CIE Tours Expands Responsible Tourism Impact with Scotland Investments

Ireland and Britain specialist CIE Tours has announced the latest recipients of its Sustainability Action Fund, furthering the company’s commitment to responsible tourism through high-impact projects in Scotland.

Following its recent support for conservation efforts in Ireland’s Burren region and Dublin’s Belvedere Youth Club, CIE Tours is now partnering with the National Trust for Scotland to preserve Culloden Battlefield, and with the UK-based social enterprise Invisible Cities, which supports people with experience of homelessness to become walking tour guides of their own city.

Preserving a National Landmark: Culloden Battlefield

With funding from CIE Tours, the National Trust for Scotland will continue its conservation efforts at Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last major battle fought on British soil. The initiative supports natural land management techniques, including conservation grazing by heritage breeds like Highland cattle and British primitive goats, to increase biodiversity and prevent invasive species from overtaking the 173-acre site.

These low-impact methods also help protect archaeological remains, enabling ongoing research and discovery while preserving the battlefield’s distinct landscape for future generations. 

CIE Tours says the project reflects its commitment to sustaining the historic and cultural legacy of key visitor destinations across its portfolio.

“Culloden is a place our guests often remember long after their visit — steeped in history, and increasingly familiar to (North American) audiences through Outlander” said Stephen Cotter, Managing Director of CIE Tours. “We’re proud to support efforts that preserve its landscape while also enriching its ecological future.”

Creating Opportunities Through Storytelling: Invisible Cities

CIE Tours is also supporting Invisible Cities, a social enterprise that trains people who have experienced homelessness to become walking tour guides in cities across the UK.

While CIE Tours’ group size and format aren’t suited to include these tours on standard itineraries, its funding helps Invisible Cities offer free guided experiences to charities, community groups, and people who otherwise cannot afford them while continuing to provide paid, purposeful work for its guides.

“Invisible Cities shows how powerful storytelling can be, both for those who give tours and those who experience them,” said Cotter. “We’re honoured to help amplify their impact and ensure more people can see their cities through new eyes.”

Launched in 2024, the CIE Tours Sustainability Action Fund supports projects that protect the communities, cultures, and environments that make travel meaningful, while addressing the environmental footprint of CIE Tours’ operations. The company continues to seek out opportunities that align with its Responsible Tourism Policy, both in its primary destinations and beyond.

For more information about CIE Tours’ sustainability initiatives, click here.