VisitScotland, the national tourism organisation for Scotland, is headquartered in Edinburgh, GB. Established in 2005, it plays a pivotal role in promoting Scotland as a premier travel destination, focusing on key regions such as the Highlands, Lowlands, and the vibrant cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The organisation's core services include providing comprehensive travel information, marketing campaigns, and support for local businesses in the tourism sector. VisitScotland is renowned for its unique approach to showcasing Scotland's rich heritage, stunning landscapes, and cultural experiences, making it a leader in the tourism industry. With a commitment to sustainable tourism and community engagement, VisitScotland has achieved notable milestones, including the development of the "Scotland's Year of" campaigns, which celebrate various aspects of Scottish culture and history, further solidifying its market position as a trusted resource for travellers.
How does Visitscotland's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Other Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Visitscotland's score of 37 is higher than 61% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2023, VisitScotland reported significant carbon emissions, primarily from Scope 3 sources, totalling approximately 630,000 kg CO2e. This figure includes about 312,000 kg CO2e from business travel and about 318,000 kg CO2e from employee commuting. Notably, VisitScotland has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming for net zero in direct emissions (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 2030. This commitment is part of their broader strategy to align with the Scottish Government's goal of achieving net zero emissions across all greenhouse gases by 2045, based on a 2008/09 baseline. VisitScotland's climate initiatives are cascaded from its parent organization, VisitScotland Limited, which underscores its commitment to sustainability within the tourism sector. The organisation's focus on reducing its carbon footprint reflects a growing industry trend towards environmental responsibility and climate action.
Their carbon footprint includes supplier sustainability and value chain emissions data across Scope 3 categories, with "Employee Commuting" being the largest emissions source at 50% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Visitscotland has not publicly committed to specific 2030 or 2050 climate goals through the major frameworks we track. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.
