Sustainable Tourism

We currently have an estimated 2 million visitors annually. 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 – landscape, wildlife, culture, tranquillity.

Sustainable Tourism Action Plan 2023-2028

This Action Plan has been developed by the Cairngorms Tourism Partnership which brings together the key businesses and agencies involved in tourism. The Plan sets out the priority actions over the next five years to deliver sustainable tourism in the Cairngorms National Park.

Sustainable Tourism

European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas is a practical management tool that enables national Parks and other protected areas to develop tourism sustainably based on 5 principles:

1. Giving priority to protection;
2. Contributing to sustainable development;
3. Engaging all stakeholders;
4. Planning sustainable tourism effectively;
5. Pursuing continues improvement.

In 2005, just two years after designation as a National Park, the Cairngorms became the first National Park in the UK to be awarded the Charter on the basis of our first 5 year strategy & action plan for tourism. In 2011 and again in 2017 we were re-assessed on the basis of what had been delivered over the previous five years, as well as our strategy & action plans for the following 5 years. On both occasions we passed with flying colours. You can find the 2017 verifier’s evaluation report here. We have now submitted our latest action plan for assessment and expect a verification visit in early 2023.

Cairngorms Visitor Survey 2019/20

Every five years, the Cairngorms National Park Authority carries out a year-long visitor survey to help understand what motivates people to visit the area, how they get here, what they do and what they like and don’t like.

The latest survey ran from May 2019 until March 2020 when the Covid-19 lockdown brought research to a slightly early halt. The results are now in and the final report from the research is now available. View this report by clicking here, and a summary of the report can be viewed here.

In the meantime, if you need any more information about the research please contact Heather Trench on 01479 870545.

The previous survey was carried out in 2014/15 and the full results are here.

More information

If you’re interested in finding out more, or would like to have access to the full datasets, please contact Heather Trench on 01479 870545.

Economic Impacts of Tourism in the National Park

We commission annual analysis of visitor numbers and the economic value of tourism to the Cairngorms, and a summary of the data from 2012 – 2023 can be found here. In 2023 visitor numbers exceeded 2 million for the first time since 2019. If you would like any further information, or access to the full reports please contact Heather Trench on 01479 870545.