Tourism in Europe's wilderness

Soomaa NP © Arne Ader

Paanajärvi NP © Viktor

Gritsuk

Wilderness Tourism in Europeon World Responsible Tourism Day

Zoltán Kun, Executive DirectorPAN Parks Foundation

Is this what we want?

Soomaa NP © Mati Kose

What is PAN Parks?

Paanajärvi NP © Viktor Gritsuk

What is PAN Parks?

PAN Parks works to protect Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature

What is PAN Parks?

The only European-wide organisation focusing on the protection of wilderness areas

Central Balkan NP ©CBNPAppenine Chamois © Bruno D’Amicis

What is PAN Parks?

Applies a truly integrated approach to mobilise sustainable tourism development for strengthening wilderness conservation

Borjomi-Kharagauli NP © Kote Gabrichidze

What is PAN Parks?

Founded in 1999 by WWF and Molecaten, registered in Netherlands and having its premises in Hungary

The European

Wilderness Preservation System

What is PAN Parks?

The PAN Parks Concept Retezat NP © Andreas Beckmann

The PAN Parks Concept

An area of at least 10,000 hectares of land or sea, with its native plant and animal communities and their associated ecosystems, in an essentially natural state

Oulanka NP © Hannu Hautala

We help to increase the management effectiveness of the areas through third party audit based on Principles and Criteria

Central Balkan © Nanko Minkov

The PAN Parks Concept

We help develop these areas through• active promotion of local and sustainable tourism and• raising awareness and creating positive perception of wilderness

Oulanka NP © Michael Hennemann

The PAN Parks Concept

The PAN Parks Concept

Visitors have the opportunity to enjoy PAN Parks Wilderness!

Paanajärvi NP © Minna Koramo

Borjomi-Kharagauli NP © Kote Gabrichidze

TOURISM

• Promotion of sustainable tourism

• Certification of local businesses

• Cooperation with international tour operators

The PAN Parks Concept

Sustainable Tourism Development

• stimulates local cooperation

• involves local stakeholders

• aims for synergy between conservation and tourism

• improves the quality of tourism products

• improves the visitors experience

• includes local standard for businesses

The PAN Parks Concept

Partnership with Local

Businesses

• ensures the strategy is implemented

• partners are committed to the park

and PAN Parks

• different tourism service providers

• 88 partners

Oulanka NP © Paavo Hamunen

The PAN Parks Concept

Retezat NP ©Falk Kienas

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Archipelago NP © Seppo Keränen

Our challengesTourism vs wilderness!1. Wilderness is un-known in Europe – the role of

branding & network2. Destination management (12 destinations) – the

role of incoming operators3. No marketing budget for strong communication –

social media

Majella NP © Bruno D’Amicis

Tourism as a tool for wilderness conservation:

• creates local support

• raises awareness

• supports lobbying

• generates income

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Building a strong network

including:

• Local Partners

• Incoming Operators

• International Operators

PAN Parks adds value:

• certified local and selected incoming

partners

• supports product development

• supports promotionMajella NP © Barbara Mayer

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

International tour operator partners

Benefits for Protected Areas

• helps to better control sustainable tourism

• better cooperation with local partners

• promotion of their areas

Benefits for Local Partners

• included in packages

• more clients through operators

• cooperation with other local partners

• incoming operators help to develop their products

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Benefits for International Tour Operators

•they support a good case, by doing what they are best in

•pre-selected local suppliers and Incoming Partners

•educational trips, help in product development

•brand building and help in promotion

•networking and cooperating with similar companies

Benefits for Incoming Tour Operators

• link with International Operators

• better cooperation with protected areas

• associated with a wilderness brand

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Benefits for our Foundation

• it bring benefits to the local partners

and parks

• generates income for our foundation

• creates better local cooperation

• raises awareness

• educates the visitors

▶▶▶ supports wilderness

conservation

©iStock/Graeme Purdy

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Case study - Oulanka National Park

• Finnish Wilderness Week package

• sold by Exodus (UK) – developed by

Basecamp Oulanka (FI)

• contribution to PPF after each client

• 23,000 € raised in 4 years

• local project supported in 4 PAN

Parkso visitor centre – Retezat NP o eco-trail – Rila NP o information boards –Borjomi NPo photo project – Majella NP

Oulanka NP © Hannu Hautala

The PAN Parks Tourism Model

Rila NP © Nicolas Cegalerba

The PAN Parks Turism Model

Plan for 2013 and beyondhttp://panparks.travelincrease the number of international operatorsintegrate service element stronger at local business partnerget at least one incoming partner for each Certified PAN Park

PAN Parks works to protect Europe’swilderness, the continent’s mostundisturbed areas of nature

www.panparks.org