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Designators
The Quality Assurance award consists of a Star grade which results from the assessment accompanied by one of the designators below. In line with other VisitScotland Quality Assurance Schemes, the designators give clear information to visitors on the type of facility or attraction.
The designator types are:
Visitor Attraction
This covers all attractions not listed below such as visitor centres, heritage centres, churches, garden centres, steam railways, day trips etc plus retail outlets with major demonstrations/exhibitions.
Leisure Centre
This covers leisure pools, swimming pools and sports centres.
Arts Venue
Includes theatres, art centres, cinemas etc. The assessment does not take into account the content of the performances or events as they will vary, often on a weekly basis, but assesses general customer care, quality of facilities, lighting, accessories etc.
Tourist Shop
Includes retail outlets which are primarily in existence for tourists e.g. whisky centres, woollen shops/mills, and may include demonstrators or exhibitors.
Activity Centre
This covers centres providing outdoor pursuits such as horse riding, off road driving, watersports, golf ranges etc.
Garden
This covers gardens open to the public, especially where a house associated with the garden may not be.
Tour
This includes tours such as walking tours, wildlife tours etc.
Castle
May be inhabited or ruined and can include structures which were originally castles but have evolved into houses over the centuries and have retained the title of castle.
Historic House
Houses or palaces of historic significance.
Museums
Used to display a collection of artifacts of historical or other significance.
Historic Attraction
Usually denotes an attraction that is not a castle or historic house, but of historical significance, or indeed may relate to a period or pre-history or very early history.
Garden Centre
Includes retail outlets specialising in the sale of plants and gardening supplies. Retail area may also include gifts and accessories.
Wildlife Experience
A variety of attraction types including wildlife visitor centres, boat trips and walking tours which offer an nature-based experience with possibilites of viewing flora and fauna in a natural or protected environment.
When applying to the scheme each applicant should indicate the designator they feel would be most appropriate for their attraction. This can be discussed at the time of the visit, where the Quality Advisor's advice may be that another designator is more appropriate.
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