Policy
25 August 2025
Scotland Rural Tourism Strategy update
Policy
25 August 2025
Ecotourism
Gastronomy tourism
Rural tourism
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Dive into Scotland's ambitious endeavor to transform its rural economy through agritourism. Discover how the Highlands are becoming a hub for sustainable tourism, aiming to reach significant economic and employment goals by 2030.
Visit Scotland
Visit Scotland
Topics
EU-27
Destination Management & Marketing Organisations
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Specific types of tourism
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Ecotourism
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Gastronomy tourism
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Rural tourism
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Transition Pathway Strategic Areas
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Best practices, peer learning and networking
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Business activities
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Activities of amusement parks and theme parks
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Activities of associations and other organisations supporting tourism
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Air passenger transport
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Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks and trailer parks
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Events catering and other food services
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Festivals, cultural and entertainment activities
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Gardens and nature reserves activities
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Holiday Housing / Apartments and other short stay accommodation
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Hotel and similar accommodation
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Mobile beverage services
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Mobile food services
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Museums
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Operation of historical sites
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Other
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Other accommodation
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Other amusement and recreation activities
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Other food and beverage services
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Other holiday reservation services
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Other tourism transportation activities
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Rail Passenger transport
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Recreational and sport activities
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Restaurants, cafes and bars (Food and Beverage serving activities)
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Road passenger transport
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Tour operator activities
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Travel agency activities
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Water (sea, coastal and inland) passenger transport
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Scotland's Rural Tourism Strategy is redefining the landscape of tourism by integrating agritourism as a central pillar of its economic growth plan. The Highlands, with their stunning natural landscapes and vibrant local communities, serve as a focal point for this ambitious transformation. Agritourism, which includes activities such as berry-picking, guided farm tours, and unique farm stays, is helping local farms and estates support the tourist economy while preserving Scotland's rich cultural heritage.
As Scotland rolls out its comprehensive survey, an integral part of the Scottish Agritourism 2030 Strategy, stakeholders across the region are encouraged to participate. This research aims to map the current contributions of agritourism, valued at £60 million, and set ambitious targets for growth to £250 million by the end of the decade. Such growth includes supporting nearly 10,000 full-time equivalent jobs and fostering opportunities for younger generations on family farms.
The strategy is not solely focused on growth in numbers but is also dedicated to promoting sustainable practices, enhancing visitor experiences, and ensuring responsible resource management. By tying agritourism to global benchmarks and inviting international peers to events like the Global Agritourism Conference, Scotland aims to position itself as a leader in the field.
Visitors are encouraged to explore Scotland’s diverse offerings that extend beyond traditional urban attractions like Edinburgh and Glasgow, fostering tourism in rural communities and distributing economic benefits more evenly. Seasonal experiences and engagement with local communities enrich the cultural value for both domestic and international travelers.
We highly recommend reading more here about the full Scottish strategy to understand the scope of this transformation and how agritourism can serve as a model for sustainable rural development. For those interested in Scotland's vision and initiatives, accessing the comprehensive details of the strategy will provide valuable insights into its impact on local and national scales.
#Strategy #Ecotourism #Sustainable destinations #Destination management
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