Assessing the economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland

Client: HIE, SNH and VisitScotland
Published: 2003/4
Research Method:
The staged programme of research comprised:
• Literature review
• Household survey
• Survey of development agencies
• Survey of users
• Survey of suppliers
The research methods deployed were as follows:
Table 18 - Research methods: adventure in HIE area
Target
No. of
Survey Method
Respondents
Householders 4,000 Face to face
Users 200 plus Self completion
Suppliers 15 Face to face and telephone
Geographical scope: Householders from throughout the UK, excluding those parts of
Scotland north of the Caledonian Canal; customers at adventure centres in the
Highlands and Islands; suppliers in Lochaber, Argyll, Ross and Cromarty, Inverness,
Strathspey, Skye, and the Western Isles. The findings relate to the HIE area.
User definition: those surveyed included 119 hill-walkers, 71 canoeists and between
20 and 50 sailors, mountain-bikers, kayakers, gorge-walkers, rock-climbers and
abseilers (amongst others). Some were involved in several activities. The survey was
thought to have underestimated the number of tourists using adventure centres as part
of a day trip from outside the area. To correct for this, in calculating volume and value,
the numbers attending as day visitors from outwith the area were taken to be the same
as watersports, and cycling, two of the most common activities at these centres (i.e.
6% of total adventure centre visitors). The impacts are given separately for day trip and
overnight visitors.
Activity coverage:
The following activities were included in the adventure niche for the purposes of the
research:
1. Corporate Market – corporate activity days organised to build a more effective team
dynamic through team building exercises and training in various outdoor sports,
ranging from abseiling to white-water rafting.
2. Gorge Walking – ascending or descending a mountain stream with scrambling and
some swimming – often used for trust building and group co-operation.
3. Rafting – involves controlling a raft, steering the best course down rivers, often
running whitewater rapids.
4. Paragliding – a paraglider is a non-motorised, foot-launched inflatable wing which
is easy to launch from the ground. It has no rigid structure and the pilot is
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