MSF(47/2011)
“Open Water”: Requirements of the visitor economy & the interests of the
marine environment
Purpose of paper
MSF is asked to note the importance of the marine tourism and recreational sector
for Scotland, comment on the key issues highlighted for development within the
revised National Marine Plan and support the proposed actions set out in this paper.
Introduction
Scotland has a deserved worldwide reputation for the wealth and diversity of its
marine environment. With thousands of miles of attractive coastline, constantly
changing seascapes, countless islands, remote and wild places, rare and
spectacular wildlife and some of the best sailing and kayaking grounds in the world it
is no wonder that the Scottish visitor economy is worth over £11 billion annually.
Our coasts and seas are hugely valued by visitors from near and far, who enjoy
many types of recreation from informal coastal walks to global sporting competitions.
There are clear health and social benefits to encouraging participation in outdoor
activities and an increasing recognition that there needs to be an integrated
approach across Government’s policy areas to achieve all possible advantages.1
The economic benefits of this sector are also starting to be quantified showing its
major (and growing) importance to national employment and prosperity. Recent
studies estimate that:
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wildlife watching in coastal and marine areas accounts for £163 million in
tourist expenditure2
the total contribution of the boating sector is around £300 million annually,
with sailing tourism alone worth over £101 million3
in 2010, there were 43 million visits to the coast with a total estimated spend
of £301 million4.
Marine tourism and recreation make a significant and positive contribution to Scottish
Government priorities and this needs stronger recognition in marine planning policy.
Key resource needs
Although ‘tourism’ and ‘recreation’ are not strictly the same, they share many
characteristics and have common requirements. Both sectors are dependent on the
following resources to varying degrees:
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a diversity of coastal landscapes of high quality and extent
appropriate coastal infrastructure to allow and encourage access to the water
“Developing new approaches to Environment and Health in Scotland – Inequalities, Greenspace and the Natural
Environment.” Presentation from the Chief Medical Officer Directorate at Lancaster University , September 2007
2
The Economic Impact of Wildlife Tourism in Scotland. International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research, Bournemouth
University (2010) http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/311951/0098489.pdf
3 Sailing in the Clyde Estuary – The Potential for Future Development. McKenzie Wilson for Scottish Enterprise (2006)
4 Scottish Recreation Survey. Scottish Natural Heritage (2011)
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marine space for watersports users with appropriate wave and water
conditions
healthy populations of marine wildlife to support wildlife tourism and to provide
quality recreational experiences
safe conditions including the marking of navigational hazards, minimising
collision risks and improving availability of rescue services
clean water (especially important for health of watersports participants).
Interactions with other uses
There may be some (generally localised) environmental impacts caused by some
recreational activities. However, it is important to recognise the more significant
constraints potentially placed on marine and coastal recreation and tourism by other
activities both on and offshore, for example:

spatial management to accommodate shipping, aquaculture, marine
renewables or nature conservation interests

safety aspects where developments create navigational hazards or where
wash from large / commercial vessels can affect small recreational vessels,
watersports users or even beach users

access to beaches, coastal footpaths and coastal infrastructure for marine
recreation can be limited by coastal developments; coastal and marine
developments can also adversely affect landscape character and influence
the quality of marine tourism and recreational experiences.
The interactions between marine recreation activities may also require management:

marine litter and poor water quality from other users or developments can
affect marine recreation and tourism

damage to marine habitats or disturbance to species from other activities
could adversely affect prospects for diving or marine wildlife tourism.
However, there are significant opportunities to combine developments in appropriate
locations to support both commercial and leisure needs. The conversion of many
former fishing harbours into small craft marinas has offered an important new lease
of life to existing infrastructure in often peripheral coastal communities. Integration
between terrestrial and marine planning regimes should encourage such thinking to
achieve sustainable economic development where possible.
Key issues
The National Marine Plan and Marine Atlas make a good start at outlining the
background issues for marine tourism and recreation, but further work is needed to
develop proactive policies, which will safeguard key marine recreation and tourism
sites, routes and settings, and encourage further sensitive development of
recreational activities in appropriate locations.
It is clear that activities on land can be affected by processes at work offshore, and
vice versa. Integration between marine and terrestrial planning is crucial for
ensuring that coastal development and infrastructure takes account of adjacent
marine activities. Additionally, the management of activities (especially in the coastal
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zone) is an important issue that should not be lost in the planning and licensing
process.
The isolated and wild character of some coasts is already recognised and
safeguarded in terrestrial planning policy and this should be extended to marine
planning policy to safeguard important ‘wild’ areas of adjacent water which are highly
valued by many recreational users.
The scope of marine planning in relation to terrestrial coastal recreation (such as
coastal walking, climbing, golf, etc) should be clarified. Major coastal recreation
projects, such as the Scottish Coastal Ways Initiative could be highlighted in both
marine and terrestrial plans.
Issues such as coastal erosion and sea level rise, along with the impacts of offshore
developments on landscape quality need to be considered in the context of the
integration of terrestrial and marine planning.
Way forward
Development plans for the sector must consider appropriate ways in which
recreational and leisure markets can be grown and sustained without increasing
environmental pressures or introducing incompatibilities with other commercial
operations.
The following actions are proposed:

Recreation and tourism are not well addressed by the proposed National
Objectives in the National Marine Plan and the sector proposes that a clear
national objective on the public use and enjoyment of the marine environment
for tourism, recreation and sport is developed to address this gap.

Information on distribution and economic value of marine recreational and
tourism uses and key sites is rather patchy. The sector seeks the support of
the Scottish Government and its agencies to provide additional data to
increase awareness of these issues to underpin marine planning decisions.

The sector will support the forthcoming year of Natural Scotland 2013 as an
opportunity to raise the profile of Scotland's marine environment as a global
destination for recreation and tourism.
David Adams McGilp
Regional Director
VisitScotland, July 2011
Advice and guidance from Scottish Natural Heritage
(Cathy Tilbrook, Policy & Advice Manager, Coastal & Marine Ecosystems Unit and
Peter Rawcliffe, People and Places Unit Manager, Policy and Advice Directorate) is gratefully
acknowledged.
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