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Paper 2 20/04/05 VISIT Forum 

 
Development of Sustainable Tourism Action Plan 


Submission of Europarc Application 

1. As ViSIT Forum members will be aware the Sustainable Tourism Strategy and 
Action Plan was endorsed (with minor amendments) by the NPA Board in March, 
and was submitted to the Europarc Federation for application to the European 
Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. This version was sent by email 
to all Forum members. 

2. We are currently awaiting notification of an expert verifier to be appointed by 
Europarc to visit the CNP for two days in late April or May 2005. 


Part II of the Charter, Working with Tourism Enterprises 

3. The European Charter was initially conceived in three parts, the first for protected 
areas, the second for tourism enterprises and the third for travel operators. To 
date only the first part of the Charter has been in operation, but there is growing 
demand for implementing the second part of the charter, placing great emphasis 
on environmentally friendly behaviour by individual tourism enterprises. 

4. Europarc is currently developing an uncomplicated framework for Charter Parks 
who wish to recognise tourism enterprises in their area under the Charter, and 
has asked for comments how best this might be achieved. There is a great deal 
of overlap between this proposed framework and the criteria that is currently 
being developed for the use of the Cairngorms Brand, and the CNPA has 
provided information on this area of work to Europarc. 


Incorporation of Tourism Marketing Strategy and Action Plan 

5. It has been made clear that the Tourism Marketing Strategy would need to be 
refreshed in light of the finalised Sustainable Tourism Strategy and Action Plan, 
and the Tourism and Environment Forum has offered to undertake this review on 
behalf of the ViSIT Forum. 

6. In the meantime the actions contained in the Marketing Action Plan have been 
incorporated into the Sustainable Tourism Strategy Action Plan, so that progress 
can be reviewed within a single document. 


Development of Action Plan 

7. Version 2 of the Action Plan is at annex 1. A brief update on progress either 
undertaken by the CNPA or know to be taken forward by partners has been 
included at this stage. 

8. The Strategy suggests that a summary of progress is reported to the ViSIT 
Forum on a quarterly basis with a comprehensive annual review. However, there 
needs to be a balance between recording progress to ensure that implementation 
is occurring and keeping the administration of such updates at a manageable 
level, particularly as partners will be asked to contribute towards the progress 
reports. The following 6 monthly option for progress reports is suggested as the 
way forward for the next 12 months: 

• May – September 2005, identify and confirm actions with partners and 
seek commitment to play a role in their implementation. Note actions 
that partners are currently undertaking that already contribute to the 
Action Plan. Continue to present updates at ViSIT Forum meetings on 
specific projects. 

• October 2005, present achievements and progress report at annual 
conference and to Park Board 

• March 2006, updated progress report, one year on from finalisation of 
strategy. 

9. The Action Plan will be updated by the CNPA prior to and following each ViSIT 
Forum meeting for use as an internal working document. This will be made 
available to members on request should an update on a particular project be 
required. 


Monitoring of Action Plan 

10. The Strategy outlines a set of indicators that might be used to monitor the 
performance and impact of tourism in the Cairngorms area and contact has been 
made with a senior researcher at The Macaulay Institute to see whether they are 
able to help with this area of work. An update will be provided in due course. 


Summary Booklet 

11. In February, the ViSIT Forum endorsed the production of a short A5 summary 
booklet on the Strategy and Action Plan together with summary information from 
the Visitor Survey. This will be for wide distribution to all tourism enterprises, 
partners involved in the development of the strategy and anyone else who 
requests it. 

12. It was also agreed that the booklet should contain information on the role of the 
ViSIT Forum and the current membership. Due to the large number of Forum 
members a complete list is not possible, although it is suggested that anyone 
requesting the complete membership will be directed to website or Park Authority 
offices. Annex 2 is the suggested text for this purpose and members are asked 
for comments. 


Debbie Strang 
April 2005