About us
The UHI Centre for Recreation and Tourism Research (CRTR) aims to further the development of sustainable tourism in the Highlands of Scotland and beyond. While recognising that the tourism industry plays a huge role in the Scottish economy, contributing around £7 BN to Scotland’s GDP (Scotland Outlook 2030), and the sector is arguably no more important than in the Highlands and Islands, a range of external factors - our exit from the EU, the ongoing cost of living crisis and growing recognition of the climate emergency facing the planet - have all played a part in changing consumer demands for visitor experiences, shaping the size and shape of the tourism business sector.
Our vision is to be recognised, from locally to internationally, for undertaking and collaborating in meaningful knowledge exchange initiatives, applied research project and academic research that positively impacts businesses and other key stakeholders in the sector and that helps us to find a better balance between visitor needs and desires, the wellbeing of local communities and a healthy natural environment.
CRTR is one of Scotland’s leading tourism research centres, with a huge network of overseas colleagues, clients and collaborators and an impressive portfolio of activity built up since the centre’s inception in 2012. Working closely with other UHI academic partners, the centre is uniquely placed for tourism research - its work encompasses three broad areas: major transnational applied research projects, small-scale local, regional and national knowledge exchange initiatives, and academic research.
Transnational applied research projects
In 2023-4 the centre is involved in or leading a broad range of trans-national, applied research projects:
- The Coast that Shaped the World (ERDF) 2019-2023
- CULTIVATE (Co-creating cultural narratives for sustainable rural development) (JPI CH/AHRC) 2021-24
- Tourism (In)justice: Rendering a Spatial Justice Approach for Tourism (2023-28)
- Developing rural community collaborations to integrate community assets with healthcare systems to reduce place-based health inequalities (2024-27)
Knowledge exchange initiatives
The research centre has a long record of working with SMEs, community groups, non-profits and other key organisations on collaborative projects that help them to diversify what they offer, promote what they do, explore new markets or develop new ways to commercialise their operations. Our clients have included:
- The Royal Scottish Geographical Society – improving access to and monetising its archives
- Slow Adventure Ltd – data gathering for new markets
- Orkney Creative Hub – product expansion, including for the cruise industry
- Lochaber Geopark – product development
- Ardgour Community Council – creation of promotional materials
Academic research
Staff members are involved in PhD supervision - current PhD students are exploring e-mountain bike conflict issues, adventure tourism development in South Africa and examining storytelling for enriched visitor engagement with archaeological sites. For more information on PhD opportunities please email steve.taylor@uhi.ac.uk.
Current areas of research interest and academic output have most recently been on the concept of regenerative tourism, nature-based tourism, cultural heritage as a driver for tourism, the development of mountain biking and the psychological dimensions of being and recreating in wild spaces.
CRTR also co-ordinates the activities and membership of the global Adventure Tourism Research Association, including its annual International Adventure Conference.
For more information please email steve.taylor@uhi.ac.uk or follow us on social media:
CRTR: Celebrating its first 10 years, 2022
2010 Pete's idea to create a research centre, spun off from the School of Adventure Studies.
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2012 Initial financial support from the Scottish Funding Council - two employees, Pete and Steve. Manifestation of Pete's idea for an international adventure conference. First event held in Fort William.
2013 The early days – undertaking consultancy work for Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland. At the second adventure conference on Skye, the Adventure Tourism Research Association is born. ATRA is still co-ordinated by CRTR.
2014 The adventure conference becomes truly international, held in Sogndal, Norway.
2015 Our first PhD student, Jelena Farkic, starts her thesis. CRTR’s involvement in large-scale, transnational projects begins, starting with the centre leading the development of Slow Adventure in Northern Territories, co-financed by the Northern Periphery and Arctic programme, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Highland Council.
2017 CRTR starts its tenth transnational project, leading an ERASMUS+ strategic partnership on adventure tourism skills development.
2018 Industry liaison leads to the start of CRTR’s biggest project to date, the Coast that Shaped the World, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and CalMac.
2020 Slow Adventure Ltd is incorporated, spun-off from the 2015 SAINT project spin off, with former team member, Sara Mair Bellshaw, as managing director.
2021 The core team reaches its largest size yet, with five employees.
2022 CRTR welcomes its first visiting professor, Carl Cater, and its latest PhD student, Steve Button. CRTR starts its 20th transnational project.
