Tourism:

A survey commissioned by VisitScotland in 2002, when wind turbines were no more than 65m, found:

• 94% of visitors said the chance to experience unspoilt nature was important in their decision to visit Scotland, four in every five (80%) said the beautiful scenery was key.

• When shown still pictures, of wind farms in the Scottish landscape most visitors reacted negatively.

• Over half (58%) of visitors thought wind farms spoiled the look of the Scottish countryside and one in four (28%) of visitors claimed that they would be likely to avoid any parts of the countryside with wind farms

In 2002, according to Argyll, the Isles, Loch Lomond and Trossachs Tourist Board, £330 million was generated from tourism, supporting 20,000 jobs at peak season.

56% of tourists reacted negatively when shown this picture of wind turbines in the VisitScotland survey. 12% used words like “horrible”, “ugly” & “horrendous”.