Protecting Paradise: Ecotourism
opportunities are plentiful in the Uists
At present there are few schemes which directly benefit the tourism industry here in the Hebrides and while it is identified that there is a great need for training in certain sectors such as environment, hospitality and marine tourism, the real need is for investment in the tourism resource. It is wonderful to see the Hebrides feature on many TV programmes and being aired to millions of new customers (as will be the case for the Uists when the new series of Monty Halls’ Great Escape is aired this coming spring) but without a much improved infrastructure, the tourism product and the local people will never reap the rewards.
One form of tourism which will certainly benefit the local community and environment is eco tourism.
Eco tourism is a sector of tourism which is based on nature travel and includes the principles of sustainability. The International Eco Tourism Society describes it as ‘responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people.’ Whatever definition is used, eco tourism when applied in the Uists should have a positive impact on the natural area and the community.
We need to look seriously at the tourism experience in these islands and be honest with ourselves in our assessment. The Hebrides is a unique environment and we should not be compared with any other destination. Our biodiversity is world class; we have the only dual world heritage site in the UK, St Kilda, a mere 41 miles off the coastline of North Uist, some of the most important breeding seabird and wader colonies in Europe and world renowned nature reserves such as Balranald, the Monach Isles and Drudibeg.
