Responsible Tourism

The need for responsible tourism messaging emerged from the publication of a Visitor Management Plan for Harris in 2021.  Supported by Nature Scot, in partnership with Outer Hebrides Tourism, West Harris Trust and North Harris Trust, the Plan reflected comprehensive consultation with the local community and tourism industry representatives.

Later that year the PLACE responsible tourism campaign was launched to enable local communities across the Outer Hebrides to communicate core messages to visitors, both in planning for their trip and to encourage responsible behaviour during their stay. Outer Hebrides Tourism developed the campaign across social media with input from a wide range of tourism organisations, supported by leaflets and posters to re-enforce and continually promote the message.

The ‘Outer Hebrides is a Special P.L.A.C.E’ includes a simple acronym that is clear and memorable for visitors to understand and forms a call to action to ‘please help us to keep it that way.’

P for Parking. L for Litter. A for Animals. C for Campers. E for Engage.

In 2022/23,  Outer Hebrides Tourism collaborated with local communities to develop new visitor signage. Working initially with Storas Uibhist, West Harris Trust, North Harris Trust and Uig Development Trust, the signage builds on the ‘Outer Hebrides is a Special PLACE’ campaign for responsible tourism and was funded with assistance from Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and VisitScotland’s Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund (RTIF).

The addition of the new PLACE signage is a further way of encouraging visitors to behave responsibly and strengthens the message by creating a uniformity of messaging through the islands.

The eye-catching but carefully designed signage delivers a variety of messages including the core principles of PLACE, the importance of machair protection, awareness of animals, litter removal, camping best practice and parking advice. Click here to view the signage visuals.

The project will also see Urras Oighreachd Ghabhsainn, Urras na Pàirce, Carloway Estate Trust and Urras Oighreachd Bharabhais receive signage meaning islanders and visitors will soon see consistent messaging rolled out across the communities of the Outer Hebrides.  

Any other communities that are interested in displaying the PLACE signage, get in touch with Outer Hebrides Tourism and we can discuss options.