highly satisfied with their experience.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
This document contains a final report about the Cairngorms National Park Authority Visitor Survey from 2019-2020, conducted in June 2020. The aim of the survey was to understand visitors to the Cairngorms National Park in terms of their profile, visiting behaviour, and visitor experience. Data was gathered through face-to-face interviews with visitors and residents at key locations in the Park over 11 months. This data, pertaining to the 11 months from May 2019 to March 2020, was then analyzed and compared with previous visitor surveys. The survey looked at visitor demographics, motivations for visiting, the types of trips visitors took, and visitor satisfaction, providing recommendations such as improving public transport connectivity and digital connectivity across the Park.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Economic impacts of tourism
We commission annual analysis of visitor numbers and the economic value of the visitor economy to the Cairngorms National Park.
This document contains a summary of the annual tourism economic impact research for the Cairngorms National Park for 2012-2023. In 2023, the park had 2.15 million tourism visits, which generated £419 million for the local economy and supported over 5,454 jobs. The economic impact increased by 35.9% compared to pre-COVID-19 levels, with an increase in both staying and day visitors. Most visitor spending was on accommodation, transport, food and drink, and shopping.
Please be aware that this summary has been generated using AI.
Get in touch
For more information on sustainable tourism in the Cairngorms National Park, please email [email protected]
