Led by a team of dynamic individuals who each have extensive and varied experience in community tourism, SCOTO’s ambition is to recalibrate tourism in Scotland to deliver for Scotland’s communities and environment first.
VISION
For every community in Scotland to be able to secure added value from tourism
MISSION
Individuals and communities across Scotland have access to at least six online gatherings per annum, showcasing best practices and support networking. SCOTO also hosts an annual conference with learning exchange visits.
With Scotland aiming to rebuild from the effects of Covid-19, and with demand for staycations increasing, there is now – more than ever – an opportunity and a need to engage and empower local communities, and to ensure that the benefits that flow from tourism are enjoyed more widely.
Over 85 individuals took part in the CLT programme. Three outcomes were evident:
a) Most participants did not have a background in tourism and gained massively from better understanding the sector and how it operates on many levels.
b) Recognition that Community Tourism is a real thing that conscious consumers seek out and is exceptionally well aligned to the national tourism strategy ‘Scotland Outlook 2030’ – yet it is not represented by existing tourism forums or presented to visitors as a distinct experience in its own right.
c) Creating a forum where participants could share new ideas and innovations made a tangible difference back in their respective local community.
In 2021 CLT course leader Carron Tobin, was successful in securing a £60k grant from the Scottish Government’s Tourism Leadership & Recovery Fund to progress Russell’s idea – and establish SCOTO.
This 6-month grant was specifically targeted at formally establishing SCOTO as a legal entity, developing a digital presence for engagement between members and with visitors, creating the much-needed networking forum for CLT practitioners, establishing a social media presence and devising a brand marque to raise visitor awareness of Community Tourism enterprises across Scotland. Our first year has exceeded all expectations! Check out the highlights of our impact here.
Developing an instantly recognisable visitor-facing brand, Be Local and our network brand SCOTO.
Operating a visitor facing website www.belocal.scot which features community tourism blogs and interactive map showcasing each of our partners under key themes. Supporting and sharing resources, events and invaluable information to our SCOTO Network through www.scoto.co.uk
Undertaking contracts and provide services activity linked to Community Tourism.
Being active on social media as @SCOTOnetwork and @BeLocalScotland, profiling our activity and partners and engaging in wider tourism conversations
PR and media activity to raise awareness of our presence and offering
Providing platforms for our network to share information and ask questions.
Gathering and sharing online resources to assist our partners, aspirers, supporters and friends
Hosting regular online gatherings and webinars to share best practice and catch up with our partners, supporters and friends