A new Gaelic Tourism Strategy for Scotland has been launched today (20 February) as part of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week). The strategy is aimed at delivering authentic and memorable visitor experiences by celebrating Gaelic culture, heritage and language.
Our Director of Industry & Destination Development, Rob Dickson was joined by Joy Dunlop, Director of Seachdain na Gàidhlig (World Gaelic Week) for the official launch of the Gaelic Tourism Strategy for Scotland 2024 - 2029 at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.
World Gaelic Week aims to raise the profile of Gaelic through community initiatives, projects and events, and this year runs until 25 February.
Find out more about the Week and events taking place near you on the website - seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.
We recognise that the Gaelic language is an integral part of Scotland's heritage, identity and culture. And represents a compelling opportunity for the Scottish tourism industry as a unique selling point and authentic part of the experience of visiting Scotland.
Gaelic culture and language are of growing interest to visitors.
From 2018 to 2021 there was a 72% increase in the number of visitscotland.com users visiting Gaelic related content.
The launch of the Gaelic Tourism Strategy for Scotland at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh.
The strategy highlights an increasing interest in the Gaelic language and culture, from both domestic and international visitors, which creates opportunities for tourism and events businesses across Scotland.
We’ve worked alongside representatives from the Scottish tourism industry and partners including the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and Historic Environment Scotland to develop this new strategy which sets out five strategic priorities:
Within the new strategy businesses and organisations in the tourism, culture and heritage sectors share some of the innovative ways they are using Gaelic to connect with visitors and local communities.
In the Highlands, the Cairngorms National Park Authority has created an interactive storytelling local Shinty Trail (Slighe na Camanachd). It allows visitors to explore the history of the sport and its importance to the Gaelic language.
Glasgow hosts the largest Gaelic community outside the Western Isles. The creation of the Glaschu.net website showcases the Gaelic heritage of the different neighbourhoods in Glasgow and encourages people to enjoy new Gaelic experiences in Glasgow.
There are more case studies within the new strategy that demonstrate different ways in which organisations across Scotland have embraced Gaelic language and culture. Make sure you take a look.
Since the development of the first Gaelic Tourism Strategy, we produced a Gaelic Tourism Industry Toolkit to raise awareness of the opportunity and provide resources for businesses.
From basic phrases to welcome your visitors, to translating place names to reveal their Gaelic meanings to a whole directory of Gaelic resources for your business.
Within the toolkit you’ll also find some of the Gaelic themed content on visitscotland.com – great resources to share with your visitors.
To date, our “Scottish Gaelic Explained” video has been viewed more than 700,000 times on YouTube – take a look.
Our toolkit is designed to inspire and help your business celebrate the Gaelic culture, language, and heritage and to develop meaningful visitor experiences.
If you want to find out more about what we’re doing to promote Gaelic across our own channels, take a look at our Gaelic Language Plan.
Our Gaelic Language PlanDo you have a visitor experience that celebrates the Gaelic culture, heritage and language?
If so, we’d love to hear about it. Contact Lyn Donnelly our Senior Responsible Tourism Manager.
Chaidh Ro-innleachd Turasachd na Gàidhlig do dh’Alba fhoillseachadh an-diugh (20 Gearran) mar phàirt de Sheachdain na Gàidhlig. Tha e na amas san ro-innleachd gum bithear a’ tabhann thursan do luchd-tadhail a bheir blasad ceart dhen dùthaich dhaibh, tursan a mhaireas fada air chuimhne, agus sam bithear a’ togail bratach cultar, dualchas agus cànan nan Gàidheal.
Bha Rob Dickson, Stiùiriche airson Leasachadh a’ Ghnìomhachais agus Cheann-uidhe aig VisitScotland, còmhla ri Joy Dunlop, seinneadair is Stiùiriche Seachdain na Gàidhlig, agus Amina Shah, An Leabharlannaiche Nàiseanta is Àrd-oifigear aig Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba, ann an Dùn Èideann aig Leabharlann Nàiseanta na h-Alba gus Ro-innleachd Turasachd na Gàidhlig do dh’Alba 2024-2029 fhoillseachadh gu h-oifigeil.
Tha e na amas le Seachdain na Gàidhlig cur ri ìomhaigh a’ chànain tro iomairtean coimhearsnachd, pròiseactan is tachartasan, agus am-bliadhna bidh an t-seachdain a’ tighinn gu crìch air 25 Gearran.
Faighibh tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mun t-Seachdain agus mu na tha a’ dol faisg oirbh fhèin - seachdainnagaidhlig.scot.
Tha fios againn gu bheil a’ Ghàidhlig na pàirt bunaiteach de dhualchas, bun-aithne is cultar na h-Alba. Cuideachd, tha cothrom air leth ann leis a’ chànan do ghnìomhachas turasachd na h-Alba, oir faodaidh i a bhith mar phàirt sònraichte is brìoghmhor de thuras ann an Alba.
Tha barrachd is barrachd ùidh aig luchd-tadhail anns a’ Ghàidhlig agus cultar a’ chànain.
Eadar 2018 is 2021 thàinig àrdachadh de 72% air an àireimh de luchd-cleachdaidh visitscotland.com a bha a’ tadhal air susbaint le ceangal ris a’ Ghàidhlig.
San ro-innleachd thathar a’ sealltainn mar a tha barrachd ùidh aig daoine ann an Gàidhlig agus cultar na Gàidhlig, am measg luchd-tadhail bhon dùthaich seo agus bho dhùthchannan eile, agus mar thoradh air sin tha cothroman ùra a’ nochdadh do ghnothachasan turasachd is thachartasan bho air feadh Alba.
Tha sinn air obrachadh còmhla ri riochdairean bho ghnìomhachas na turasachd agus luchd-compàirt eile leithid Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Alba Chruthachail agus Àrainneachd Eachdraidheil Alba gus an ro-innleachd ùr seo a dhealbh sa bheil còig prìomhachasan ro-innleachdail:
San ro-innleachd ùir, tha gnothachasan is buidhnean bho roinn na turasachd, roinn a’ chultair is roinn an dualchais ag innse mu chuid de na dòighean innleachdach sa bheil iad a’ cleachdadh na Gàidhlig gus ceangal a thogail ri luchd-tadhail is coimhearsnachdan ionadail.
Air a’ Ghàidhealtachd, tha Ùghdarras Pàirce Nàiseanta a’ Mhonaidh Ruaidh air Slighe na Camanachd a stèidheachadh, slighe eadar-ghnìomhach, ionadail le sgeulachdan. Tha an t-slighe a’ toirt cothrom do luchd-tadhail ionnsachadh mu eachdraidh na spòrs agus mu cho cudromach ’s a bha agus a tha i do na Gàidheil.
’S ann an Glaschu a tha a’ choimhearsnachd Ghàidhlig as motha taobh a-muigh nan Eilean Siar. Tha an làrach-lìn Glaschu.net a’ dèanamh sanasachd air dualchas Gàidhlig diofar phàirtean dhen bhaile agus tha iad cuideachd a’ brosnachadh dhaoine gus a dhol an sàs ann an saoghal Gàidhlig Ghlaschu ann an diofar dhòighean.
Tha barrachd eisimpleirean san ro-innleachd ùir a tha a’ sealltainn nan diofar dhòighean sa bheil buidhnean air feadh Alba air Gàidhlig is cultar a’ chànain a chleachdadh nan obair. Feuch gun toir sibh sùil orra.
Bho dh’fhoillsich sinn a’ chiad Ro-innleachd Turasachd na Gàidhlig, tha sinn air Goireasan Gàidhlig a chruthachadh do Ghnìomhachas na Turasachd gus aire dhaoine a tharraing gu na cothroman a th’ ann agus gus diofar ghoireasan a thabhann do ghnothachasan.
Tha a liuthad de thaic ann: eadar abairtean sìmplidh gus fàilte a chur air luchd-tadhail, eadar-theangachaidhean de dh’ainmean-àite a sheallas a’ chiall a th’ aca sa Ghàidhlig agus taghadh mòr de ghoireasan Gàidhlig eile dhan ghnothachas agaibh.
Cuideachd, an cois nan goireasan gheibhear cuid dhen t-susbaint le ceangal ris a’ Ghàidhlig a gheibhear air visitscotland.com – stòras air leth mum faod thu innse dhan luchd-tadhail agaibh.
Thuige seo, chaidh sealltainn air a’ bhidio againn, “Fiosrachadh mun Ghàidhlig”, còrr is 700,000 turas air YouTube – thoiribh sùil air.
Tha ar goireasan air an dealbh gus an gnothachas agaibh a bhrosnachadh agus a chuideachadh gus gàirdeachas a dhèanamh ri agus sanasachd a dhèanamh air cultar, cànan is dualchas nan Gàidheal agus gus tursan is cothroman brìoghmhor a thoirt do luchd-tadhail.
Ma tha sibh ag iarraidh tuilleadh fiosrachaidh air na tha sinn a’ dèanamh gus Gàidhlig a chur air adhart nar n-obair, thoiribh sùil air ar Plana Gàidhlig.
phlana GàidhligA bheil sibh a’ tabhann turas, goireas no seirbheis de sheòrsa eile do luchd-tadhail far a bheil Gàidhlig, a cultar is dualchas a’ chànain nam pàirt tarraingeach dhiubh?
Ma tha, chòrdadh e rinn cluinntinn mu dheidhinn. Cuiribh fios gu Lyn Donnely, an t-Àrd-mhanaidsear airson Turasachd Chunntachail againn.