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Perth and Kinross Council

Support and advice

A key driver of economic growth

Our destinations play a vital role in developing Scotland as a world leading sustainable tourism destination. Our new Sustainable Destination Development Programme aims to provide support and advice to destinations seeking to progress their sustainable ambitions. Read more about the pilot programme and how your destination can express an interest to get involved.

What is the Sustainable Destination Development Programme?

Destinations across Scotland are at varying stages of their sustainable growth journey and are increasingly seeking structured, expert led support and advice to progress their ambitions.

The project will commence in March 2026 and run for an initial period of one year, with the option to extend to a second year.

The Sustainable Destination Development Programme will provide a comprehensive programme of support, specialist guidance, and practical tools enabling destinations to deliver faster and more robust progress on their sustainable tourism journey.

The exact nature of the support, and timing of activity, will be developed through dialogue with the destinations involved and may vary from destination to destination in order to fully reflect local needs and opportunities. 

 

Unlike other supported programmes this is dedicated to destinations rather than individual businesses.

We expect that expressions of interest will:

  • come from an organisation already playing a key role in the leadership of a destination
  • be submitted on behalf of a partnership of key organisations in the destination

Through the programme, destinations will receive support to develop and deliver a strategic plan setting out their sustainable tourism actions which is embedded in, or aligned to, the overall strategy of the destination.

The plan and associated work will also be aligned with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) destination standards. A recognised global standard for sustainability in travel and tourism.

Expression of interest (EOI)

We are now inviting destinations from across Scotland to submit an initial expression of interest by emailing Sustainabledestination@visitscotland.com.

Closing date for an expression of interest is 5pm on Thursday 19 February 2026.

We anticipate that the destinations who are successful in being included in the pilot programme will be notified in early March 2026.

The expression of interest should include, in no more than two pages, how the destination addresses the following points:

  • Strong tourism destination

    • coherent visitor destination, with a clear visitor proposition and existing and effective partnership arrangements
    • track record of delivering work to grow the visitor economy

     

  • Strategy

    • evidence of a robust tourism strategy, with broad support across public and priviate sector, that includes elements of sustainable tourism
    • show how additional support on sustainability will enhance and accelerate that current sustainable tourism vision or actions

     

  • Buy-in

    • commitment across main destination partners to engaging in this project over the 1-2 years
    • commitment of time to attend meetings, input to workshops, review and respond to documents
    • willingness to be open around opportuntities and challenges, to share progress and learnings

     

  • Partnership

    • clear roles identified through the partnership for public and private sectors in relation to the visitor economy
    • evidence of senior level buy-in from key organisations
    • evidence that other relevant organisations are aware and supportive of an expression of interest being submitted

     

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