Coming SOON!
It's Community Tourism Day on Saturday, 25 April.
To celebrate and recognise the incredible community tourism activity happening across Scotland, the UK and the world, we’re hosting the second Community Tourism Day!
It also marks the 4th birthday of SCOTO – Community Tourism Network CIC, so we’ll be shining a light on SCOTO Network initiatives across Scotland and highlighting how our partners and others are empowering communities through tourism.
How can I get involved?
To mark the day, we’ll be sharing blogs, podcasts, messages and events happening around and on the day of Saturday 25 April.
We’d love you to get involved too by sharing your stories, showcasing your work, and being part of the conversation. See our website in the bio for more details, or email [email protected]
Don’t forget to use #CommunityTourism26 and tag SCOTO @scotonetwork so we can see and share your posts!
@inspiralba@scottishlandcommission@communitylandscotland@ruraldimensions@lochnesshub@visitinvernesslochness@visitouterhebrides@visitsmallisles@visitscotland@discoverbrora@officialdiscovercullen@information_girvan@angus_tourism
📅 DAY 1 LEARNING EXCHANGES - SCOTO GATHERING - 5 March 2026
Glasgow is famous for its passionate communities — after all, People Make Glasgow. It’s no surprise, then, that the city is home to so many inspiring community-led tourism enterprises.
This year, Day 1 of the SCOTO Gathering kicks off with six Learning Exchanges across Glasgow, from the Southside to Partick. The first, Clyde Riverside Learning Exchange, will take participants through Govan to discover how local organisations preserve and celebrate riverside heritage and history.
You’ll enjoy a variety of visits and hear from custodians on everything from ancient stones to contemporary arts, maritime history, and community-led cultural renewal. Stops include @fairfieldheritagegovan , @govanstones , Riverside Museum and @thetallship
The Learning Exchanges are more than sightseeing — they’re a chance for hosts and delegates to share challenges and successes in running community-led tourism services and attractions, and to inspire each other with new ideas for their own communities.
🔗 JOIN US!: /networking.../2026-scoto-gathering/
Thanks to Destination Glasgow and the Glasgow Convention Bureau for organising and coordinating this year’s Learning Exchanges and to @scottishcommunityalliance for generously funding the Learning Exchanges.
#glasgow #scotogathering26 #communitytourism #communityledtourism #govan #clyderiverside
@ruraldimensions@volunteerglasgow@visitglasgow_sco@visitscotland@hiescotland@sosenterprise_@social_enterprise_scotland@developmenttrustsscot@plunkett_uk@communitylandscotland
🛌 For this year’s SCOTO Gathering, we’re doing things a wee bit differently. With no single “base” conference hotel, attendees are free to choose the accommodation option that suits them best.
🛎️ Glasgow offers an excellent range of places to stay within easy reach of our venues, from budget-friendly options to hotels and guesthouses. Thanks to the Glasgow Convention Bureau we have a handy guide to suitable hotels near our conference base at the The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and our evening reception venue at the National Piping Centre
🛤️ 🚌 AND for those just coming for the day the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is just a short walk from the train and bus station!
Find out more here: /web/6925d34e2a2c7c1d4b49af3a
#scotogathering26 #SCOTONetwork #communitytourism #communityledtourism #glasgow #glasgowcommunity #communitywealthbuilding
@ruraldimensions@fionadranemarketing@wildskiesshetland@lochnesshub@biospherebelties@discoverbrora@officialdiscovercullen@angus_tourism@visitglasgow_sco@glasgowlifepresents@scottishcommunityalliance@scottishtourismalliance@scottishruralaction@communitylandscotland
🌟 SCOTO Gathering 5 & 6 March 2026 - GLASGOW 🌟
Day 1 Learning Exchanges
Day 1 of the SCOTO Gathering takes us out across Glasgow, with six Learning Exchanges hosted by community organisations and enterprises. These exchanges offer the chance to learn directly from others, share challenges and successes, while exploring what community-led tourism can look like.
Now in its fourth year, the SCOTO Gathering Learning Exchanges could not have happened without the Scottish Community Alliance. They fund our bursaries, which, contribute to community participants' travel and accommodation costs. A huge thanks also goes to the Glasgow Convention Bureau for coordinating this part of the Gathering and helping make community connections happen across Glasgow.
👉 BUT this year, places are first come, first served — so book now: /networking.../2026-scoto-gathering/
#glasgowcommunities #scotogathering26 #scotonetwork #visitglasgow #communitytourism #communityledtourism
@ruraldimensions@visitglasgow_sco@scottishcommunityalliance@scottishtourismalliance@fionadranemarketing@biospherebelties@scdc_org@scottishlandcommission@communitylandscotland@scvoscot@volunteerglasgow@thecockburn@visitscotland@scottishislandsfed
🌟 SCOTO Gathering 2026 - MAIN VENUE
We’re delighted to have The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as the main venue for the SCOTO Gathering 2026. It will be the meeting point for our Day 1 Learning Exchanges and the venue for the Knowledge Exchanges and the base for the Day 2 SCOTO Gathering.
Perfectly located in the city centre, the Concert Hall is just a two-minute walk from Queen Street Railway Station and only a wee bit further from Buchanan Bus Station, making it easy to reach by public transport.
Parking in Glasgow can be expensive, but the Concert Hall website lists several nearby parking options. Cars and taxis can drop off and pick up directly outside the main entrance on Killermont Street, and Blue Badge holders can park on West Nile Street, subject to availability. (For more info see their website:.uk/
This year, there’s no single “base hotel”, giving you the flexibility to choose an accommodation option that suits you best. Glasgow offers an excellent range of accommodation, all within easy reach of our venue. You can find out more on our Info & Booking Hub: /web/6925d34e2a2c7c1d4b49af3a
With thanks to our sponsors and supporters, @scottishcommunityalliance Alliance, and Glasgow Convention Bureau, for their generous support of the SCOTO Gathering 2026.
#SCOTOGathering26 #SCOTONetwork #communitytourism #communityledtourism #scottishcommunities #glasgowcommunities
#glasgow
@visitglasgow_sco@scottishruralaction@scottishruralaction@scdc_org@sosenterprise_@hiescotland@fionadranemarketing@ruraldimensions@millofbenholmenterprise@wildskiesshetland@uhi_nwh
Last week, we were delighted to welcome SCOTO Network (Scottish Community Tourism) members to Lunan Bay as part of their Community Learning Workshop series, funded by Development Trusts Association Scotland.
We showcased two of our recent projects:
✔️ the new All-Abilities Viewing Platform, opening up access for everyone to enjoy our beautiful coastline
✔️ our responsible tourism collaboration with @arbikiedistilleryexperience and @trafalgartravel / @insightvacations which protects people and place.
Along with transformative Angus community group, #OurEastHaven, it was inspiring to exchange knowledge with community groups from across Scotland, all working towards a shared vision: tourism that delivers real benefits for communities and the environment. Together, we explored challenges like sustainable funding, lack of visitor infrastructure, and the role of partnerships in creating resilient destinations.
Huge thanks to SCOTO and DTAS and all who joined us. Opportunities like this remind us of the power of collaboration and community-led tourism in shaping Scotland’s future 💙
#ResponsibleTourism #CommunityLed #LunanBay #Tourism #Angus @scotonetwork@developmenttrustsscot@visitangus@visitscotland #scotland
For our first #communitytourismday25 blog, SCOTO Executive Director Carron Tobin shares the story behind the formation of the Scottish Community Tourism Network and the journey leading up to its launch on Friday 25 April 2022.
/blog/in-the-beginning/
#communitytourism #communityledtourism #SCOTONetwork #scottishtourism #communityvoices
📢 As part of our #communitytourismday25 celebrations, we’re delighted to share a special announcement!
📹 Here’s a message from Aileen Crawford, Head of Tourism and Conventions at the award-winning Glasgow Convention Bureau. Aileen also sits on the Tourism and Hospitality Leadership Group alongside our Executive Director, Carron Tobin, and is an active member of the Communities Leading in Tourism mission group.
Aileen joined us in Montrose for the SCOTO Gathering at the end of February, where she began giving serious thought to the urban dimension of community tourism.
🎉 Now, she’s back with some very exciting news to share for 2026-
#communityledtourism #scotonetwork #scottishtourism #communityvoices #glasgow #glasgowcommunities
@glasgowsocialenterprise@scottishcommunityalliance@scdc_org@scottishlandcommission@visitscotland@ruraldimensions@community_enterprise@developmenttrustsscot@richardlochheadmsp
