Highlands a ‘working landscape’, not just a ‘wilderness’ for tourists
● Award winning gamekeeper hopes to move away from ‘bucket list’ tourism
Scotland’s tourist chiefs must stop portraying the Highlands and Islands as “vast wilderness” and move away from promoting a ‘bucket list’ style of visit, it has been claimed.
The comments have been made by Scott Mackenzie, the last gamekeeper on Skye, who said many of the visitors to the island leave without a true understanding of place, people or its “working landscape”.
He has previously spoken out about damage caused by the flow of tourists to the big visitor attractions such as Fairy Glen and the Quiraing, and the negative impact visitor numbers were having on islanders.
Mr Mackenzie, who is employed on the Fearann Eilean Iarmain estate, has set up a number of alternative tours that take in the people, wildlife and features of the landscape.
It is hoped they will encourage visitors to experience more than the “big five” visitor attractions, which also include Fairy Pools, The Old Man of Storr and Neist Point.
Mr Mackenzie, who was earlier named 2019 Gamekeeper of the Year, said: “We felt the boom in tourism that started in the North of Skye was having a negative impact as well as a beneficial one.
“We talk to visitors about how the landscape is managed, why it looks the way it does and how it was shaped.
“They go away with a better understanding of how the landscape works instead of the long-standing idea that the Highlands and Islands is a vast wilderness.
“Visitors are unaware and even surprised that the landscape is worked.”
He said tourism bodies have a responsibility to give a “true portrayal” of the landscape to promote ‘slow tourism’ that encourages return visits to destinations like Skye.
Visitors should also be made aware of the sensitive areas to avoid at certain times of the year due to breeding, stalking and gathering sheep.
“This is a working landscape, not a wilderness,” he said.
Mr Mackenzie’s remarks come as businesses on Skye start a campaign that urges people to “stay longer, see less and experience more” of the island.
Skyeattractsaround650,000 visitors a year, with around 28 per cent of tourists drawn from the international market and 72 per cent coming from other parts of the UK.
Chris Taylor, Regional Leadership Director at Visitscotland, said: “We continue to focus our marketing efforts to help encourage holidaymakers to explore all regions of Scotland at all times of the year to get a truly authentic experience. This very much emulates the efforts of the local tourism campaign, Skyetime, focusing on the uniqueness of Skye, encouraging visitors to slow down, stay longer and enjoy a more fulfilling experience.”