Climate Change Adaptation Manual for Heritage Tourism

The Climate Change Adaptation Manual for Heritage Tourism provides guidance on how the heritage tourism sector can identify and adapt to the impacts of climate change in Scotland.

The manual was developed in partnership with Historic Environment Scotland and VisitScotland. They collaborated with businesses and organisations across the heritage tourism sector in Scotland to provide practical advice. 

The manual outlines the main climate change impacts that could affect different aspects of heritage tourism businesses. It provides advice for how to adapt to these responsibly by protecting and supporting the local environment and communities. 

It can be used as a first reference point for heritage tourism businesses and organisations to help strengthen their resilience in a changing climate.

By adapting to climate change impacts, heritage tourism businesses will improve their long-term resilience whilst delivering benefits for the local community and environment, in line with the place-based and responsible tourism approaches.

The manual is aimed at heritage tourism businesses. These are any organisation, attraction or site that generates income from visitors interested in or who experience heritage.

Examples of heritage tourism businesses include guided tour operators, museums, natural heritage landscapes, historic attractions, organisers of heritage festivals and sporting events. 

This manual is also for tourism businesses who operate from a historic building, landscape, or offer heritage experiences as part of their business.

There is no one size fits all approach in climate change adaptation.

Heritage tourism businesses and organisations will have their own unique challenges. This manual can be used as a starting point to empower businesses to find the best way to adapt to climate change that works for them.

This manual is based on the UK Climate Projections (UKCP) developed by the Met Office Hadley Centre and data from Adaptation Scotland to outline the main impacts of climate change.

It follows the SME Resilience Checklist to help users break down how the different aspects of their business could be impacted by climate change and how to adapt to this.

VisitScotland and Historic Environment Scotland will provide practical training for heritage tourism businesses. These workshops will demonstrate how the manual can be used and empower businesses to deliver training to their staff.