Edinburgh Napier University

  This paper presents the findings from a study into managerial competence in the Scottish visitor attraction sector. It provides an insight into the range, diversity and perceived importance of current and future competences highlighting differences based on gender, age, size, level of training and location. Although the main findings reveal a focus on operation and self‐management competences, with less emphasis given to strategic competences, significant differences were exposed between those managers who operated in medium‐ and larger‐sized establishments than those in smaller sites, those who had received training for their current position as well as those who had no training and those under the age of 50. The paper concludes by discussing implications of the findings for strategic human‐resource‐development providers in Scottish tourism.