Community Tourism in Scotland with Russell Fraser
Community Tourism in Scotland with Russell Fraser

Community Tourism in Scotland with Russell Fraser

Episode 73: Community Tourism in Scotland with Russell Fraser

Let’s talk about community tourism in Scotland and hear from Russell Fraser (Loch Ness Hub, SCOTO), whose community in Drumnadrochit has stepped up to manage tourism in the Loch Ness area.

Join me for a conversation with Russell Fraser, the Managing Director at Loch Ness Hub & Travel and Chair of the Scottish Community Tourism Network, SCOTO. We hear the story of the local community in Drumnadrochit, and how they stepped up to the challenge of running the local visitor information centre. But that’s not all they do – from e-bike hire and baggage transfer for hikers on the Great Glen Way, to providing public toilets and offering school meals, the Loch Ness Hub works hard to benefit both visitors and the local community.

Russell tells us about the leading role of community tourism in Scotland, the potential of local communities to get involved with tourism and what an unforgettable trip to Loch Ness and Drumnadrochit could look like.

In this chat we cover…

  • Some of the issues with tourism on Loch Ness & strategies to overcome them,
  • The gap left behind my VisitScotland’s announcement of closing all their visitor centres & how local communities can step into this gap,
  • How the relationship between locals and visitors changes when locals become invested in tourism,
  • How visitors can benefit from locals who are involved in tourism,
  • and more!

Connect with Loch Ness Hub & Travel on social media @lochnesshub and with SCOTO @SCOTOnetwork.

Resources

Tips for being a responsible tourist in Scotland, including a section on engaging with communities

Read more about the Scottish Government’s Asset Transfer policy here

For more information about community landownership and its positive impact on local communities, check out Community Land Scotland

Plan a trip to Loch Ness with my Loch Ness travel guide

Find out more about the Great Glen Way, Scotland’s second-most popular long-distance trail, and book baggage transfer via Loch Ness Hub

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