Tourism industry to be challenged on green record

A NEW scheme is being launched to help transform the environmental record of hundreds of Scotland's tourism businesses.

Hotels, guest houses, restaurants and visitor attractions will be challenged by VisitScotland, the national tourism body, to change long-standing habits, adopt new energy-saving measures and promote eco-friendly initiatives.Guests will be urged to "go green" on holiday by ditching their cars, hiring a bike or going on a walking trip, and cutting down on the amount of water they use.Among the suggested measures to help businesses improve their environmental record are collecting rainwater for re-use, installing low-energy lighting systems, recycling all glass, cans and plastic, and installing water-efficient toilets. Businesses will be asked to sign up to a series of commitments over the next two years.Once businesses have signed up to the new "Going Green" initiative they will be coached throughout the year by experts at VisitScotland, with the aim of securing accreditation to the organisation's Green Tourism Business Scheme.