Sustainable Tourism Features At European Conference

22nd September 2011

Over 140 delegates from across Europe will be arriving in Inverness next week to take part in a conference looking at ways European destinations can promote the growth of sustainable tourism in mountain areas.

The Sustainable Active Tourism Conference is being organised by The Highland Council in partnership with Euromontana to put the spot light on current issues surrounding developing tourism in mountain areas across Europe. Challenges of the economic crisis, the impact of climate change and strong competition from other tourism destinations will all be looked at as part of the two day event which runs from 27-28 September at The Highland Council headquarters in Inverness.

The event, supported by The Cairngorm National Park, HIE and Forestry Commission Scotland will include presentations by key note speakers including Euromontana president Andre Marcon, Anton Zimmerman from the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economy, Peter Braaten, Manager of the National Park of Hallingskarvet, Norway and Riddell Graham, Director of Partnerships with Visit Scotland. There will be workshops study visits covering themes - the management of environmental resources; diversification of tourism activities; the development of skills; and widening access to destinations.

Councillor Isobel McCallum, Vice Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee and a Board Member of Euromontana has been involved in organising the conference. She said: "Europe's mountain environments provide unique and diverse tourism venues with a range of well recognised products. Mountain entrepreneurs have continued to develop new tourism products that attract more and more people to mountain areas every year. It is important that these regions have the opportunity to keep their unique culture vibrant and global issues such as climate change and strong competition do not have a negative impact on mountain tourism.

"Not only will this conference give Euromontana members the chance share good practice and have their say on topical issues, but feedback from delegates will be gathered and from this Euromontana will produce a position paper to influence the emerging EU tourism policy with recommendations to support the promotion of sustainable tourism in mountain areas."

Although the conference is now fully booked, anyone wishing to find out more about the work of Euromontana can visit their website www.euromontana.org

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

15/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Inverness - Highland Bid Director for UK City of Culture appointed

Highly respected cultural leader and strategist Bryan Beattie has been appointed by The Highland Council as Bid Director of the Inverness - Highland bid for UK City of Culture 2029.   He was recently creative director for the Inverness Castle Experience and interim Chief Executive at Eden Court, and a former Chair of Fèis Rois and Scottish Youth Theatre.  

14/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council enhances delivery on the Highland Housing Challenge

The Highland Council will meet on Thursday, 14 May and on the agenda for discussion is a report on the Highland Housing Challenge.   The Highland Housing Challenge was declared in June 2024, with a target of 24,000 new homes by 2034.  

13/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Glen Earrach Energy signs Social Value Charter, pledging Scotland's largest Community Wealth Fund

A pumped storage hydro project proposed near Loch Ness has committed to allocating 5 per cent of its annual gross margin to a Community Wealth Fund estimated to deliver over £20 million a year.   Glen Earrach Energy (GEE) has become the second company to sign the Highland Social Value Charter, marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands.  

12/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Views sought on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas in Highland

A public consultation opens today on proposals to introduce Short Term Let Control Areas (STLCA) in Highland with the aim of striking a better balance between tourism growth and local housing need.   The Highland Council is seeking views from residents, communities, businesses and the tourism sector on proposals to introduce two STLCAs: Inverness City STLCA, which would cover the wards of Inverness West; Inverness Central; Inverness Ness-side; Inverness Millburn; and parts of Inverness South, including Westhill, Milton of Leys and Slackbuie, and; Highland Rural STLCA, which would cover the wards of Lochaber; Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh; Sutherland; Skye and Raasay; Aird and Loch Ness; and parts of Inverness South, including Tomatin and Daviot.  

10/5/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council's Ambitious Capital Spending Plans Face Delays Due To Scottish Government Deficit Realities

The financial pressures facing both the Scottish Government and councils could create major risks for ambitious long-term capital programmes such as The Highland Council’s Highland Investment Plan (HIP), including the proposed £100 million redevelopment of Thurso High School into a major community campus.  However, the picture is complicated because projects like Thurso are also politically and economically important for the region.  

6/5/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council’s Debt Crunch: Rising Borrowing Costs Put 20‑Year Capital Plans Under Pressure

Highland Council is heading into a tougher financial climate than at any point since the financial crash and the pressure is coming from a direction that residents rarely see: the cost of government borrowing.   Following the UK’s latest rise in borrowing costs, the price councils pay for long‑term loans has increased again.  

5/5/2026 : Local Authority

Will Governments Override Local Councils to Build Wind Farms and Battery Storage? A Look at the UK’s Energy Shift

As the energy crisis continues to reshape policy across the UK, a key question keeps coming up.  Will national governments override local councils that refuse planning permission for renewable energy projects like wind farms and battery storage sites? The short answer is this is already happening and it’s likely to increase.  

29/4/2026 : Local Authority

Caithness Committee sets garage rates for year ahead

Garage rents in Caithness are set to increase by 10% for garage rent 2026/27 and 15% for garage sites, as agreed at the recent Caithness Area Committee (Monday 27 April).   There are currently 492 garages and garage sites across Caithness, 126 of which are currently void.  

28/4/2026 : Local Authority

Short Term Let Control Area In Badenoch and Strathspey Has Slowed More Properties Joining - See Highland Wide Tougher Rules

Early indications suggest that the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area (STLCA) for Badenoch and Strathspey has slowed the growth of secondary short-term lets across the area.   The STLCA for Ward 20, which covers Aviemore, Carrbridge, Boat of Garten, Dalwhinnie Grantown-on-Spey, Kingussie, and Newtonmore, has been in place for two years and was one of the first to be designated in Scotland.  

24/4/2026 : Local Authority

 
Highland Council signs Memorandum of Understanding with Ukrainian region

The Highland Council has confirmed the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional State (Military) Administration in Ukraine.   The MoU acknowledges bonds of friendship and common aims to promote knowledge transfer, educational and trade exchanges, and encourage investment opportunities between the two regions.