Scotland unites over rural sports tourism 

In a landmark move for Scotland’s rural tourism sector, the first-ever Scottish Country Sports Tourism conference took place at Blair Castle in Perthshire on 2 May, with more than 60 stakeholders from across Scotland’s country sports tourism sector gathering together. Organised by Country Sport Scotland (CSS) and sponsored by Bell Ingram, the event marked a significant step in uniting estates, tourism operators and rural businesses to shape the future of the industry. 

Scotland’s reputation as a world-class destination for deerstalking, fishing, game shooting and wildfowling continues to attract visitors globally. According to the Value of Shooting report, published in 2024 by a consortium of 24 leading rural organisations, the sector contributes £340million in direct value and £760million in total impact annually to the Scottish economy, supporting 4,400 full-time equivalent jobs, as well as generating 270,000 trips and 910,000 visitor nights each year. The conference featured keynote speeches, panel discussions and breakout sessions focusing on sustainability, community engagement and positioning Scotland as a premier destination for fieldsports. 

Kirk Norbury, CSS project manager, emphasised the importance of unity: “This conference is an important milestone. For the first time, so many providers, estates, agents and partners from across the length and breadth of Scotland are gathered in one room – not as competitors but as collaborators.” 

The event also marked a new chapter for CSS, which came under the ownership of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) in 2024. With growing interest from high-end markets in the UK, Europe and North America, the sector is poised for sustainable growth. Notable attendees included Murdo Fraser MSP, BASC Scotland director Peter Clark, and VisitScotland’s regional director Neil Christison. 

Peter Clark highlighted the conference’s success in bringing together sector leaders, saying: “Country sports deliver significant benefits for both the economy and conservation in Scotland. The message from the conference was clear: we need more support for our iconic country sports sector. 

“As the sector looks ahead, the collaborative spirit fostered at Blair Castle sets a promising foundation for future initiatives, ensuring that Scotland remains a top destination for country sports tourism.”