Assessing the economic impacts of nature based tourism in Scotland

participants, though in terms of volume most visitors are aged 25-44, more upmarket
ABC1 types and male. Participants in snowsports in Scotland originate almost
exclusively from the UK, with the majority from Scotland (75%).
In recent years, there had been growth in snowboarding and blading, although skiing
was making something of a comeback.
Although taking part in snowsports was the sole or main reason for coming to the area
for many, most also appear to have taken part in other activities while on their trip; the
highest proportions hill-walked, but significant numbers of others cycled or took
advantage of outdoor culture and wildlife opportunities.
The difference between George Street’s estimate for snowsports participants attracted
to the HIE area (825,000 days) and the number of skier days achieved by the five
resorts (152,681) demonstrates a weakness in George Street’s study methodology and
it appears to us that their other reports for the HIE area (summarised above) equally
lack statistical robustness.
6.9 Conclusions from walking, mountain and snow sports and adventure reports
Realistically, only those on a dedicated hill walking trip or a long distance trek will be
walking daily during their stay. Most others who walk while on their trip to Scotland will
walk as part of their trip and, for some, this may be just a single short walk.
As for many outdoor activities, motivations vary. Many dedicated walkers and
mountaineers walk or climb for the physical challenge or for health and well being
rather than being principally motivated by the natural heritage, even though they are
walking out of doors.
Walking is clearly the most popular nature based activity for UK residents holidaying in
Scotland. VisitScotland (2009) identified 47% of total UK visitor trips (5.7 million trips
out of 12.15 million) involving some form of moderate walking or more while on holiday
in Scotland. For the purposes of this Section, walking is deemed to include walks of
more than one mile, rambling, hiking, and mountain sports like hill walking,
mountaineering and climbing. It would be too simplistic, however, to take 47% of the
total UK visitor £1,986 million spend (£933 million) and credit that sum to walking.
VisitScotland (2009) records 5.7million UK resident trips that included walking and 2.48
million trips by overseas visitors. Of the 1,000 walkers interviewed by Progressive, all
of whom stayed at least one night away from home, 26% came from Scotland, 40%
from the rest of the UK and 34% from overseas. Using this ratio, i.e. 60/40 Rest of
UK/Scotland, the 5.7million splits into 3.4m/2.3m trips. Visit Britain (2009) records a
figure of 41% of overseas visitors walking in the Scottish countryside. Given no clear
definition of walking, this is considered likely to include an element of short strolls. We
would suggest that the Progressive (2006) figure of 34% is also applicable to the
proportion of overseas visitors who went walking (on walks of at least 1 mile), i.e. 0.84
million trips, whilst in Scotland. NOF System 3 (2000) also identifies 0.8 million
overseas visitors walking or climbing. The Progressive report recorded that 20% (5.7 +
0.84 x 20% = 1.308million trips) of those who said they were walking also said they
were undertaking other outdoor activities, notably mountain biking / cycling and
watersports during their holiday.
The Progressive survey found that, for 39% of interviewees, walking was the main
reason for their trip, for another 40% walking was one of the reasons for their trip, while
for the remaining 21%, it was a minor part of their trip. Applying these percentages to
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