More than just the sea
The value of marine nature tourism
Location: Skye
The Assignment Phototeam
What will 2020VISION be doing?
We will be spending time with several boat operators during the summer concentraring on capturing some unique underwater images of basking sharks and ceteceans and will learn what ecotourism means to Scotland's west coast communities.
When will 2020VISION be there?
- 18th to 21st July 2011
Where is it?
The Inner Hebrides are an archipelago off the west coast of Scotland comprising 36 inhabited islands that includes Skye, Rassay, Mull, Jura, Islay, Rum, Coll, Tiree, Colonsay and Eigg.
Why is it important?
Ecotourism is a major contributor to the local economy of the Inner Hebrides, providing jobs and attracting hundreds of thousands of people to the area each year. Marine ecotourism is on the increase with a host of operators now providing dolphin and whale watching trips in some of the richest waters in the UK.
What's the project's aim?
The focus of this assignment is marine ecotourism and to document its importance to local communities as well as the benefits of well-being for visiting tourists.
Who's involved?
There are a growing number of marine and other ecotoursim operators providing day trips and tours for visitors.
What's happening there?
Recent years has seen an explosion in the ecotourism industry with a host of operators now offering trips to view both land-based and marine wildlife. This has led to a huge rise in the numbers of tourists visiting Scotland's west coast and in particular the Isle of Mull, which is at the centre of this ecotourism revolution.
