Is the tourism industry flying ahead and leaving locals in the dark?
For many years the Anderson High School’s English department has been undertaking a news project for S3 pupils to give them an understanding of how news stories are being produced. They have had the chance to speak to local news reporters and were tasked by their teachers to write stories on tourism in Shetland of which we publish one below.
Ponies, Perez and puffins. Common sights for a Shetlander, but for over 90,000 tourists the wildlife, history and scenery attract them to the island each year, bringing in over £110 million to the local economy, writes Isobel Pagulayan.
The tourist industry in Shetland is incredibly prominent in the community with over 135 cruise ships visiting annually, but is the sight of a cruise ship at Victoria Pier welcomed or dreaded by locals in Shetland?
As previously mentioned, many aspects of Shetland appeal to tourists worldwide. Particularly popular sights include the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, St. Ninian’s Isle and Mousa Broch.
The beautiful landscapes and wildlife stun visitors each year. Shetland provides an escape for people, a place very different from home, surrounded not by skyscrapers, but rather hills and sea. But for over 23,000 people, Shetland is not a holiday destination, it is home.
For locals, the sight of a cruise ship is often enough to deter them from a visit to the street as it brims with buzzing tourists and feels overcrowded and busy. Tourists cause oversaturation and in turn, disrupt the lives of locals. This then poses the question, are the livelihoods of locals less valued than the visitors coming up for a holiday?
Another concern is the environment. The vast amount of buses, boats, cars and planes cause permanent damage to the climate that we cannot undo.
On the other hand, tourism brings in over £110 million to the local economy, helps to protect Shetland’s history and wildlife and showcases our island to many different cultures to experience a very special and unique place.
Tourism also provides job opportunities in many different industries. One job, for example, is being a tourist guide.
Amanda Hawick, a local tourist guide herself, says that “tourism is a brilliant thing to be involved in” and “I like seeing the enjoyment folk get from coming to Shetland.”
Being a tourist guide provides many opportunities to be self-employed and can be a very enjoyable job for people who are passionate about Shetland.
So, what are the next steps? Although the tourism industry in Shetland is very helpful in many ways and is a massive contribution to the local economy, it does have a negative effect on the lives of locals which needs to be solved.
Locals should not feel suppressed from going out and living their lives just because of a few cruise ships.
Tourism obviously cannot be completely eradicated, but perhaps there are ways to control the crowds or lessen the number of cruise ships visiting. This would make Shetland both a place to be enjoyed by tourists and called home by locals.
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