Study after Study shows that Wind Farms are not Detrimental to Tourism (Bournemouth Liberal Democrats)

Bournemouth Liberal Democrats <contact.us@bournemouth-libdems.org.uk>

Study after Study shows that Wind Farms are not Detrimental to Tourism

February 21, 2012 11:34 AM
By Michael Chizlett

'A Study into the Attitudes of Visitors, Tourists and Tourism Organisations towards Wind Farms on the Boundaries of the Lake District National Park', for Friends of the Lake District (FLD), October 2003:

87% of visitors/tourists and 88% of tourism organisations felt positive towards wind farms.
75% said that increases in the number of turbines in the next few years would not have any effect on them visiting in the future.

'Investigation into the Potential Impact of Wind Farms on Tourism in Wales', NFO World Group, October 2003

68% of respondents said that if the number of wind farms increased in Wales it would make no difference to the likelihood they would take holidays in the Welsh countryside.
A further 9% said any impact would be negligible
Only 2% said they would be 'less likely to come back'.

Lambrigg Residents Survey, RBA Research, April 2002

71% thought that the Lambrigg Wind Farm has had no effect on the number of people visiting the area.
14% said they don't know what the impact has been.
More than one in ten (11%) believed that the number of visitors to the area has increased, while fewer than one in twenty
Just 3% thought that visitor numbers have decreased.
74% said they support the wind farm.
Only 8% are in opposition to the wind farm.

Tourist Attitudes Toward Wind Farms, MORI Summary Report, September 2002

43% of respondents said a wind farm meant they were more likely to visit the Argyll area, an area of high landscape value. About the same proportion of respondents said it would make no difference.
Less than 8% thought they would be less likely to visit.
Nine out of ten tourists visiting some of Scotland's top beauty spots said the presence of wind farms makes no difference to the enjoyment of their holiday. Twice as many respondents would return to an area because of the presence of a wind farm than the number that would stay away.
91% of visitors interviewed said that the presence of a wind farm would not influence their decision to return to the area.
55% of those who had seen a wind farm felt their impact was either generally or completely positive.
Only 8% felt it was negative.

University of the West of England report: Fullabrook Wind Farm Proposal - evidence gathering of the impact of wind farms on visitor numbers and tourist experience

The vast majority of tourists surveyed in North Devon (87%) stated that the presence of a wind farm would neither encourage nor discourage them from visiting.
Of the remaining 13%, slightly more would be encouraged to visit because of the presence of a wind farm.
93.9% of those surveyed said that they would not be discouraged from visiting the area by the presence of a wind farm.