Bryony Beck, from Visit Inverness Loch Ness, talked to us recently, as part of our work on Expedia Group’s Destination Climate Champions course, about how they began to tackle climate action in tourism in their destination. Visit Inverness Loch Ness’ Climate Action Plan won the ITB Earth Award 2023 and Top 100 Stories Green Destinations 2022.
Why should DMOs engage with climate action?
It’s important for DMOs to engage in climate action and develop their own plan because they’re placed in a powerful situation where they can influence tourism businesses and help them out. Working towards Net Zero targets and climate action planning is definitely the way to go, and once a DMO has a CAP in place, it inspires its members and its businesses, which results in them making their own goals and targets for climate actions or net zero.
How did you define the scope of what you would cover in your climate action plan?
We created a vision, which was that it’s not too late. We are the last generation able to do something that’s safe for generations to come. Climate action and sustainability is at the forefront of the Inverness Loch Ness destination and working collaboratively with stakeholders across the destination, we will ensure what we do going forward is in the best interest of our people, our visitors and our environment.
Bryony Beck, from Visit Inverness Loch Ness, talked to us recently, as part of our work on Expedia Group’s Destination Climate Champions course, about how they began to tackle climate action in tourism in their destination. Visit Inverness Loch Ness’ Climate Action Plan won the ITB Earth Award 2023 and Top 100 Storys Green Destinations 2022.
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned?
The most important thing we’ve learned from this process is that collaboration is key. We wouldn’t have achieved such a well recognised climate action plan, or perhaps actually achieved the plan itself if it wasn’t for the support we’d had from VisitScotland and the Travel Foundation. We even had support from our local authority, Highland Council, our members and stakeholders. It’s got us to where we are today.
What top tips would you give to other DMOs who want to engage in climate action in tourism?
Start small. It could be as simple as an increase in recycling bins, but include this within the plan because anything you’ve done, however small, needs to be recognised. And you need to start somewhere. A climate action plan doesn’t need to just be about the future. It can be about the past, present and future. It doesn’t need to just be about what you’re going to do, it also needs to highlight what you’ve already achieved.
Second is to regularly monitor your progress. Include your climate action plan, goals and targets as one overall KPI, and then monitor each goal and target separately. This way the plan is given regular attention, and it isn’t just something that you create and forget about. It’s something that you are accountable for and and also something that you’re able to share with your members and your businesses.
Lastly, share your plan. By sharing, you’re raising your profile of your climate action planning, which is important. You might even win some awards for it but regardless of that, it also puts you on a local scale of becoming recognized as leading the way on climate action in tourism.
