Highland tourism champion Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) earns top international accolade by capturing the Green Destinations ITB Earth Award in Berlin
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A tourism champion for Inverness and the surrounding area has landed a prestigious international environmental award after a ceremony in Berlin.
Visit Inverness Loch Ness (VILN) received the Green Destinations ITB Earth Award, which recognises global leadership in sustainable tourism in the fight against climate change and environmental degradation.
The Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID), with responsibility for a defined destination area that covers over 1200 square miles, became the first of its kind in the UK when established in 2014.
ITB Berlin is the world’s leading, and biggest, travel trade show held yearly.
The highlight of the event is the Green Destinations Story Awards, where VILN was shortlisted last year in the environment and climate category for its story, A view from Nessie: Inverness Loch Ness Climate Action Plan.
The story was chosen in the 2022 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories list in September last year, but the Green Destinations ITB Earth Award was an additional accolade made at the discretion of a panel of international experts.
It recognises global pioneers combating climate change and environmental harm through sustainable tourism.
Albert Salman, president of Green Destinations, said: "The Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition generates an amazing collection of good practice stories covering many aspects of sustainable destination management and regeneration.
“These stories demonstrate that tourism can indeed be a force for positive change and bring tangible benefits to destinations, local people, and the environment.
“Especially in the current global climate emergency, the need to narrate projects that address climate change is crucial.
“In response, the ITB Earth Award category has been established to acknowledge destinations that fully pursue these sustainable and future-oriented strategies, recognising them as leading examples for other destinations and managers.
“I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Inverness Loch Ness for winning this year's ITB Earth Award.
“Their Story, “A view from Nessie: Inverness Loch Ness' Climate Action Plan” (and project), fully embodies the award’s meaning, holistically tackling local climate issues and concerns, creating a robust plan, and actively engaging local stakeholders."
Accepting the award for VILN, Michael Golding, CEO at Visit Inverness Loch Ness, said: “To be recognised at the world’s biggest travel show as the leading global destination organisation for tackling the climate emergency is incredible.
“It is a very proud moment for our team and board.
“We are committed to being a leader on this journey, working with our business members and stakeholders, to fulfil Scotland’s ambition to be leaders in 21st Century Tourism on the way to reaching net zero by 2045.”
Marc Crothall, chief executive at the Scottish Tourism Alliance, said: “This is a truly remarkable, globally important accolade which highlights the strength of commitment of Visit Inverness Loch Ness and Scotland’s tourism industry in delivering our national strategic ambition to build responsible tourism for a sustainable future.
“Our industry vision, to be a world leader in 21st century tourism has propelled us through the challenges of recent years and we very much hope global destinations look towards Scotland as leading the way in sustainable tourism.”
Lord Thurso, chairman of VisitScotland said: “This is a real coup for Visit Inverness Loch Ness as a destination but also for Scotland as a whole.
“Tackling climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing Scottish tourism and yet the transition to responsible tourism also presents opportunities for us all.
“We want to inspire future generations to say that Scottish tourism led the way to help preserve and enhance the natural and built assets that benefit communities, businesses and our visitors.
“VILN has worked hard on its climate action plan to ably demonstrate this to the panel of international experts.
“By working together, we can help Scotland become a world-class destination, and the best destination for responsible tourism.”
Bryony Beck, VILN’s destination development manager, added: “I hope that this award and our climate action plan inspires not only our members but the whole region of Inverness and Loch Ness to make meaningful steps towards reducing our carbon footprint.”
In the last six months, VILN has also won UKInbound DMO of the Year and the RBS Climate Champion at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards.
VILN’s journey to Berlin will be offset via its partnership with Trees for Life.
