'Love islands' pledge announced by Loganair in bid to protect Scottish landscapes

A new tourism pledge to “love islands” has been announced by Loganair in a bid to protect the country’s landscapes.

The island visitor pledge implores tourists to follow guidance to respect and protect the destinations they visit.

Targeted communications will be sent to the airline’s travellers heading inbound to any of its island destinations.

They will be urged to avoid using plastic bottles, keep gates closed, support local food and drink businesses, respect heritage and archaeological sites and be sensitive to wildlife, flora and fauna.

“We must tread as lightly as possible to protect our precious destinations, especially our islands”, said Loganair commercial director Luke Lovegrove.

“We hope our customers will join us on the next stage of our journey to protect the environment and secure our islands for generations to come.”

Loganair have urged tourists to respect Scottish islands. iStock

The pledge was developed with the help of island destination marketing organisations like Promote Shetland, Destination Orkney and Outer Hebrides Tourism, to better understand the specific challenges posed by visitors.

David Nicol of Promote Shetland said: “It is wonderful to see tourists returning to Shetland this year and experiencing the spectacular sights and sounds of the islands.

“We encourage all travellers to visit responsibly and respect Shetland’s unique wildlife, natural heritage, and incredible archaeology. That way we can all enjoy our islands and help protect them for future generations.”

Maureen Shearer, Orkney Marketing, said: “When visitors come to Orkney, they very much become a part of our community, no matter how long their stay. This pledge is a really positive initiative by Loganair, one that helps our visitors get the best from their time with us, while also highlighting the ways they can help safeguard our local environment.”

Sarah Maclean, Outer Hebrides Tourism, said: “The Outer Hebrides is a special place and as we welcome more people to enjoy the environment and culture here, we must all play a part in acting respectfully and responsibly – including leaving no impact on the landscape, giving wildlife space, supporting local businesses and being mindful of our community way of life.”