Transforming Waterways: The Tourism-Based Regeneration of Canals in Scotland

Abstract

Waterways have played an increasing part in tourism development in both urban and rural settings throughout the world. In the case of Scotland the transformation of the Scottish Canals (SC) estate deals with industrial and transport heritage in post-industrial locations wherein the leisure and tourism market has become vital. In Scotland the utilisation of iconic leisure developments has helped to catalyse regenerative impacts on perceptions and reputation. In this contribution the Tourism Area Life Cycle is used to consider this transformation over a period which saw major changes in leisure assets and visitation to canals and allied sites. Such change is not without resistance, as lessons from a range of organisations show however, Scottish Canals has transformed an estate of post-industrial waterways into some of the most famous visitor attractions in the nation. The contribution examines two sites where tourism and visitor development have been critical: the Falkirk Wheel (the site of a mature visitor attraction and related facilities) and the Helix Park (the site of the iconic Kelpie sculptures). Such contrasting sites provide a unique opportunity to consider development, operation, and scale of investment. The conclusions offer useful benchmarks for other heritage waterways in transition and development.