SCOTO | Community Tourism Day

Community Tourism Day 2026

EVERYONE CAN EMPOWER COMMUNITIES THROUGH TOURISM

What is Community Tourism Day?

To celebrate and recognise the incredible community tourism activity happening across Scotland and the UK, we hosted the second Community Tourism Day on the 25 April 2026

It also marked the 4th birthday of SCOTO – Community Tourism Network CIC, and throughout the day we shone a light on the networks initiatives across Scotland while highlighting how our partners and others are empowering communities through tourism. You can read and hear all contributions of the day below.

Want to get involved next year? Email info@scoto.co.uk

2026 Community Tourism Day

Blogs, Thoughts & Insights, Podcasts and Messages

Community Tourism Day MESSAGE

Marc Crothall Message to the Community Tourism Network

A huge thank you to Marc Crothall MBE, CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance, for recognising and celebrating the incredible work of everyone involved in community tourism.

Watch Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Reclaiming Tourism

Why Community-Led Tourism Must Be at the Heart of the UK’s Economic Future

Kenny Lieske of the Good Organisation shares his insights on community tourism and its powerful potential to support the UK’s economy and drive community wealth building.

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day PODCAST

A Pub That Empowers The Local Community

Judie McCourt, Ballantrae Development Trust talks to SCOTO

Listen Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Small Races, Big Community Spirit

Reflections on how sporting events in rural places exemplify community-led tourism

Nikki Brown, Engagement & Networks Lead at Scottish Rural Action runs and talks community tourism.

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day PODCAST

Mill of Benholm - Being Brought Back to Life by Volunteers

Henning Wagner, Chair Mill of Benholm Enterprise, speaks to SCOTO

Listen Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Cromarty Community Volunteering and Tourism

A flagship community project town.

Hayley Muir, Events & Marketing at Cromarty Community Development Trust (CCDT), explains why Cromarty is leading the way as a model for community tourism.

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Holiday and Residential Parks Associations: Building stronger ties with communities

Sarah Allanson Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland Holiday and Residential Parks Associations (HARPA) shines a light on how the sector supports and empowers local communities

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Tourism That Works for Everyone: A West Belfast Perspective

Eimear Hargey, Heritage Development Manager, Fáilte Feirste Thiar, gives a West Belfast prespective on community tourism

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day PODCAST

Buth Bharraigh - a shop with a difference

Sarah MacLean, Manager at Bùth Bharraigh Ltd talks to SCOTO

Listen Here >

Cullen Beach Clean Volunteers April 2026

Community Tourism Day BLOG

In Cullen Community Is Key

David McCubbin of Discover Cullen champions community tourism.

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Award Winning Community Tourism

Lee Haxton, Community and Volunteer Development Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, showcases why Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO, is an excellent example of community tourism.

Read Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

Community Tourism and the Antonine Wall

Stephen Balfour, Historic Environment Scotland, explains how local communities played a central role in the development of the award-winning Antonine Wall Project.

Read Here >

2025 Community Tourism Day Blogs, Podcasts, Messages and Announcements

Community Tourism Day Blogs, Podcasts, Messages and Announcements

In 2025, celebration of SCOTO's 3rd birthday and specifically to recognise the amazing community tourism activity happening across Scotland, we declared that Friday 25 April as Community Tourism Awareness Day. To mark the day we shared Press Pause podcasts, blogs and messages from across the SCOTO Network to shine a light on initiatives happening across Scotland.

MESSAGE

Marc Crothall MBE Birthday Message

Who better to help us mark SCOTO’s 3rd birthday and Community Tourism Awareness Day than our good friend Marc Crothall MBE, CEO of the Scottish Tourism Alliance?

Watch Here >

Community Tourism Day BLOG

In the beginning…

SCOTO’s Executive Director shares the story behind the formation of the Scottish Community Tourism Network and the journey leading up to its launch on Friday 25 April 2022.

Read Here >

Special Announcement

Big Announcement!

Listen to Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism & Conventions at Glasgow Convention Bureau, Glasgow Life special announcement!

Watch Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

A Better Way to Experience Scotland

Kat Brogan shares what it truly means to be the UK’s first visitor attraction to achieve B Corp status, and how this aligns with a community-centred approach to tourism.

Listen Here >

PRESS PAUSE BLOG

Supporting our Communities

Jill Keegan, Partnerships Manager at Scottish Community Alliance shares her thoughts on community-led tourism and why supporting our communities is important.

Read Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

Community Tourism Day with Natasha Hutchison,

SCOTO Director and Western Ross Biosphere General Manager, Natasha Hutchison talks about she got involved with SCOTO and the importance of community-led tourism in Wester Ross.

Listen Here >

PRESS PAUSE BLOG

A Better Way to Experience Scotland

Fiona Drane, SCOTO Director and Trustee of Gunsgreen House shares why she believes community-led tourism is essential for Scottish tourism today and a beacon of hope for its future.

Read Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

Community Tourism Day with Catriona Waddington

SCOTO Company Secretary and Chair of Wild Skies Shetland , Catriona Waddington talks about community-led tourism in Unst, the northernmost inhabited island in Shetland.

Listen Here >

PRESS PAUSE BLOG

Reflections on Community Tourism Awareness Day

Bolder's Martine Aamodt Hess shares her thoughts on our developing partnership since December 2024

Read Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

Community Tourism Day with Wendy Murray

Wendy Murray, Lead Trustee of East Haven Together talks about the community pride and community led tourism initatives that chnaged East Haven for the better.

Listen Here >

PRESS PAUSE BLOG

Cullen Connected

David McCubbin, Chair of Discover Cullen, writes about the challenges the community of Cullen have overcome through community-led tourism.

Read Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

Bolder Way Forward

Kirsty Bruce, Aviemore & Glenmore Community Trust Co-ordinator / Development Officer, talks about capacity, funding and loving her role in setting up Scotland's newest community-run visitor centre at Glenmore.

Listen Here >

PRESS PAUSE PODCAST

A Collaborative Community

David McCubbin, Chair of Discover Cullen talks about how working together and collaboratively has created positive feedback both from local residents and visitors.

Listen Here >

MESSAGE

Bolder Way Forward

Martine Aamodt Hess from the team at Bolder shared this thoughtful message of support in celebration of Community Tourism Awareness Day.

Watch Here >

Do you want to be a SCOTO Networker, Supporter or Enterprise?

Find out more about how you can join SCOTO

Join the SCOTO Network