WARNING - By their nature, text files cannot include scanned images and tables. The process of converting documents to text only, can cause formatting changes and misinterpretation of the contents can sometimes result. Wherever possible you should refer to the pdf version of this document. Annex 1 to Paper 2 ViSIT Forum 20/04/05 Sustainable Tourism Action Plan (Version 2) Presented to ViSIT Forum April 2005 HEADINGS Action Priority Year Financial Implication Update on CNPA activities or known activities by partners at April 2005 Potential Delivery Partners Environmental Management and Conservation 1a Develop a systematic process for keeping abreast of the state of the environment with respect to tourism, including selecting indicators, physical measures, monitoring habitats and feedback from stakeholders. High 1 Med - SEPA 1b Encourage land managers to maintain attractive natural environments and access to them as a key resource for tourism, and reflect this in land management contracts. High 1-5 High Land Based Business Training Project led by the CNPA organises courses for land managers who have regular contact with visitors on access to the natural environment. SNH LA 1c Ensure development control policies and process maintain the quality of landscape and biodiversity High 1-5 Low - LA 1d Encourage and assist tourism enterprise to adopt sound environmental management practice by: Strengthening participation in the Green Tourism Business Scheme, and other sustainable standards schemes High 1-5 Low ABSC, all 19 participants have signed up to achieve Bronze Status within 2 years VS, TA, ABSC Encourage take up of available training and advice on environmental management, and supplement as necessary Med 1-5 Med Land Based Business Project organises courses on ‘Cairngorms Wildlife and the Law’, Alternative methods to Waste Management, and is planning ‘Countryside Risk Management’ VS, TA Actively promoting enterprises that have taken verifiable steps towards better environmental management Med 1-5 Med - VS, Improving small businesses’ access to recycling schemes High 1-2 High - LA 1e Seek ways to raise resources for management and conservation from tourism by: Co-ordinating and extending use of car park charges that contribute funds to environmental conservation High 1-2 Low MSc student survey summer 2005 into attitude to country side car parking charging in a NP LA Investigating potential for voluntary giving scheme, and implement as appropriate High 1-2 Med - ViSIT Encouraging tourism enterprise support for local conservation High 1-2 - - ViSIT, TA,CC Working together 2a Ensure integration between the tourism strategy and Park Plan High 1 Low Objectives and actions of the Sustainable Tourism Strategy will contribute to the Park Plan which will integrate these with other strategies and actions to ensure the co-ordinated delivery of the Park’s four aims. CNPA ViSIT 2b Establish effective presence for the Cairngorms within the work of the new VisitScotland network High 1 Low Tourism and Economic Development Manager to be recruited by CNPA VS 2c Monitor the attendance and membership profile of the ViSIT group and take steps to improve/strengthen where necessary Med 1-5 Low Monitoring of attendance ongoing. ViSIT 2c Encourage effective reporting and communication with wider stakeholders by members of the ViSIT group High 1-5 Low - ViSIT 2d Strengthen links with local tourism associations and other networks Med 1-5 Low CNPA currently considering financial support to Chamber of Commerce and ABSC – 16,500 ViSIT 2e Establish an annual open meeting Med 1-5 Low Scheduled for October 2005 CNPA 2f Develop tools for regular two-way communication with all stakeholders by: Developing an appropriate facility on the Cairngorms website High 1 Low - - Maintaining regular tourism features in the CNPA newsletter Med 1-5 Low Regular updates in ParkLifes - Establishing features on the Cairngorms in industry communications media established by the new VisitScotland networks Med 1-5 Low - VS Maintaining a clear reference guide on Park functions and who to contact Med 1 Low Strategy summary leaflet to include information on ViSIT Forum members, and relevant CNPA staff members - Making use of existing communication / dissemination methods (e.g. Tourism Knowledge Scotland, Think-net, Scotexchange) Med 1-5 Low - VS Encouraging communication between stakeholders and with the CNPA including information on relevant and new initiatives Med 1 Low - ViSIT Marketing 3a Apply Cairngorms brand to all National Park print and internet sites High 1 Low - - 3a Develop policy and guidelines on the use of the Cairngorms brand for tourism, and effectively disseminate this High 1 Low Brand Management Committee met for first time on 31March 2005 - 3b Make available copy and images on the Cairngorms for use by tourism stakeholders in their marketing High 1 Low - - 3b Ensure strong Cairngorms presence in destination marketing material, especially area guides High 1-2 Low - VS 3c Ensure strong Cairngorms presence on VisitScotland.com Med 2-5 Low - VS 3d Develop the Cairngorms website to be a user-friendly portal for visitor enquiries, including links, events database etc. High 1 Med - - 3e Continue to produce Cairngorms visitor guide High 1-5 Med Visitor Guide 2005 produced, with commitment of ViSIT Forum to produce a guide on the same basis for 2006 - 3e Monitor use and effectiveness of visitor guide and other print – leading to a review Med 1-2 3 Low - VS 3f Instigate, coordinate and implement occasional strategic marketing campaigns promoting specific themes Med 2-5 Med - VS, TA, PS Information and interpretation 4a Take on board interpretive framework High 1-3 Med Paper presented to ViSIT Forum in April 2005 - 4a & 4b Identify and develop a range of venues and events that interpret the Cairngorm’s special qualities to visitors High 1-3 High - SNH 4c Develop a pro-active communication campaign to deliver messages to visitors post arrival Med 1-5 Med - VS 4d Strengthen provision and distribution of park-wide information material including a feasibility study of options including a commercially produced National Park newspaper Med 2 Med - VS 4e Ensure TICs project Cairngorms images and messages, through: Branding in the TICs with the National Park brand High 1-2 £1,600 Branded information in Aviemore and Grantown TICs in March 2005 VS Providing dedicated space, displays and racking High 1-2 High - VS 4f Develop partnership agreements with selected outlets for housing displays and providing information Med 1-2 Med - - 4f Review and strengthen the process of accommodation establishments obtaining, displaying and distributing Park information High 1 Low - TA,PS 4g Strengthen and maintain Cairngorms knowledge and delivery by all tourism personnel by training, familiarisation visits and communication. High 1-5 Med Pilot of ‘Cairngorms Connections Course held March 2005, 9 courses to be run end Apr – end May, followed by familiarisation visits. TA ViSIT HIE/MB SE 4h Review and strengthen use of ranger services and upgrade ranger bases for information and interpretation delivery. High 1-3 Med Paper presented to NPA Board in March to consider options for the way forward. RS 4i Establish and maintain a tourism signage system High 1-3 High Interim metal signs to be erected at 10 key entry points by May 2005 Permanent metal signs installed at 5 railway stations - Quality and Welcome 5a Develop a process of receiving informal visitor feedback via TICs, accommodation hosts etc. High 1 Low - ViSIT 5a Undertake comprehensive visitor survey High 3-5 High - 5b Set targets for participation in quality certification and consider ways of encouraging levels of participation HIE/MB High 1-5 Med - VS, TA HIE/MB SE 5c Review accessibility to countryside facilities and establish a programme of improvements, including improved information Med 1-3 Med Landuse consultants undertaking an Outdoor Access Audit for paths - 5c Ensure that tourism enterprises are meeting responsibilities under Disability Discrimination legislation Med 1-3 Low Landbased Business Training Project run courses on Disability Access issues VS,TA CC 5d Bring together those responsible for public amenities and services, to seek to establish improvement programme Med 2 High - LA 5e Maintain and promote training schemes in quality and welcome High 1-5 Med Landbased Business Training Project funded Welcome Host course for land managers VS, TA HIE/MB SE 5e Raise awareness of funding assistance for small improvement schemes, and extend such assistance as necessary Med 1-5 High - LEC CC 5f Consider the creation of an Park-specific award scheme for good practice Med 1 Low - ViSIT 5f Keep abreast of proposals for recognising/labelling enterprises under Part 2 of the European Charter Med 1-2 Med Information on CNP brand-use criteria forwarded to Europarc. - Distinctiveness and Discovery 6a Make more of the guided walks and events programme as a tourist attraction by strengthening the programme, its seasonal spread, and related promotion and information High 1-2 Med Cairngorms Countryside Events 2005 leaflet given wider distribution than 2004, and placed on website. RS 6a Consider establishing a Cairngorms festival Med 2 Med - ViSIT 6b Explore tourism potential of cultural heritage themes that emerge from the ‘State of the Park’ audit. High 2-3 High CNPA producing a map/leaflet on gaelic place names ViSIT 6b Engage in relevant national and regional initiatives relating to cultural heritage Med 1-5 Med - ViSIT 6c Provide a range of walking opportunities at all levels, well maintained and creatively promoted within the Cairngorms through the Core Paths Plan High 3 Med Collaborative marketing encouraged production of Walking Festivals leaflet 2005 RS, LH 6d Strengthen availability, accessibility and information on a range of activities for casual and short break visitors High 1-2 Med - PS, TA HIE/MB SE 6d Research market and product needs and opportunities concerning future of skiing and potential of making more of field sports. Med 2-4 Med - PS, LH HIE/MB SE 6e Seek ways to strengthen wildlife watching opportunities for all visitors, and work with operators on improved networking, training and packaging. Med 2-3 Med Some events provided within Countryside Events leaflet PS, LH SNH HIE/MB SE 6f Encourage and support the development of product and experiences on the theme of learning about the land. Med 1-3 Med Land Based Business Project organises courses for dealing with the media and communications RS, LH 6g Consider establishment of a small grants for innovative product improvement and development and events. Med 1-3 High CNPA currently considering the development of an Integrated Grant Scheme with a strand to cover marketing and events. LEC, SEN,HIE 6g Develop networks and proposals for bids to VisitScotland’s Challenge Fund High 1 Low See 2d and consideration of grant to ABSC, and 6g above, with potential funding available to seek match funding from VS Challenge Fund CC, TA ViSIT Enterprise and Economy 7a Keep abreast of industry performance and needs through the ViSIT forum and through establishing a regular ‘how’s business’ check High 1 Low - ViSIT, CC, TA 7a Conduct an omnibus tourism enterprise survey High 2-3 Med ViSIT, CC, TS 7b Bring development support and training agencies together to discuss needs and coordinate delivery Med 1-2 Low Vocational Training Workshop in March 2005 including Employers & the public sector. Options developed will be discussed in upcoming ESD forums. ViSIT, CC LEC 7b Establish pool of experts who can be called upon to deliver advice on sustainable tourism to enterprises Med 2 Low - ViSIT 7c Maintain a fair, transparent approach to the control of tourism development through the planning process High 1-5 Low Cairngorms Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise companies and councils being involved in Local Plan research. LA 7d Investigate the potential for more diversification of farms/landholdings into tourism, and the support needed. Med 2-3 Med Land Based Business Project organises Wildlife Tourism Diversification courses for land managers, farmers, etc LH,SNH HIE/MB SE 7e Strengthen awareness and spending on local crafts and produce, through researching producers, branding and strengthening information on sources for enterprises and visitors. High 1-2 Med Cairngorms Food Producers survey completed 2004 VS, CC 7f Work together to develop policy and actions that will help to improve the availability of local labour supply for tourism enterprises High 1-3 High The Vocational Training programme will react to employers needs in establishing new hospitality vocational and recreational training programmes HIE LEC,VS Visitor Management 8a Establish a spatial policy/plan relating to visitor volumes, carry-ing capacities and visitor spreading and flows across the Park. High 1-2 Med - - 8a Establish policies and priorities for action for strengthening provision and use of public transport by visitors within a transport plan for the Cairngorms. Med 1-2 Med Cairngorms Explorer, the integrated public transport timetable brochure, being delivered in May 2005. Initial planning for a Park-wide transport audit and survey to go to consultation with public sector partners Summer 2005. LA HIE/MB SE 8b Monitor visitor and traffic volumes and movements, especially at peak times High 1-5 Med STEAM survey has given important baseline indicators and will continue to 2007 (CNP Board approval required) LA 8c Develop itineraries and promotional initiatives to encourage more visitor use of existing public transport High 1-2 Low Cairngorms Explorer will include illustrative walks and cycle rides utilising public transport LA PS 8c Identify gaps in public transport timetabling and provision on relevant routes and seek to extend service to meet potential tourist demand, including subsidy if appropriate Med 2-3 High Both Cairngorms Explorer and the upcoming audit and survey of transport in the Park will identify gaps in demand and provision. LA HIE/MB SE 8d Assess and develop the potential for more opportunities for exploring the Park by foot, cycle, riding and canoe, including improved facility provision, packaging and information. Med 3 Med Land Based Business Project provides advanced qualification course for outdoor recreation providers so that they can provide an enhanced service to visitors. PS 8e Conduct a feasibility study into providing a shuttle bus service Med 2-3 Med - LA HIE/MB SE 8f Instigate and maintain dialogue with coach operators, including possible production of coach drivers’ handbook Med 1-3 Low Discussion with coach operators is ongoing, with increased cycle carriage provision being encouraged & partially funded by CNPA. VS Community Involvement 9a Ensure good level of community representation and involvement in structures identified under Objective 1 High 1-2 Low CNPA currently provides financial support to the ACC. ViSIT 9a Obtain feedback on residents opinion of tourism, through adding questions to regular surveys or consultation work and if necessary undertaking occasional specific surveys. Med 1-5 Low - - 9a Maintain coverage on tourism in Park newsletters and local media Med 1-5 Low On-going - 9b Encourage providers of tourism facilities to promote use to local residents High 1-5 Low - TA PS 9c Encourage hosts to provide visitors with information on the availability of services local to where they are staying Med 1-5 Low - TA PS CC 9d Encourage and assist local communities to provide facilities and events to tourists Med 1-5 Med - VS HIE/MB SE