National events strategy 2024 to 2035: island communities impact assessment

1.3 Step Two – Gather Your Data And Identify Your Stakeholders

Questions addressed:

• What data is available about the current situation in the islands?
• Who are your key Stakeholders?
• How does any existing data differ between islands?
• Are there any existing design features or mitigations in place?

There is very limited data around the broad picture and opportunities/challenges related to events hosted by Scotland’s islands.

During consultation, islands stakeholders highlighted that it is difficult to collect data to any degree of significance in their communities relative to events in more urban areas. There are also other issues that prevent publication or sharing of data - particularly with regard to equality and diversity due to the smaller size of these communities.

There is broad agreement that Scotland’s islands have historically not attracted as many events as Scotland’s cities and urban areas, particularly in the central belt. However there is little available evidence to prove this. The general sense is that Scotland’s island events share the same challenges as events across the country, with significant additional challenges around transport and connectivity and also the lack of appropriate event infrastructure such as accommodation and availability of transport due to the lower population density. This makes it more challenging for them to secure events (particularly large events) and then benefit from the economic, social and other aspects they generate.

There were 93 inhabited islands in Scotland at the time of the 2011 Census. Their total population was 103,700, which was 2 per cent of the population of Scotland. ^[1]

The 2022 Census shows that there were population decreases in multiple Island Local Authorities from 2011 – 2022 including Shetland, Argyll and Bute, and Na h-Eileanan Siar. Orkney island council showed a 3% increase in the same period.^[2]

Population decline is a real threat to the sustainability of many, although not all, of Scotland’s island communities. Over the last 10 years, almost twice as many islands have lost populations as have gained. Future population projections suggest that islands are at further risk of depopulation with Orkney and Shetland both projected to lose 2.2 per cent of their population by 2041 and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar 14 per cent.^[3]

Across Scotland tourism accounts for 1 in 12 jobs, and rural and island communities rely more heavily on tourism than some of Scotland’s other regions.^[4]

Scotland’s islands already host a series of popular festivals and events such as Up Helly Aa (Shetland), SEALL Small Halls Festival (Skye), Shetland Folk Festival, Isle of Arran Mountain Festival, The Islay Festival, Arran Folk Festival, St Magnus International Festival (Orkney), Skye Festival, Shetland Nature Festival, Hebridean Celtic Festival, Eilean Dorcha Festival (Uist), Bute Fest, Orkney International Science Festival, Viking Week (Orkney), Taste of Shetland, Isle of Mull Car Rally, Tiree Wave Classic and the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival.

1.3.1 Individual event impact:

It may be disproportionate to gather detailed evidence on attendees and the impact of an event, including those on islands. Evidence is available for some island events. As an illustration, available evidence shows:

SEALL Small Halls Festival 2019 (Skye) - 2,095 attendees - 73.5% of attendees from local areas, 16% of from rest of Scotland, 6.5% from rest of UK, 3% international travelling specifically for the festival.^[5]

Music festival HebCelt enjoyed record attendance figures in 2022, and brought a £4.2 million boost to the Lewis economy. Visitors to the 2022 event spent £1,104 on average over the course of their stay – an 84% increase from the £600 average spend in 2018 – with a large portion, 78% of this, going directly into the local economy.^[6]

The Tiree Music Festival saw the total average spend per visitor during the festival weekend increase from £217 in 2012 to £338 in 2016, a 56% increase. When taking multiplier effects into consideration the net additional economic impact of the Tiree Music Festival rose from £330,052 in 2012 to £951,117 in 2016, a 188% increase over the five year period.^[7]

Shetland has hosted the Tall Ships’ Race three times, in 1999, 2011, and 2023. An economic impact assessment of the Tall Ships’ Race 2011 concluded that the event generated £2.41m of additional spend in Shetland, and generated media coverage valued at £1.53m, against total expenditure of £1.25m, of which Shetland Islands Council contributed almost £1.04m. An analysis of spectators at the event determined that 57% of visitors were locals, with 3% from elsewhere in the Highlands and Islands, 17% from elsewhere in Scotland, 16% from elsewhere in the UK and 8% from overseas.^[8]In 2023, 99% percent of respondents rated the overall experience of the Tall Ships Races as very good or good. Volunteers were an integral part of delivering the event. There was a high level of satisfaction for volunteers, with 94% rating their overall experience as very good or good. The event is estimated to have generated £3 million net direct spend in Shetland.^[9]

The Eilean Dorcha Festival, Uist in 2022 experienced record crowd attendance at the the event while an economic impact study carried out by MKA Economics of Stirling revealed a 61% boost in visitor spend to £999,845.^[10]

As far as we are aware there is no island wide research showing the broader event impacts and opportunities/challenges for islands.

1.3.2 Year of Coasts and Waters (YCW) 2020/21:

All 32 Local Authorities hosted YCW events, with 28 funded events and 82 partner events taking place (of the events that took place 7 were island events). The Themed Year was extended into 2021 due to the impact of the covid-19 pandemic. 1.1 million people attended the funded events (702k in person and 389k digitally). 79% of event attendees said that they will appreciate Scotland’s coasts and waters more, 67% said they will get out by, on or in the water more, and 63% of event attendees said they will take a more active role in the preservation of our coasts and waters and/or marine environment.^[11]

1.3.3 Orkney visitor survey 2019 – VisitScotland:

The key reasons for visiting Orkney cited by Leisure visitors were the scenery and landscape (62%) and the history and culture (57%). Over half (56%) stated that they had ‘always wanted’ to visit Orkney. 3% of visitors attended for an event or festival.^[12]

1.3.4 Outer Hebrides visitor survey 2017- VisitScotland:

Just over two thirds of visitors to the Outer Hebrides in 2017 were visiting for leisure purposes, while 12% were visiting friends and relatives and 19% were on a work/business trip. 3% of visitors attended for an event or festival. ^[13]

1.3.5 Shetland visitor survey 2019- VisitScotland:

As in 2017, half of visitors to Shetland in 2019 were visiting for leisure purposes. There has been an increase people visiting friends and relatives (from 11% in 2017 to 20% in 2019) and a decrease in the proportion on a work/business trip (from 35% in 2017 to 28% in 2019). 10% of visitors attended for an event or festival.^[14]

1.3.6 Scottish Household Survey 2022 (culture)^[15]

Cultural Engagement - Although the 2022 cultural engagement figure for Scotland is 88%, levels of cultural engagement varied between local authorities. Na h-Eileanan Siar had the lowest percentage of adults engaged in culture (79%). However, Orkney Islands (88%), Argyll and Bute (93%), and Shetland Islands (93%) all show cultural engagement figures equal to or above the figure of Scotland.

Cultural Attendance - Twelve local authorities saw a statistically significant decrease in cultural attendance between 2019 and 2022. Na h-Eileanan Siar saw the largest decrease, with a fall of 17 percentage points from 63% to 46%. Other Island areas saw varying levels of decline - Argyll & Bute (76% to 73%) Orkney Islands (82% to 66%) and Shetland Islands (87% to 76%)

Cultural Participation (excluding reading) – Between 2019 and 2022 Argyll and Bute (49% to 56%), Orkney Islands (53% to 62%) and Shetland Islands (69% to 74%) saw a statistical increase in cultural participation. However, Na h-Eileanan Siar (50% to 42%) saw a decrease in the same period.

1.3.7 Stakeholders fall into three broad groups:

1. Organisations and individuals working in and with the industry, including event owners, clients and influencers. Public consultation, supported by targeted workshops, brought a greater breadth of voices from across industry and academia to shape the strategy. Furthermore, representatives from both public and private sectors across business, sport, arts and wider cultural events, including EIAG, shaped the review in its infancy and informed the wider suite of impact assessments including the BRIA.

2. People attending events. Representatives from spectator and participant groups were invited to be involved in shaping the initial position for consultation and the final strategy, as part of a strong impact assessment process. Public consultation, supported by targeted workshops and engagements brought a range of audiences to shape the strategy, as appropriate.

3. People in the communities where events are held. A similar approach to people attending events was taken.

The data available is very limited and largely relies on event attendance and geographic spread. There are differences between islands in terms of their capacity to harness the economic, social and wider benefits of events and this will largely be as a result of population, location, transport connectivity, available infrastructure and the growth potential of the existing event portfolio of each of the islands. As a result each island and groups of geographically close islands will have their own opportunities and challenges however, there are some broad themes such as transport connectivity and cost of delivery which would largely apply to all. These challenges are in addition to the wider challenges faced by businesses and event organisers across the events sector.

If the trend of decreasing populations in many Island Authority areas continues through the lifetime of the strategy, organisers could find it more challenging to attract attendees, staff (including volunteers) and investment (if applicable) to their island events.

“In many rural, remote rural and island locations in Argyll and Bute travelling to events in the central belt can be unaffordable and impracticable, due to the distance involved, the entry price, accommodation and transport costs… National events and festivals therefore need to be better distributed across the country.”^[16] Argyll and Bute Council

Islands stakeholders also noted the reliance many island events place on volunteers to support the delivery of their respective events. In some cases it is felt that there is an increasing lack of volunteers to support these events - this is believed to be caused by a number of factors including volunteer fatigue and the aging pool of volunteers.

1.3.8 Investment

Scotland's island communities are to receive £100 million. The funds will be invested in Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides after an agreement was signed by UK and Scottish government ministers and council leaders. Up to 1,300 jobs and £393m of investment is expected to result from the signing of the transformative Islands Growth Deal. Over a 10-year period, it will invest in 16 projects and programmes that “capitalise on the islands’ unique assets” including renewable energy schemes and projects aimed at boosting tourism, and cultural and heritage attractions.^[17] We will continue to work closely with tourism on mutual interests related to this investment, given linkages between tourism and events.

1.3.9 Future Mega Events - 20th International Island Games

From the 12^th to the 18^th of July 2025 the Orkney islands will host the International Island Games. This week-long event will see athletes from up to 25 island groups from across the world compete in 12 sports: Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Bowls, Cycling, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Sailing, Squash, Swimming and Triathlon.

1.3.10 National Event Strategy 2015-2025 –

There is little substantive coverage of islands in the current National Events Strategy (2015-2025) however many of the opportunities/challenges faced are covered more generally - for example at section 11 of the Strategy- infrastructure and Services.

In 2023, EventScotland through their National and International funding programmes provided almost £200,000 of funding for Island events including for Hoy on Hoy, Orkney Folk Festival, Tiree Music Festival (event cancelled due to severe weather), HebCelt, Tall Ships Lerwick, Leaving Home Exhibition and Western Isles Tattoo Metagama, Orkney International Science Festival, Beatson's Building Supplies Mull Rally, and BWA Tiree Wave Classic. Existing funding programmes offer opportunities for event organisers to apply for funding on the basis that it meets the programme criteria. Events are assessed on their merits, and EventScotland will consider ways the event will create a positive impact for the host region and Scotland as a whole.