主題

Sustainable Tourism: The Challenge of Achieving Net Zero in the Scottish Context

Sustainable Tourism: Tackling Overtourism in Scotland (with Initiatives)

摘要

Sustainable Tourism: The Challenge of Achieving Net Zero in the Scottish Context

Reaching “net zero” means reducing carbon emissions as much as possible, then balancing the rest through offsetting. Scotland has set ambitious goals, but tourism makes this difficult because visitors travel long distances, often to remote islands and rural areas. This presentation introduces the idea of net zero in simple terms and explains why tourism creates high emissions, especially through flights, car travel, and hotel energy use. Using clear examples from Edinburgh, the Highlands, and the Isle of Skye, the session explores how destinations and businesses are trying to lower their impact. Case studies include electric buses in Edinburgh, community-run renewable energy projects on islands, and low-carbon hotels. The presentation shows what Scotland is doing well, what challenges remain, and what students and travellers can learn from these experiences. The goal is to make sustainable tourism understandable and to inspire practical ideas for reducing our travel footprint.

Sustainable Tourism: Tackling Overtourism in Scotland (with Initiatives)

Overtourism happens when too many visitors arrive in one place, creating pressure on local communities, nature, and daily life. This presentation explains the idea through Scottish examples such as crowding in Edinburgh’s Old Town during festivals, traffic and waste problems on the Isle of Skye, and the rapid rise of visitors along the North Coast 500 road trip route. These cases show how overtourism affects housing, transport, and fragile landscapes. The session also presents initiatives designed to reduce these pressures: visitor management plans on Skye, shuttle buses to popular viewpoints, “book-in-advance” systems at key attractions, community tourism funds, limits on short-term rentals in Edinburgh, and digital tools that share real-time crowd data. By examining both the challenges and the solutions, the presentation offers a clear, accessible introduction to how Scotland is working to protect its destinations while still welcoming visitors responsibly.

簡介

Dr. Gökçe Özdemir Umutlu is a Senior Lecturer in Tourism at the University of Glasgow’s School of Social and Environmental Sustainability. Prior to joining Glasgow, she held academic and administrative leadership roles at Yaşar University. Her research focuses on destination and event management from strategic, managerial, and marketing perspectives.

Dr. Özdemir Umutlu has contributed extensively to European-funded initiatives, serving as team leader and senior expert on three major EU projects centred on cultural and historical destinations, sustainable development of natural cities, and integrated destination marketing. She has also been involved in a collaborative Sweden–Turkey capacity-building project addressing sustainable tourism governance. Her applied work includes advising municipalities on tourism components of their urban master plans, supporting long-term destination planning and community-based tourism development. She has been a visiting researcher at the University of Brighton, and has delivered guest lectures at leading European universities in Sweden, Belgium, Italy, Greece, and Spain.

簡報

The Challenge of Achieving Net Zero in the Scottish Context: Download
Tackling Overtourism in Scotland (with Initiatives): Download