This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Glencoe wins gold for being green
10/02/2003
The Glencoe Visitor Centre has won the prestigious
'Gold' Green Tourism Business Scheme award for its success
in demonstrating commitment to the environment.
Located in one of the National Trust for Scotland's most
popular conservation areas, the Glencoe Visitor Centre
joins 13 other visitor attractions in Scotland to have
achieved the highest award.
The building itself, built on the former campsite at
Inverigan, is one of the greenest in Scotland and regarded
as an example of how best to integrate design with
environmental management and educational initiatives.
It is landscaped to blend with its surroundings, was
built from sustainable timber sources. Energy efficiency is
high and heating is provided using locally sources
woodchips, making it Carbon Dioxide neutral.
Presenting the award today, Tourism Minister Mike Watson
said:
"The Executive is committed to raising awareness of the
importance of sustainable tourism, and ensuring that the
industry adopts good business practices.
"Sustainable tourism is a growth sector, and
increasingly consumers want to know that the places they
visit are playing their part in looking after the
environment and protecting it for future generations.
"The Green Tourism Business Scheme is an excellent
initiative which encourages this thinking. The Glencoe
Visitors Centre has deservedly won the prestigious and
exclusive "Gold" award for demonstrating its hard work and
creative thinking in the area of sustainable tourism".
The NTS is the conservation charity which protects and
promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for
future generations to enjoy.
It owns or manages 127 properties, including over 74,000
hectares of countryside. Glencoe is a special area of
conservation and one of the Trust's most popular
properties. The Visitor Centre attracts over 160,000
visitors each year.
The Green Tourism Business Scheme is a VisitScotland
initiative. It was launched five years ago as part of its
portfolio of quality-assurance schemes e.g. the grading of
accommodation, the walkers-welcome scheme, and access for
the disabled. The GTBS objective is to encourage tourism
businesses to be environmentally friendly.