HANDBOOK OF ECOTOURISM LABELLING CRITERIA ...ecoroute.prismanet.gr/themedia/File/ECO-DESTINET HANDBOOK...1.1 Concept of ecotourism 7 1.1.1 What is ecotourism: definition and principles

HANDBOOK OF ECOTOURISM LABELLING CRITERIA

AND GOOD PRACTICE IN EUROPE

Handbook of Ecotourism Labeling Criteria and Good Practice in Europe

Eco-Destinet Project - 2 -

ISBN:

Sofia……….

Published on behalf of the Eco-Destinet Network by the Bulgarian Association for Rural and Eco Tourism (BARET)

This guide was written by Vassilis Tsipidis, PRISMA Centre for Development Studies, Greece. Text contributions were by Naut Kusters and Christine Koblun, ECEAT-Projects, the Netherlands and Herbert Hamele, ECOTRANS, Germany. Comments on the draft handbook were provided by Andrei Blummer, Association Ecotourism Romania and Pia Kattelus Ruralia Institute, Finland. The Handbook was edited by Roger Evans, R G Evans Associates, Scotland and Fouli Papageorgiou, PRISMA Centre for Development Studies, Greece.

Case study material has been used from the ECO-ROUTE project partnership.

For more information on the Eco-Destinet Network visit our website www.ecoroute.eu

This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the EC, and its contents are the sole responsibility of the project partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the EC



Contents

Foreword 3

Introduction 6

What is Eco-Destinet? 6

Who is this handbook for? 6

Part A. Ecotourism and Certification 7

1.1 Concept of ecotourism 7

1.1.1 What is ecotourism: definition and principles 7

1.1.2 Elements of ecotourism 8

1.2 Global and European developments in ecotourism, sustainable tourism

and certification

12

1.2.1 Certification and accreditation in the context of ecotourism 12

1.2.2 Diversity of tourism- diversity of eco-labels in Europe 15

1.2.3 The market share challenge 16

1.2.4 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) Partnership 16

Part B. The European Ecotourism Labelling Standard -EETLS 19

2.1 What does eco-tourism mean for individual tourism services providers

and tour operators?

19

2.2 The European Ecotourism Labelling Standards (EETLS) 19

2.3 The EETLS Development 20

2.4 How do current certificates reflect the principles and criteria of eco-

tourism?

25

Part C. Good practice examples 28

Appendix A - Presentation of ecotourism and sustainable tourism related certificates 36

Appendix B - GSTC and draft EETLS criteria 55

Appendix C - Talking about ecotourism - useful terms 58

Further reading 60



Foreword

Ecotourism and sustainable tourism have offered a much to world tourism, both in principle and in practice. The ecotourism movement in particular, has helped communities worldwide to preserve their natural environment and sustain their ways of living while also being supported economically through tourism activities. Ecotourists too, have gained through visiting unspoiled natural places and experiencing host cultures in a responsible manner. Scientists, research institutes and NGOs have, through ecotourism business and related organisations found a new supporter and a donor for their research and conservation activities. This is the win-win situation that makes up ecotourism or for some, the big compromise.

As a consequence of the growth in nature-based tourism there are increasing interventions in pristine and delicate natural environments, and in some cases in local societies unfamiliar with western economic practices. It has thus become necessary to ensure that genuine ecotourism is being practised and “only footprints” are left with host destinations.

One means to achieve this is through introduction of codes of conduct, certification initiatives, labels and standards, thus giving tourists the reassurance that their chosen holiday activity complies with ecotourism principles and is sustainable to them and their hosts. But, as we have come to realise, this is not sufficient. There are a multiplicity of certificates, standards and procedures in today’s marketplace, and not all of them with genuine intent.

Variety is good though, and it is therefore appropriate to have different sub-national, national, European and international certificates, as discussed later. There are two evident problems to this however; while the first relates to miscommunication between labels and between the labels and the public, the second results from the variation in quality standards of ecotourism services on offer.

Labels with different geographical coverage and criteria are beneficial, as in most cases they reflect local challenges and local needs. But these should also reflect global principles, made out by good or bad practice, applicable to all destinations and easily recognised by the casual traveller or the hardcore ecotourist. Reinventing the wheel has happened a lot in the past. Therefore a universal set of standards for ecotourism will help labels and the tourism market to communicate with each other and with tourists, and become a framework of co-operation and quality assurance.

In order to address this need, a global initiative was launched in 2007 to set minimum standards for sustainable tourism. This initiative is being implemented by the Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org), a coalition of 31 organisations, initiated by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The criteria introduced by the partnership are targeted at both tourism businesses and labels with the intention to provide a common framework and understanding of sustainable tourism practices. By encouraging wide adoption of the criteria, the partnership aims to more effectively address issues such as green-washing of tourism establishments, maximizing local community social and economic benefits from tourism while also being sustainable and establishing consumer confidence in green tourism products.



Sustainable Tourism Criteria can assist the development of ecotourism through provision of a framework that addresses most of its needs and help the movement more clearly define the market, collectively regulated and free from past mistakes.

A major challenge for the Eco-Destinet project has been to successfully interpret and adapt the Sustainable Tourism Criteria to the needs of European ecotourism in order to produce the European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS), which will act as the common framework for the European ecotourism segment. Another challenge is to seek acceptance of the EETLS as widely as possible and create a strong network for its dissemination and implementation in Europe.



Introduction

What is Eco-Destinet?

Eco-Destinet or a Network Developing a European Quality Label for Ecotourism Destinations, is a project co-funded by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Programme. The project, in cooperation with existing initiatives related to ecotourism quality labelling, developed a list of baseline criteria defining the European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS). Training methodologies were also created during the project which included materials and tools for trainers of ecotourism providers wishing to apply the labelling standards of EETLS across Europe. For more information on the initiative and the partnership, please visit the project website at: www.ecoroute.eu

Who is this handbook for?

This handbook forms part of the Eco-Destinet training material. The first section describes the principles and state of the art regarding eco- and sustainable tourism labelling in Europe and internationally, including a presentation of some relevant international European and national schemes; the second section assesses the compatibility of some existing schemes with the European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS) developed by the Eco-Destinet project.

The handbook is designed for those with a genuine interest in ecotourism and sustainable tourism and who already have a basic knowledge of contemporary issues surrounding these. Since certification in ecotourism and sustainable tourism is possibly one of the most contentious issues in this area of tourism, a basic understanding of certification in tourism and sustainable tourism is also assumed.

The main target group for this handbook will includes: ecotourism and sustainable tourism-related associations and public organisations, tourism policy makers, private ecotourism businesses and professionals, researchers and consultants in tourism, academics, university students and training organisations.



Part A. Ecotourism and certification

1.1 Concept of Ecotourism

1.1.1 What is ecotourism: Definition and principles

While ecotourism is a relatively new sector of the tourism industry, it has generated a significant amount of interest as well as controversy, much of which still carries on today across a number of topics. The use of the term “ecotourism” is widely attributed to Ceballos-Lascurrain who coined the word in the early 80s, although for some it goes back to Hetzer who introduced it in 1965. Although reference to ecotourism can be traced back over more than 20 years, controversy on the precise definition has not ceased in all that time.

The term ‘ecotourism’ has been open to much misinterpretation by planners, operators, managers, marketers and the media, with the result that it has been used to describe a range of products that do not fall within the definitions described by these authors.

This broad use has led to debate throughout the industry and the community and has led to the creation of a number of other terms, including ‘minimal impact’, ‘community based’ and ‘responsible’ tourism, and also to related but wider approaches, such as ‘endemic’ tourism.

The most significant effort in providing a global consensus on ecotourism was during the World Ecotourism Summit in Québec in 2002, a year declared by UN as the International Year of Ecotourism. “The Québec Summit represented the culmination of 18 preparatory meetings held during 2001 and 2002, involving over 3,000 representatives from national and local governments including tourism, environment and other administrations, private ecotourism businesses and their trade associations, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions and consultants, intergovernmental organizations, and indigenous and local communities”1. The Summit recognised that “ecotourism embraces the principles of sustainable tourism, concerning the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism. It also embraces the following specific principles, which distinguish it from the wider concept of sustainable tourism:

� Contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, � Includes local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and

operation, and contributing to their well-being, � Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to visitors, � Lends itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organized tours for small

size groups.”

Today there is a definition that is inclusive of the World Ecotourism Summit ecotourism description and is widely accepted and used as a reference when talking about Ecotourism. This is the ecotourism definition by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) :

1 Québec Declaration on Ecotourism, Canada, 22nd May 2002: http://www.world-tourism.org/sustainable/IYE/quebec/anglais/declaration.html



“Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people”

TIES also includes the following set of principles for ecotourism2:

• Minimize impact

• Build an environmental and cultural awareness and respect

• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts

• Provide direct benefits for conservation

• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people

• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate”

Interest in ecotourism has arisen from a combination of increasing demand for authentic tourist experiences and increasing interest in environmental conservation. Ecotourism occupies a specialist niche within tourism. It includes forms of tourism that are consistent with natural, cultural and community values and that promote cultural and environmental interaction in authentic natural settings. Ecotourism is at the leading edge of the overall 'greening' of tourism in which environmental aspects are a high priority. In some cases, it may need only a small shift of focus for a nature-based tourism operation to become an ecotourism operation.

A major benefit for encouraging ecotourism is that it integrates tourism and conservation thus providing an economic incentive for environmental protection. Also beneficial is the value of increasing awareness and appreciation of the relationship between natural settings and the diverse range of cultural perspectives of the community.

A key challenge is to ensure balance so that the ecotourism industry can be commercially viable, ecologically sustainable and culturally responsible.

1.1.2 Elements of Ecotourism All tourism should be sustainable - ecologically, socially, culturally and economically. Ecotourism differs from other forms of tourism through its dependence on the protection of natural ecosystems so that they, and their associated cultural values, can be visited and interpreted. The challenge for the tourism industry is to develop ecotourism capacity and the quality of its product without adversely affecting the environment on which it depends. This involves ensuring that the type, location and level of ecotourism use do not harm natural areas and that management is adequate to sustain appropriate levels of ecotourism.

2 TIES is in the process of renewing this Code of Conduct to include principles outlining commitment to reducing carbon footprint .Oslo Statement on Ecotourism, Norway, 15th August 2007: http://www.box.net/shared/static/h3ccnmpbks.pdf



Revenue raised from ecotourism should be used to maintain ecological sustainability by providing supporting infrastructure, which will avoid damage to the natural environment for example boardwalks, toilets, and camping grounds. Infrastructure can also educate visitors about minimising impacts on the natural environment (e.g. interpreted walks and interpretation centres). Managers of natural areas need to consider the requirements of ecosystems, allowable activities under the designated form of tenure management regime, appropriate locations for various ecotourism styles as well as the social needs of visitors (e.g. crowding, presentation of the area). Different management techniques such as permit conditions, infrastructure provision and styles of presentation can allow for maintaining or increasing visitor use of an area. However, limiting access to and use of sensitive environmental areas for ecotourism ventures will be required at times to avoid overuse, preserve biosystems and ensure opportunities exist for all styles of ecotourism. The following are some of the main elements and principles of sound ecotourism: � The natural environment � Ecological and cultural sustainability � Contribution to conservation � Education and interpretation � Provision of local benefits and participation � Visitor satisfaction � Responsible marketing Natural environment Ecotourism relies on use of the natural environment and includes a focus on biological and physical features. Ecotourism occurs in and depends on a natural setting and may include cultural elements where they occur in natural settings. The conservation of natural areas and natural resource management is therefore essential to the planning, development and management of ecotourism. Many natural areas have significant ethnic and cultural values. Although the focus of ecotourism is on the natural values of an area, it is impractical to separate the natural and cultural components of ecotourism. The term 'ecotourism' embraces the sustainable use of cultural as well as natural assets. Ecological and cultural sustainability Tourism activity that degrades the environment, adversely affects the local community or fails to return worthwhile economic benefits is not sustainable in the longer term. Ecotourism is managed to avoid or minimise negative impacts and to confer benefits on host communities and environments, for present and future generations. Ecotourism involves active participation by tourists and tour operators in the conservation of an area. For example, tourists may participate in scientific monitoring or rehabilitation projects, or may contribute financially to the management of an area. Planning for ecotourism is based on resource constraints. Economic opportunities will be lost if the resilience of an area and the ability of its community to absorb impact are exceeded, or if its biodiversity and physical appearance are altered significantly. The impacts of ecotourism can be managed through the recognition and application of sustainable practices. For example,



environmental impacts can be managed using facility design, equipment and waste management practices that minimise impact, both at the site of the activity and in terms of broader resource use. Contribution to conservation Ecotourists and ecotourism operators can contribute to conservation in a variety of ways. The form of contribution must first be negotiated between natural resource managers and ecotourism operators to provide the greatest benefit for conservation within the means of the operators. Ecotourism operator contributions could include, but would not be limited to, participating in or supporting research and monitoring of wildlife or the impacts of visitation, assisting in management of the natural resource or returning a percentage of revenue for the management of the natural area. Examples of how independent visitors and members of the local community could contribute to conservation include: adhering to visitor codes of practice and exercising minimal impact techniques, participating in management surveys, reporting inappropriate behaviour to managers and rangers, picking up litter enroute and participating in organised community service activities in the area visited such as cleanups, weeding and scientific research on wildlife. Education and interpretation Ecotourism's educative characteristic is a key element, which distinguishes it from other parts of nature-based tourism. Environmental education and interpretation are important tools in creating an enjoyable and meaningful ecotourism experience. Ecotourism attracts people who wish to interact with the environment and, to varying degrees, develop their knowledge, awareness and appreciation of it. By extension, ecotourism should ideally lead to positive action for the environment by fostering enhanced conservation, environmental and cultural awareness. Environmental education can influence visitor, community and tourism industry behaviour and assist in the long-term sustainability of tourism activity in natural areas. Environmental education and interpretation help visitors see the big and little picture of the environment. It acknowledges the natural and cultural values of the area, resource management needs and the complexity and interdependence of the natural environment. It is one of the tasks of Ecotourism operators to provide an appropriate level of environmental and cultural interpretation, usually through the employment of appropriately qualified guides and the provision of information prior to and during the trip. The level and type of education will depend on the interests and expectations of the tourist and will include a broad range of educational opportunities through interpretation, interactive approaches and the use of various media. This educational or interpretative component may acknowledge the natural and cultural values of a destination and could also address issues such as resource management and the role and attitude of the host community. Local benefits and participation The benefits of ecotourism should be equitably distributed with significant benefits accruing to the local community, even though ecotourism businesses may be based in other communities or involve national or multinational ownership. Local benefits may be derived from the use of locally based operators, the employment of local guides and use of specialised local knowledge, the purchase of provisions and services and the use of local facilities.



These benefits should outweigh the cost of ecotourism to the host community and environment, although the benefits and costs are difficult to measure. Ecotourism generally returns revenue, or other benefits for resource conservation and management, as well as bringing social and cultural benefits. It therefore offers a positive approach to tourism development in some areas. The involvement of local communities may benefit these communities and the environment while improving the quality of the visitor experience. Local communities can be involved in ecotourism operations and help provide knowledge, services, facilities and products that, in turn, can provide employment. Ecotourism should also generate income for resource conservation and management to help maintain environmental values that are important to the community. Visitor satisfaction Visitor satisfaction with the ecotourism experience is essential to the ecotourism industry's long-term viability. The ecotourism experience should match or exceed visitors' realistic expectations. Client service and satisfaction, an integral part of the product, should be second only to the conservation and protection of each area visited. Visitor enjoyment should be facilitated by: � quality assurance and best practice; � an ecotourism accreditation system; � a broad range of ecotourism products suitable for different styles of ecotourism, land

tenures and management regimes; � adequate and environmentally sensitive infrastructure which does not compete with

the natural environment; � adequate consideration of the needs of local communities; � responsible marketing which gives realistic expectations of the ecotourism

experiences in each natural area; and � appropriate planning and management. Responsible marketing Realisation of ecotourism opportunities relies to a large extent on marketing making potential visitors aware of the available opportunities and matching demand with supply. In the field of ecotourism, marketing can often be a challenge since: � the industry includes many small operators who, on their own, do not have the

necessary resources to market at a national or international level; and � operators may be based in relatively remote locations where they do not have ready

access to necessary marketing skills and resources. Visitors need to have realistic expectations and understanding of tourism experiences to help them choose a product suited to their needs and the experiences they desire. In terms of ecotourism, responsible marketing will inform potential visitors of the type of activities available and appropriate to a particular area.



1.2 Global and European developments on ecotourism, sustainable tourism and certification

1.2.1 Certification and accreditation in the context of ecotourism

Certification in the context of tourism, ‘refers to a procedure that assesses, monitors, gives written assurance, and awards a marketable logo to a business, attraction, destination, tour, service, service provider, process, or management system that meets specific standards’; and accreditation is ‘the process of qualifying, endorsing and “licensing” entities that perform certification of businesses, products, processes, or services. In other words, an accreditation programme certifies the certifiers’ (Honey and Rome,2001).

In a strategic review of Ecotourism Accreditation and Certification3, Fergus Tyler Maclaren, director of the UN initiative International Year of Ecotourism, describes the concept and components of current initiatives for ecotourism and sustainable tourism certification and accreditation:

“Certification programs within the travel and tourism industry are divided into two methodologies:

1) process-based using internally created environment management systems (EMS) tailored to a particular business

2) performance-based using externally set environmental and often socio-cultural and economic criteria or benchmarks against which a business is judged.

While providing a linear, benchmark-oriented structure, the drawbacks on process-based certification using standard ISO or environmental management systems (EMS) are considerable requiring costly outside consultants and fees of $20,000-40,000 for a medium-sized company); are complicated and heavily engineering oriented; focused on internal operating systems, not on a company’s social and economic impact on the surrounding area or on how a business compares with its peers; and concerned only with how a company operates, not what it does.

According to Robert Toth of R.B. Toth and Associates, a range of standards are required for a comprehensive certification system, not just those focused on a single component such as accommodation, transportation or waste management. Standards will be required for aspects including the system itself; the operations to be certified; the qualifications of the assessors; and the capabilities of the assessors, amongst other factors

Ecotourism certification programs are intended to go beyond the “greening” of tourism industry or nature tourism. Their fundamental principles are created through broad stakeholder participation, whose eventual tenets weigh equally internal and external environmental, socio-cultural and economic impacts.

3 Source and full text: http://www.unwto.org/sustainable/IYE/Regional_Activites/Brazil/cases/TIES.htm



Within the two methodologies (process vs. performance), all certification programs share at least five components:

Voluntary Enrolment At present, all certification programs in the travel and tourism industry are strictly voluntary; i.e., businesses can decide whether to apply for certification. Most do so only if they believe that certification can bring them market distinction and increased profits. While many businesses view voluntary certification as a way to ward off government regulation, already some programs such as NEAP and Blue Flag receive government money, and CST is run by Costa Rica’s government tourism division. It is likely that, in the future, governments will use more “carrots” such as marketing and promotion and “sticks” such as denying contracts in national parks or other environmentally or culturally sensitive areas to uncertified companies. Logo All programs award a selective logo, seal or brand designed to be recognizable to consumers. Most permit the logo to be used only after certification is achieved. A notable exception is Green Globe. When first established in 1994, Green Globe allowed companies that paid as little as $200 to immediately use the logo before any certification process began. As reorganized in 2000, Green Globe 21 now allows businesses or destinations that become members and pledge to undergo certification to use the logo before they have implemented actions and been externally audited. Once certified, a slightly different logo – one with a “check” in the middle – is issued. Many experts argue that this is still inappropriate since such a slight distinction is lost on most consumers. Many certification programs give logos for different levels of achievement, one to five suns or leaves, for instance. One of the more complex logos is that given by ECOTEL, which measures environmental performance in lodging facilities. ECOTEL offers a different logo in each of five areas (solid waste management, energy efficiency, etc.) and each logo, in turn, has a three-level scoring system. This allows businesses to display a combination of logos as they progress through different levels in each of the five areas. But, again, this system may prove confusing to consumers.

Complying With or Improving Upon Regulations Process-based certification programs require, at a minimum, that companies comply with local, national, regional and international regulations, while most performance-based programs (i.e. sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification programs) have criteria that require companies go beyond the regulations to include socio-cultural and conservation criteria. Unfortunately, regulations differ substantially from country to country, both in their rigor and in enforcement. In poorer countries where tourism is expanding but government regulations may be weak, certification programs can possibly help to promote and ensure compliance. However, those in developing countries also argue that certification schemes, by setting criteria beyond the financial and technical capacity of many small and locally-owned businesses, may unfairly tilt their awards and logos towards international chains and foreign-owned establishments.

Assessment and Auditing All certification programs award logos based on some kind of assessment or audit. This can be first-party (by the company itself, typically by completing a written questionnaire), by industry associations such as World Travel and Tourism Council, which ran the original Green Globe program, or by independent or third-party auditors who are not connected with either the company seeking certification or the body that grants



certification and issues the logo. Third party auditing is considered the most rigorous and credible because it avoids any conflict of interest. At present, an estimated 200 private auditing agencies exist globally. Membership and Fees Many programs charge an enrolment fee to those seeking certification. This money is used for administration and to support advertising and promotion of the logo and of the companies that are certified. They, or the independent auditing body, also charge fees for the onsite assessment. Usually there is a sliding scale with larger and more profitable businesses paying more. These fees vary widely and tend to be highest for those using ISO 14001 or other types of environmental management systems. While some programs have received start-up funds from government, industry or NGOs, certification programs are challenged to become self-supporting. (Honey)

According to a report on tourism certification produced by Synergy for WWF-UK in August 2000, certification schemes for environmentally and socially responsible tourism can be misleading to consumers and often fail to guarantee high standards of environmental practice. It added that “good certification programmes should meet or exceed benchmark performance criteria prior to certification and use of a logo, and be underpinned by third party auditing and verification” (Synergy).

While some of these certification schemes are credible and genuinely attempt to comprehensively address both social and environmental concerns, the proliferation of over 100 different instruments worldwide offering logos and labels has made it difficult for the tourist to distinguish exactly what is being certified. This confusion has, in turn, led to a lack of consumer demand for certified holidays. Furthermore, less than one per cent of businesses have joined up to these schemes (Synergy). The failure to establish clear brand recognition amongst these different efforts could seriously undermine the potential of certification to legitimize sustainable tourism.

This is particularly critical for tour operators in developing countries, who are trying to adhere to international standards, while creating new dimensions of their respective tourist industries beyond prevalent resort and beach destinations. The issues they face are picking a credible, recognized global system amongst the panoply available, that is cost-effective (or even affordable) through the introductory, operational, and auditing phases.”

Fergus Tyler concludes his overview with the following:

“It is apparent that existing sustainable tourism and ecotourism certification programs have a great deal of overlap and commonality. New programs should not have to “reinvent the wheel;” rather they could be given the basic components or the “spokes of the wheel” and use these to build a certification program tailored to specific operational needs……By understanding the need to customize a complex process such as sound environmental management within tourism management under the rubric of an international certification and accreditation process, it is hoped that ecotourism can remove the clouds of misunderstanding and actions to globally foster “responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment & improve welfare of local people.”



1.2.2 Diversity of tourism- diversity of eco-labels in Europe

In 2000/2001, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) commissioned ECOTRANS4 to carry out a global study5 on voluntary initiatives for sustainable tourism. More than 100 eco-labels, awards and self-committing initiatives were studied in the first comparative analysis worldwide assessing the history, development, objectives, requirements, procedures and effectiveness of each and every initiative. The study found that many eco-labels are struggling to survive and meet the promises they made to their certified businesses in terms of significant cost savings and increased consumer demand.

Europe has far more “green” certification programmes than any other region of the world. During the 1980s - 90s, an increasing number of tourism associations, consumer groups, and governmental bodies began to pay attention to ecologically-sound tourism. In 2004, there were more than 50 environmental certificates and awards in Europe covering all types of tourism suppliers, including accommodation, beaches, marinas, protected areas, restaurants, handicrafts, golf courses, tour packages and various other tourism-related activities. More than 40 schemes certify accommodation services: hotels with or without restaurants, camping sites, youth hostels, farmhouses, alpine huts, holiday houses, guest houses, bed and breakfast lodgings and others. The diversity of tourism in Europe presents, however, enormous challenges for certification initiatives. In developing an eco-label, a number of questions must be asked:

• Which product groups to select?

• Which services to include?

• Which criteria should be mandatory or optional?

• What is the balance between processes (environmental management systems) and performance criteria?

• How to attract applicants?

• How to train and advise them?

• How to verify and guarantee the compliance of the applicants with the required criteria?

• How to reach tour operators and individual consumers to generate a demand for the sustainable products?

In principle, a tourism eco-label needs a homogeneous product group with clear and common components or services, to ensure that environmental impacts can be compared and rated. Every tourism eco-label initiative has to face this diverse range of products and issues when defining the product group and developing the criteria for a certification scheme. The ideal eco-label requires a set of criteria for “better environmental performance”, which: • Goes beyond what is required by law (national or regional), and

4 Source: http://www.ecotrans.org/visit/brochure/nl/060.htm 5 World Tourism Organization , 2002, Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainable Tourism: Worldwide Inventory and Comparative Analysis of 104 Eco-labels, Awards and Self-commitments



• Is achievable by a significant proportion of the target group of tourism providers in order to provide a real “better choice” to the consumer.

1.2.3 The market share challenge

According to a report by the Voluntary Initiative for Sustainability in Tourism (VISIT,2003)6: “In 2003 tourism eco-labels as a whole certified 4000 accommodation suppliers, which represent less than 1% of the market share. Only a few schemes, for example in Scotland or Denmark can offer a choice of 10% or more. There is significant evidence that many of the participants in these eco-labels successfully reduce their water and energy consumption, waste production, contribute to overcome traffic-related problems and help to preserve the biodiversity and beauty of the surrounding landscape. However, businesses voluntarily enrol in certification programmes on the assumption that consumers will patronise the services that have received an eco-label. The evidence indicates that many of these eco-labelling programmes have not been very effective in publicising their programmes to consumers.”

Not much has changed since 2004 when the VISIT report was published. With the exception of Global Sustainable Tourism (GSTC) partnership, VISIT and the Sustainable Stewardship council initiative, the situation in Europe remains the same. There are currently more than 30 certification initiatives in Europe of which a handful cover ecotourism, and the market share has still not exceeded 1%.

1.2.4 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) Partnership

The GSTC7 is the product of the work carried out by the GSTC Partnership. The Partnership was formed in the summer of 2007 by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). There are 32 organisations worldwide in the Partnership “working together to foster increased understanding of sustainable tourism practises and the adoption of universal sustainable tourism practises”8. The criteria (see appendix B) are part of the response from the tourism community to the global challenges of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals. Poverty alleviation and environmental sustainability – including climate change – are the main crosscutting issues that are addressed through the criteria. The goals of this initiative can be summarised as follows:

• Clearly define sustainable tourism using the criteria as the framework

• Build consumer confidence

• Promote efficiency

• Fight green-washing

6 Source: http://www.ecotrans.org/visit/docs/pdf/visit_en.pdf 7 GSTC: The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria Partnership http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org/ 8 Source: http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=164&Itemid=348



The GSTC Partnership developed the criteria organized around the four pillars of sustainable tourism:

• Effective sustainable planning

• Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community

• Reduce negative impacts to cultural heritage

• Reduce negative impacts to environmental heritage.

To develop the criteria the partnership consulted with sustainability experts and the tourism industry and reviewed more than 60 existing certification and voluntary sets of criteria already being implemented around the globe. More than 4,500 criteria were analysed and the resulting draft criteria have received comments from over 1000 stakeholders. The partnership focuses on engaging all tourism stakeholders – from purchasers to suppliers, to consumers – with a view to their adopting the criteria. To facilitate this, the partnership develops educational materials and technical tools to guide hotels and tour operators through the process of implementing sustainable tourism best practices.

Some of the expected uses of the criteria include the following:

• Serve as basic guidelines for businesses of all sizes to become more sustainable, and help businesses choose sustainable tourism programs that fulfill these global criteria

• Serve as guidance for travel agencies in choosing suppliers and sustainable tourism programs

• Help consumers identify sound sustainable tourism programs and businesses

• Serve as a common denominator for media to recognize sustainable tourism providers

• Help certification and other voluntary programs ensure that their standards meet a broadly-accepted baseline

• Offer governmental, non-governmental and private sector programs a starting point for developing sustainable tourism requirements

• Serve as baseline guidelines for education and training bodies such as hotel schools and universities. [source GSTC website]

The GSTC have been developed in accordance with the ISEAL9 code of best practice and as such undergoes consultation and receives input every two years until feedback is no longer provided or unique. Although the criteria are initially intended for use by the accommodation and tour operation sectors, they have applicability to the entire tourism industry.

The criteria indicate what should be done, not how to do it or whether the goal has been achieved. This role is fulfilled by performance indicators, associated educational

9 ISEAL: The International Social and Environmental Accreditation and Labelling Alliance http://www.isealalliance.org



materials, and access to tools for implementation, all of which are an indispensable complement to the GSTC10.

The criteria were officially launched at the World Conservation Congress in Barcelona, Spain on the 6th of October 2008.

10 Source: http://www.sustainabletourismcriteria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=188



Part B. The European Ecotourism Labelling Standard -EETLS

This section of the handbook introduces the concept and development of the EETLS and presents an assessment of selected ecotourism labels and certificates against the draft EETLS criteria, developed as part of the Eco-Destinet initiative. The EETLS criteria are based on the criteria developed by the GSTC partnership for sustainable tourism. The Eco-Destinet team interpreted and adapted these to reflect specifically the principles and considerations of European ecotourism. In this part of the handbook the draft EETLS criteria are described and put to test against some of the certificates presented in Appendix A. Since this is not intended as a formal assessment of the certificates, there will be no mention of which certificates are put to test. The scope of this assessment is to highlight the need for European ecotourism baseline criteria and to identify the extent to which current certificates already comply with EETLS.

2.1 What does eco-tourism mean for individual tourism service providers and tour operators?

Ecotourism poses significant challenges for businesses, since by definition it sets restrictions on tourism company operations and activities. Although this is frequently stressed as a drawback for many, and we will not argue that it cannot be, it can also be seen as a major opportunity. Put simply this opportunity can be derived from the three elements: i) managing the business, ii) tourists and iii) the impact on the local environment.

In an ideal situation an ecotourism business should have satisfied employees, who are appropriately trained, with sufficient knowledge of the local environment and competent to deliver quality services to tourists; the business is responsibly managed in a sustainable way, with services that do not cost a fortune and which actively contribute to the well-being of the local population and to nature conservation. Furthermore there should be a steady annual flow of tourists who in receiving a genuine tourism experience can return home with a knowledge and understanding of the local culture and environment whilst being made aware of natural and cultural issues of local importance. All the above should be achieved with a minimum negative impact to the local community and environment. Although the above may seem a utopian ideal, if we were to analyse each action separately we can devise a number of statements that provide a schematic for viable, well-run businesses managed in a responsible and sustainable manner.

2.2 The European Ecotourism Labelling Standards (EETLS)

The scope of developing a standard for European ecotourism derives from the need to harmonise existing eco-tourism initiatives and strengthen their position in the tourism market. The harmonisation effort is based on an integrated concept for European ecotourism, which brings together the different services offered to the tourist, i.e. accommodation, food, travel and nature-based outdoor activities. Although each of the service-components of ecotourism may come under different quality labels, an “umbrella” labelling standard would assure the baseline quality of the tourism product



and harmonise existing labels while recognising their specific experiences and background. Therefore a European Ecotourism Labelling Standard (EETLS) based on the European and global experience on the theme, would assure comparable standards of service to the client across Europe (and potentially worldwide), at least in relation to a core group of baseline quality criteria.

2.3 The EETLS Development

Ecotourism is by definition a form of sustainable tourism. Therefore the GSTC provides a solid basis for interpreting ecotourism through sets of criteria and the TIES definition and principles of ecotourism (see introduction) provides a useful tool for interpretation of these (GSTC) criteria in the context of ecotourism.

Using the GSTC criteria and the TIES definition to determine ecotourism standards has clear advantages especially since they were derived from extensive consultation and collective work; they are expected to be adopted widely and used as a reference for the tourism industry worldwide.

The EETLS shares all of the GSTC criteria (see Appendix B) as all are highly applicable to ecotourism. Currently the EETLS is made up of 40 specific criteria divided into the four pillars of sustainable tourism according to the GSTC:

• A. Effective sustainability planning

• B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community

• C. Reduce negative impacts to cultural heritage

• D. Reduce negative impacts to environmental heritage.

A basic comparison of the three tools, shown in the table below, illustrates the similarities of GSTC and EETLS. The definition is used to set the context of the EETLS.



The EETLS shares the same criteria description of GSTC. This ensures high compatibility with GSTC and communication with the public, on what is sustainable tourism is made less complicated. But there are several differences between a sustainable tourism system and an ecotourism one, especially when focusing on European ecotourism.

In order that the GSTC more fully reflects the nature of the ecotourism industry the Eco-Destinet partnership has specified each criterion according to the specialised needs of the sector. Each specification takes into consideration the rationale of the criterion in terms of European ecotourism and highlights issues that should be addressed. Then using the following list an indication is given of which ecotourism services, the criterion is applicable to: • Outdoor Activities • Accommodation • Restaurants • Tour packages • Visitor Centres

GSTC Criteria / EETLS TIES Ecotourism Definition and Principles

“Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people.”

A) Demonstrate effective sustainable management

• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts

• Build an environmental and cultural awareness and respect

• Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate”

B) Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.

• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people

C) Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts.

• Minimize impact

D) Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

• Provide direct benefits for conservation



The specification is then interpreted through a set of sub-criteria and recommended indicators. An important feature of the EETLS is that the sub-criteria and the indicators are collections of good practise from current European and worldwide ecotourism and eco-labelling initiatives. This ensures that the EETLS complies with the wide spectrum of current initiatives and that the development work also benefits from experience and knowledge gained through relevant work undertaken previously.

When considering indicators it is important to bear in mind the legal frameworks in which European ecotourism businesses operate. EU countries have strict and coherent regulations on how tourism businesses must operate and an important prerequisite is of course that the ecotourism business should comply with all relevant national legislation.

Ecotourism is set in natural areas, many of which are protected through strict management regulations applied by public authorities to control access and use of these areas. Compliance with these specific regulations and restrictions (zoning etc) is another prerequisite.

The sub-criteria and indicators of EETLS have therefore been created in order to ensure that an ecotourism company complies with the restrictions implied by the ecotourism definition. The needs of the ecotourism sector vary across the globe; the same can be said for different countries in Europe although to a different extent. The sub-criteria and indicators though should cater as far as possible for both EU and national/local needs. For example there are different needs and different foci on measures and indicators for a tourism establishment in northern Scotland when compared with one in the Aegean islands. But the provision should be there, so that the business or the national or regional certification scheme can identify them and apply them accordingly.

The table below shows an example of the D.1.4 GSTC criterion processed through the EETLS analysis, and adapted to ecotourism needs.

GSTC Criterion

Rationale for

European Ecotourism

Sub-Criteria

Indicators

E E T L S



The D.1.4 criterion has an importance of global proportions and in southern Europe particularly in those areas surrounding the Mediterranean there is a great need for this since during the summer months the major influx of tourists consumes unsustainable amounts of water. An example of the application of this criterion would be an ecotourism accommodation located in an Aegean island which would be requested to comply with the specific EETLS criterion or a set of criteria of the national ecotourism certificate (which complies with the EETLS) in order to ensure that water consumption is kept to a minimum.

Most of the sub-criteria in D.1.4 derive from European and global ecotourism labels and certification initiatives. Therefore these measures reflect viable and practical solutions to problems of water consumption which are already applied by some tourism businesses around Europe and globally.

Another example of a criterion is A.7, which focuses on interpretation. As mentioned in the rationale for defining criteria, interpretation is one of ecotourism”s core values which distinguish it from other forms of tourism. Delivering an interesting and engaging interpretation usually leads to a successful ecotourism service. Interpretation can also be linked to the multiplier effects of ecotourism. Ecotourists who receive good interpretation and are satisfied with the tourism product, are likely to become “ambassadors” of the host destination. This can be beneficial for a number of reasons. From a business perspective, it translates to good marketing of the destination and the business itself. On the other hand, good interpretation is not an easy task and requires good planning by the business and above all trained staff that have the capacity to communicate a vast array of information. The information that is usually provided to tourists ranges from

EETLS D.1.4. Water Consumption

Criterion Water consumption should be measured, sources indicated, and measures to decrease overall consumption should be adopted.

Rationale Reduced water consumption can avoid or reduce the loss or salination ofground water,reduction inbiodiversity, and (potential) conflicts with other sectors (e.g. agriculture).

Information to the guest on how to help the accommodation save water.

Operators shall implement a water conservation strategy that will be communicated to staff and customers.

Use water saving devices wherever possible.

Are water consumption points regularly inspected for leaks?

Environmentally friendly laundry service.

Irrigation: before the sun highest level or after sunset.

Willingness to switch to a different water source if local water protection plan studies show evidence of a high environmental impact from the initial water use.

Sub-criteria

Consumption of water is sustainable, and does not significantly impact the water available to local communities and ecosystems.

Indicators � Measuring unit: l / overnight stay � 1-3 main sources are indicated � A minimum of sub-criteria is adopted



scientific knowledge of several aspects of the natural environment to information on cultural heritage and local customs.

Defining the standards of good interpretation through a criterion is not an easy task. Providing responsible information is the most important element in interpreting the local natural and social environment. Other important elements include the technique used to deliver interpretation, the effectiveness of the staff and the means used to provide it. Information on tourists’ codes of conduct and on socio-cultural values that need to be respected at the destination are important sub-criteria. Indicators for the criterion- A.7 reflect the practices desired of service providers regarding the above.

By definition, ecotourism directly benefits the local economy and one of the means to achieve this is by supporting locally produced products and services. Purchase of fair-trade products is also a good practise in supporting sustainable economies, and which is, in turn a prerequisite of ecotourism. In EETLS these are covered by the B.3 criterion, entitled Local & Fair-Trade Products/Services. This criterion ensures that the business strives to support the local economy by directly benefiting local producers and service providers. This is taken even further in supporting organically produced goods or products/services offered by a business that is certified under a relevant eco scheme.

The sub-criteria included in B.3 derive from relevant European certificates or labelling schemes. Therefore these sub-criteria are realistic, well tested and not difficult to implement by a business. Besides those that relate to the purchasing policy of the business, there are a few more worth highlighting: for example, the sub-criterion that refers to fair pricing of locally produced goods or the use of seasonal fruits and vegetables and the promotion of local cuisine. Other useful sub-criteria are those related to the construction phase of the company, indicating preference for local materials and local labour; and those relating to opting for local subcontractors, when parts of the business activity are sub-contracted to a third party.

Finally the indicators for B.3 include the compliance of the business with a minimum number of sub-criteria and the implementation of a purchasing policy that favours local goods and services.

EETLS A.7. Interpretation

Criterion Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to customers, as well as explaining appropriate behaviour while visiting natural areas, living cultures, and cultural heritage sites.

Rationale Interpretation is one of the core values of ecotourism that clearly differentiates it from other forms of tourism

Sub-criteria For all types of service: 1. Informing about environment measures; 2. Informing about a code of conduct; 3. Informing and interpreting the natural and cultural value of the destination;

Indicators � Available information to clients about the adopted environmental policy and code of conduct;

� Ability to interpret natural and cultural values of the place (personal and/or non-personal methods);

� Available guided tour/activity offer or self-guided training and information available



2.4 How do current certificates reflect the principles and criteria of eco-tourism?

There are many certification schemes in Europe and worldwide (see appendix A) which are either targeted specifically at ecotourism or comply more broadly with the principles of ecotourism.

These initiatives, some of which are very successful, have hundreds of certified businesses, each delivering quality services to thousands of tourists each year. These certificates already have very specific criteria, some of which reflect the local/national situation and market needs. In most cases these initiatives are reviewed at regular intervals and maybe adapted accordingly to better reflect their role.

Through the research carried out during the development of the EETLS an assessment was made in order to identify whether current ecotourism labels comply with the GSTC and the draft EETLS and if so, to what extent. The following table presents the results of this analysis and shows the current status. The names of the tested certificates have been omitted, as it is not in the intention of this publication to make comparisons between individual certificates.

Explanation of table

• Each numbered column represents a different (existing) certification scheme

• The number in green cells represents the number of criteria in the existing certification system that relates to the topic (GSTC and EETLS criterion) listed in the second column.

EETLS B.3. Local & Fair-Trade Products/Services

Criterion Local and fair-trade services and goods are purchased by the business, where available.

Rationale Europe is rich in agricultural product and local cuisine is a strong element of the cultural heritage. Ecotourism should promote the consumption of locally produced goods with an emphasis on organic products. When a product is not locally produced fair-trade goods should be sought. The direct economic benefit to the community from purchased goods or services should be the goal for European Ecotourism.

Sub-criteria 1. Support local service providers and producers. 2. Use seasonal fruits and vegetables and promote local dishes and traditional cooking

techniques 3. Strive for fair pricing of locally produced products offered to tourists 4. Use ecologically or Fairtrade certified products and services throughout 5. In the construction phase of a facility local material and local labour is used 6. In cases where large parts of the tour product are purchased through a subcontractor,

the subcontractor is registered and taxed within the area of the destination. 7. When a product is not locally produced fair-trade goods should be sought

Indicators Compliance is measured with the adoption of the following measures: � A minimum of x sub-criteria is adopted � The company has set a policy for purchasing local produced products and services and

promotes local products



• The final column shows how often each topic (GSTC and EETLS criterion) is addressed in the existing schemes

The table summarises the extensive comparative analysis carried out by the ECO-DESTINET partnership. It clearly shows that compliance of all ecotourism specific certification systems with the draft EETLS runs at more than 65 percent. This is an encouraging level as it translates into a certification system that caters for almost all EETLS criteria, although not to the same depth. In contrast most certification systems that are developed for sustainable tourism fall below 40-50% of compatibility with EETLS.

It is worth noting, that there are systems that include many criteria addressing the EETLS / D.A.3 Employee training criterion for example, but which have very few criteria that address other ETTLS criteria such as C.4, D.3.1 or D.3.2, which are of paramount importance for European ecotourism. This demonstrates the importance of EETLS, since with its holistic approach; it can identify gaps in current European certification initiatives and make specific recommendations for improvements, while also acknowledging the need for national or regional specific criteria and indicators to safeguard ecotourism development based on local needs. This latter consideration was evident during the comparison analysis with some certification systems that included criteria relevant to EETLS / D.3.3, D.3.5, with specific attention to the national/regional needs for those criteria.



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A. 41 20,7 11 18,8 8,3 12,7 13,3 29 60,5 32,9 42,4 29,1 71,4 76,9 33,3

A.1. Management System 3 9 4 1 5 10 11 13 16 10 12 3 5 13 115

A.2. Legal Compliance 1 1 3 2 1 4 2 2 16

A.3. Employee Training 1 6 1 2 3 2 1 3 1 6 7 1 4 38

A.4. Customer Satisfaction 1 1 1 1 2 2 6 2 1 1 18

A.5. Marketing Accuracy 2 3 1 3 3 1 13

A.6.1. Zoning 0

A.6.2. Design and Sitting 4 1 1 3 7 1 17

A.6.3 Sustainable Construction 1 1 1 1 2 3 9

A.6.4 Special Needs Access 2 2 1 1 1 7

A.7. Interpretation 3 2 3 1 3 3 1 2 1 8 21 13 1 1 1 64

B. 10,3 22 2,2 12,5 3 2,2 1,8 3,6 9,3 19,2 11,5 3,2 28,6 7,7 1,6

B.1. Community Development 1 4 2 1 8

B.2. Local Employment 1 3 1 2 2 2 1 1 13

B.3. Fair-Trade 1 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 3 5 1 1 22

B.4. Local Entrepreneurs 1 1 2 3 1 2 1 1 12

B.5. Indigenous Communities 1 3 6 1 11

B.6. Exploitation 4 1 1 6

B.7. Equitable Hiring 1 1

B.8. Employee Protection 5 3 8

B.9. Basic Services 0

C. 5,1 1,2 0 0 0,6 0,5 0,9 0 2,3 6,9 2,2 1,6 0 0 1,6

C.1. Code Behavior 1 1 2 4

C.2. Historical Artifacts 1 1 2

C.3. Protection of Sites 1 1 1 3

C.4. Incorporation of Culture 1 1 1 3 2 1 9

D. 43,6 56,1 86,8 68,8 88,8 84,4 82,3 67,3 28 41,1 45,3 66,1 0 15,4 63,5

D.1.1. Purchasing Policy 1 3 25 34 25 3 3 3 10 1 4 112

D.1.2. Consumable Goods 1 2 4 20 11 11 3 1 4 1 1 3 62

D.1.3. Energy Consumption 2 8 29 3 43 44 24 11 1 4 19 5 12 205

D.1.4. Water Consumption 3 11 16 3 21 18 11 7 2 4 2 6 104

D.2.1. Greenhouse Gas 3 9 10 2 2 1 27

D.2.2. Wastewater 2 8 2 1 4 1 1 2 21

D.2.3. Waste Management Plan 1 9 7 3 8 10 6 1 1 4 3 8 5 66

D.2.4. Harmful Substances 1 1 9 1 9 13 8 4 1 1 48

D.2.5. Other Pollutants 3 1 6 11 9 5 4 6 4 14 1 6 70

D.3.1. Wildlife Species 2 1 1 1 1 6

D.3.2. Wildlife in Captivity 1 1

D.3.3. Landscaping 1 2 1 1 1 1 7

D.3.4. Biodiversity Conservation 1 5 1 1 1 3 32 44

D.3.5. Interactions with Wildlife 1 1 1 2 21 16 1 4 47

Sum 39 82 91 16 169 186 113 55 43 73 139 127 7 13 63 1216

coverage of GSTC (%) 64,9 54 43,2 24,3 54 62,2 43,2 40,5 48,7 70,3 64,9 64,9 13,5 24,3 37,8

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Social/Economic (% of total criteria)

Cultural Heritage (% of total criteria)

Environment (% of total criteria)

Analysis of compliance between EETLS and current certification initiatives

EETLS Certification Initiatives Crit Short Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Tot



Part C. Good practice examples

Below are listed several examples of ecotourism products from across Europe that are

considered good practice. This part of the Handbook will be updated with new cases and

initiatives in regular intervals.

Lappplandsafari -- Traditional Sami cultural camp

Main Principle(s): Respects and involves local community

Practices: - Collection of local cultural and environmental information

- Cooperation and communication with local people and

authorities

- Delivery of authentic sustainable product

Certification: WWF, Naturens Bästa, Ekoturism Föreningen

Company: Lapplandsafari

Web-Site: www.lapplandsafari.se

Region: Ammarnas / Vasterbotten / Sweden

Operation: Traditional Sami cultural camp and conference facilities

General Summary:

Lapplandsafari is run by the Vinka family, who have recreated a Sàmi mountain camp,

Geunja. It is located in the middle of one of the largest nature preservation areas in Europe, Vindelfjallen in the province Vasterbotten. The camp has a Sàmi cone shaped

peat hut in the yard and a sauna close to the lake. This is how a lot of Sàmi lived during

the 19th century; a life in accord with nature, a life the Vinka’s want to share with others.

The business provides a first hand testimonial to the success that excellent research,

cooperation and communication play in the development of an authentic Sami cultural

product. This business operates within a protected area and demonstrates the long term benefits of implementing sustainable tourism practices.

Operator's Testimonial / General Details:

Anki Vinka about the investment in building the Geunja and what meaning it brings to the

area:

Background

“After many years of working as a traditional activity operator, we wanted to work in a more sustainable way and with more focus on our Sàmi culture. We wanted to do this by

building a Sàmi mountain camp using traditional methods and materials - this would be

our principle for arrangements and conferences. We presented the idea to some of our major regular customers and asked if they were interested in helping us to save the



Sàmi culture by continuing to engage us as an organiser and by buying our new product

– Geunja. We received positive responces and some customers even helped us with

technical design and of the project.”

Collecting information

“Then we collected useful information in the area -- such as measuring old edifices,

taking photographs, visiting museums and talking to old people and relatives to obtain as

much information and knowledge as possible. It was also important to find somewhere where the camp could fit into the nature and with right conditions – a spring, fishing

grounds and hunting grounds – exactly as Sami were thinking 100 years ago. The

perfect place was located in a nature reserve. We thought it would be a bit tricky because of all the strict rules about construction work and commercial business in

protected areas. But we had no problem with that, thanks to all the excellent information

we had found. We had, without knowing it, taken into account all the aspects that are required for a sustainable tourism project – the ecological, the social/cultural and the

economical effects and benefits. The authorities considered the project favourable to the

nature reserve.”

Close co-operation and communication to be successful.

“It’s important to communicate with as many as possible, with the guests, the experts, the museums in the province and other contractors in the area. But above all, the older

locals are anxious to share their knowledge; you have to care about the details. Once

the mountain camp was finished, we invited the whole village to show everybody what we had done, so everybody would feel that they were participating in the project. The

whole village came, including the holiday cottage owners, and they were all very

impressed. Today everybody in the village has only good things to say about Geunja and it has also spread to other areas through the holiday cottage owners.”

Real social history

“We have inspired other enterprises to do similar things and today many people call us

for hints or help in different ways. It’s fun to be able to be a source of inspiration and see that many people have adapted our way of thinking and therefore are making better

products. Here in the village, it’s very obvious that we are going for sustainable tourism.

Now there are three other enterprises operating in the village, which are also approved by Nature’s Best. There is also a change of attitude in the whole province. The

authorities are talking about Eco-tourism/Sustainable tourism and see Geunja as an

excellent example. Our success relies on real social-natural history. It’s very important that everything is authentic to be trustworthy. We are also working in small groups, partly

because we don’t want to wear the area down too much. But it is mostly because we

want to be good hosts who are looking forward to every single meeting with the guests and still are taking great pleasure in storytelling.



VViillddmmaarrkk ii VVaarrmmllaanndd –– llooggrraaffttiinngg

Main Principle(s): Supports Local Economy

Practices: - Purchase of goods and services locally

- Developing network of local businesses and stakeholders

Certification: Naturens Bästa

Company: Vildmark i Varmland

Web-Site: www.vildmark.se

Region: Torsby / Varmland, Sweden / river Klaralven

Operations: Provides rafting, canoe tours on river Klaralven - (includes

building raft)

General Summary:

Vildmark i Värmland (translated as Wilderness in Varmland) is a company located in

Torsby, central Sweden, that offers nature based activities and experiences. Through timber rafting, canoeing and white water canoeing the company allows people to access nature in a sustainable way. Since 1979, Vildmark i Värmland has worked to minimise

the burden on the environment by restricting the number of guests on their activities, by repairing and maintaining equipment, using local suppliers wherever possible and

providing valuable information (in various languages) on how to move around the

countryside. All this has been aimed at giving guests a pleasant experience while creating long-term sustainable activities in the countryside.

Operator's Testimonial / General Details:

Ing Marie Junler regarding the local characteristics of the company.

Local networks that support everyone

“The long distances we travel on the rafting trips mean that the principle of local buying

must be applied on a longish geographic scale. Therefore we have chosen to buy everything we need as close as possible in order to support the local trade and industry,

while at the same time we create a local network which will support us in the longer term.

Everyone gains by creating good possibilities for the people in the area. Today we buy merchandise locally and services from a local distributor of timber and from a local bus

company. It isn't always cheapest to buy locally but it gives other benefits, not only for

us. After we put some pressure on a local supermarket, they started to buy bread from a bakery here in Torsby instead of from a big one in southern Sweden, now they are able

to sell freshly made bread every day. We try to influence other contractors in similar

ways, for instance, it is now possible to buy elk meat from the district and we get more



ecologically and locally produced vegetables. It is also a way for us to show and act

according to the policy about sustainable tourism which Vildmark I Varmland stands for.

We have noticed that our way of thinking is spreading.“

Personal contacts are worth more than the price

“That we trade locally and provide packages of supplies to our guests is something very

valuable for the local economy. It is especially important for the smaller distributors, such

as the little shop in the village that might otherwise have closed down. Therefore we pay full price and in exchange they pack the provisions for us - it is a mutual way to profit,

and it supports the shop and services in the district. It's valuable to have personal

contact with local contractors who can deliver what we need, when we need it. To be able to call a contractor Sunday night because we got more guests than we expected, is

more worth than buying cheaper from somewhere else.

A local establishment must be trustworthy. It means having a healthy and professional business relationship with all distributors not by forcing them to drop prices or by being

an impossible negotiator. You gain more by a network where people support each

other.”

The Jósvafő Village Walk in the Aggtelek National Park

Main Principle(s): Integrate the village of Jósvafő and its immediate natural

surroundings into the tourist programmes.

Practices: - organise village walk for international and national visitors

in the area

- provide and offer other activities and programs such as:

cave tour, cave concerts, eco-tours, zoology and botany

tours, horse and carriage riding, village carnival, Jósvafő

Fruit Harvest; nature cycling for local schools, open school

days, Gömör-Torna Festival-concerts, lectures, exhibitions;.

Responsible organisation: Aggtelek National Park, H-3758, Tengerszem oldal 1,

Hungary

Web-Site: www.anp.hu

Region: Northern Hungary

Operation: Village Walk

General Summary

Jósvafő village is located within the Aggtelek National Park in the Northeast part of Hungary. This area has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, although visits



to the caves and their karst formations have been undertaken for a many years. The

“Village Walk of Jósvafő” programme was created to combine the elements of nature

conservation, history and traditions in the area and includes some of the wonderful features and examples of traditional village architecture and agriculture, plus art and

handicraft collections that can be found in Jósvafő. The programme, which is lead by a

trained guide, includes some 21 sites around the village.

Background The original idea for theJósvafő Village Walk came from local resident, Béla Berecz (who was at the time an employee of the national park), and gained support from a number of local stakeholders. The walk concept also matched the National Park’s aim for enhancing ecotourism and so after a period of research in the village, collecting information and knowledge regarding village development the project was realised with financial support from Aggtelek National Park.

It was a low-cost project that, in the main, involved negotiations among the partners and

a training programme.

Stakeholders:Aggtelek National Park, project coordinator; Municipality of Jósvafő, co-

founder of the Village Museum; Szinlő Ltd., co-founder of the Village Museum; Zoltán

Házi, owner of the Baradla Galéria; István Hangó, pastor; István Gereguly, bee farmer; Csaba Bárkényi, baker; local people, guides

Objectives and strategies

The main objectives of the project were the provision of marketable alternative

ecotourism programmes additional to the cave tours and to create a programme

package which included other sights and events in this area. The developers also aimed to create a programme that presented the natural beauties of the area combined with

traditional architecture, life style and agriculture; a practical approach to the “man and

biosphere” idea. Through these initiatives they would provide alternative jobs for local people.

Benefit of the programme

While development the project a number of problems were identified which required

addressing in order to successfully implement the programme. These included: passive attitude of local people, funding, little publicity for the new activity, an aging population,

and the loss of values and knowledge. In order to take the project forward the

developers sought direct discussions with the local community and applied for funding. To help solve the ageing population they provided jobs for youngsters and in order to

measure the benefit of the project, surveys and questionnaires were conducted and

analysed by the programme officers



Through the implementation of this village walk programme the project aim to develop a

marketable alternative ecotourism programme was achieved. This interdisciplinary programme is now presenting the natural beauties, traditional architecture, life style, and

agriculture to visitors. The relationship between local communities and the National

Park’s management improved and a training opportunity was provided.

Írottkő / Geschriebenstein Nature Park

Main Principle(s): The implementation of a complex development programme for

the region while observing the principles of sustainability and in

cooperation with local communities and their local government

authorities and other civil organisations.

Practices: Education and interpretation of nature conservation, guided tours

in the area of the Nature Park, artist retreat, museums and

educational trails

Company: Írottkő Nature Park Society, Jurisics tér 8. Kőszeg H-9730

Web-Site: www.naturpark.hu

Region: Kőszeg and area, West Transdanubian Region, Hungary

Operation: provision of tourism activities which ensure both the conservation

of the landscape and the economic base of the region

General Summary

Írottkő /Geschriebenstein Nature Park is a coherent cultural region with significant

natural assets lying across the Hungarian-Austrian border close to the villages of

Rohonc and Léka in Austria and within the administrative area of six settlements (Bozsok, Cák, Kőszeg, Kőszegdoroszló, Kőszegszerdahely and Velem) – but excluding

the Kőszeg Landscape Protection Area in Hungary.

The legal framework of nature parks differs from those in other western countries. The definition of Nature Park refers to a particularly valuable and typical landscape unit,

which has protected natural assets but is not a strictly protected and isolated area.

Within the area and framework of the Nature Park integrated regional development is intended to build upon the principle of sustainable development through the co-operation

of settlements and other participants in the region.

In Hungary the drive to establish and operate the Írottkő Geschriebenstein Nature Park comes from the Írottkő Nature Park Society. There are currently (in 2009) 72 members

including private individuals, enterprises, the local councils of the area, the Fertő-Hanság

National Park Directorate, the Szombathely Forestry Inc., as well as associations



concerned about the built environment and enhancing the attractiveness of cities or

otherwise involved in public life.

Background

The idea of the nature park, realised within the framework of Austrian-Hungarian co-operation, emerged in the 1980s. The Naturpark Geschriebenstein (Austria) was formally

established in 1996 and the Írottkő Natúrpark (Hungary) in 1997.

Between 1995 and 1998 two sub-projects were financed by the EU Phare CBC fund. One was the implementation study in which the Nature Park’s development guidelines

were defined, and the other the development of a cycle route connecting six settlements

on the Hungarian side. In addition to the EU Phare CBC, co-financers were the Hungarian Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Hungarian Ministry of Economic

Affairs and the Ministry of Youth and Sport of Hungary, as well as the Regional Tourism

Committee, the County Council, Kőszeg Town Council and Savaria Tourist.

Objectives and strategies

The aim of the Írottkő Geschriebenstein Nature Park is the protection of assets in order to preserve the culturally and naturally coherent region through a process of conserving

nature and cultural heritage, preserving the rural landscape and protecting natural

habitats and species.

The Nature Park intends to maintain the region through a number of initiatives involving

both the local population and tourists which will include: undertaking economic activities

that are in harmony with the region’s ecology; special infrastructure projects, providing training and education; developing an environmentally conscious approach and

providing a wide range of information.

Benefit of the project

Apart from some early problems this project is very successful. The local communities were also involved in the initiative and were informed about the goals of the programme.

The most important result achieved during the Nature Park Society’s five years of

existence was the establishment of a regional information centre serving the information needs of both local people and tourists. Tour guides and language courses were

organised for workers in tourism. The Kőszeg-Vashegy Wine Route was also developed

to make the region’s wine culture and its wines more widely known. In 2000 a communal waste disposal site was built , part financed by the EU Phare CBC,; a thermal swimming

pool, a drinking fountain and three educational paths were established; a campsite, a

sports and recreation park, a cyclists rest and first aid centre were created, and tourist publications were issued.



A group of stakeholders decided to create the brand of “Official Írottkő Nature Park

Product” to support the development, production and marketing of unique local products

from the area.

The project financed the installation of tourist information boards in all the Nature Park

settlements and in the Kőszeg Hills, and publications and maps were prepared to

promote the natural and cultural assets, programmes and services of the Nature Park.



Appendix A

Presentation of ecotourism and sustainable tourism related certificates

Every certification scheme has its own experience whether regional, national or international. Together these form a great pool of criteria, indicators, measures and good practise that covers all aspects of ecotourism activities. This information is further enriched by the specific experience of each initiative and the environment (economic, natural, cultural) in which it is implemented. This “pool” of information is very significant for the development of an initiative like the EETLS. The use of all this knowledge in the development of the EETLS ensures that best practise and good experiences are used from nearly every ecotourism certification initiative to date.

In this second section of the handbook information is presented on a selection of tourism certificates that comply with some or all ecotourism principles. The selected schemes presented below include certificates and eco-labels with predefined baseline standards, standards for specific tourism services and/or for travel packages as a whole. The inclusion of a certificate in the handbook does not imply any ranking. Certificates are categorised as Ecotourism or Sustainable Tourism related and listed according to their geographical coverage as International, European or National. The research team has used the most up-to-date information from the certificates available at the time of editing. For further details and latest information please visit the websites of the certificates.

The European Atlas to Sustainable and Ecotourism Certification Schemes can be found online at the DESTINET (http://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu/) portal for sustainable tourism information. The atlas is an exhaustive list of current schemes and contains basic information and links to all labels whether regional, national, European or international.



ECOTOURISM

Below is a selection of certificates that are targeted to ecotourism or are compatible in principle and in practise with ecotourism.

Green Globe 21

Tourism products, services: Tourism businesses, communities, constructors, developers

Summary

One of the most recognised international tourism labels. It focuses on sustainability and environmental performance. The standards used set out the criteria for Certification and provide an environmental management framework for companies and communities. There are three award levels, Bronze when being benchmarked and Silver or Gold (awarded after 5 years of certification) once a business has been certified. Silver and Gold awards require an onsite audit. There is also Green Globe Lite, which is based on self-assessment practises.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: N/A

Geographical coverage Global

Criteria available on the website: No

Type Governmental & Administration Bodies

Webpage http://www.greenglobe21.com/

International Certificates



Austalia – ECO Certification Program

Tourism products, services: Tours, skippered cruises, attractions, accommodation

Summary

The ECO Certification Program is a world first. It has been developed to address the need to identify genuine nature and ecotourism operators. It is also now being exported to the rest of the world as the International ECO Certification Program. There are 3 different levels of ECO certification for NATURE TOURISM, ECOTOURISM and ADVANCED ECOTOURISM

Tourism operators can apply to certify the following types of products under the ECO Certification Program:

• Tours

• Skippered Cruises and Bareboat Charters

• Attraction

• Accommodation

• A combination of the above

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: Around 350

Geographical coverage Australia, Worldwide

Criteria available on the website: No

Type Social Partners, Civil Society, Partnerships



Organisation Ecotourism Australia

Webpage www.ecotourism.org.au

Sustainable Tourism Eco-Certification Program

Tourism products, services: Tour operators, accommodations, attractions, transportation service providers, community based tourism

Summary

STEP is designed to assist travel and tourism providers in identifying, measuring and managing their environmental, economic, and socio-cultural impacts, ultimately, working to enhance their positive impacts and mitigate their negative impacts. The certificate is designed in a four step process, which can include an on-site audit. STEP offers two levels of Eco-certification, "Self-Assessment Completed" and "Professionally Audited" which are rated with up to 5 stars. Self-assessment is entitled up to 2 stars.



Criteria available on the website:

Yes

(http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/documents/op_steplearn.html)


Webpage http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org/

documents/op_ecocertification.html



The Travelife Sustainability System

Tourism products, services: Tourism related products and suppliers

Summary

The system has been developed primarily as a Tour Operators tool. Through the system TOPs can ask their suppliers to certify their products through a self-assessing system. The system is based on a questionnaire and is rated against Travelife’s best-practise criteria. Verification of the businesses is done primarily through sharing of information between TOPs. Three levels of awards are available (Gold, Bronze and Silver) after an onsite audit.



Criteria available on the website: Yes (http://www.its4travel.com/index_stage2.asp)


Webpage

Instituto de Turismo Responsable- Biosphere Certification

Tourism products, services: Hotels, apartments, destinations, rural accommodations, golf courts, restaurants, tourism centres

Summary The certificate focuses on sustainable practises of tourism related businesses. The certificate has been



tourism related businesses. The certificate has been developed in association with UNESCO and WTO


Geographical coverage Global, Spain

Criteria available on the website: Yes (in Spanish) (http://www.biospherehotels.org/)

Type Tourism Businesses and Intermediaries

Organisation Instituto de Turismo Responsable

Webpage http://www.biospherehotels.org/

The European charter for sustainable tourism in protected areas

Tourism products, services: Certifies nature and national parks that have successfully implemented a sustainable tourism management plan and processes in Europe.

Summary

The Charter is about recognising parks, which follow the right approach in developing and managing sustainable tourism. It does not seek to measure the absolute qualities of the park in terms of landscape and facilities. The Charter falls into three separate parts: For the parks themselves; for tourism businesses in the parks; and, for

European Certificates



tour operators bringing visitors into the parks.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: around 15

Geographical coverage Europe

Criteria available on the website: not currently (website is being updated)

Type (Social Partners, Civil Society, Partnerships)

Webpage http://www.europarc.org/what-we-do/our-projects-and-programmes

The PAN PARKS Initiative

Tourism products, services: Protected areas in Europe

Summary

The verification is focused on 5 principles. Natural values (Principle 1) with info on the protected area, management effectiveness (Principle 2-3) with strong conservation management and visitor management elements, sustainable tourism (Principle 4) that includes verification of regions around the protected areas (Local PAN Parks Group) and business partners (local, national, and international, Principle 5).



Criteria available on the website: Yes (http://www.panparks.org/Introduction/Verification)



http://www.panparks.org/Introduction/Verification/Principles


Webpage http://www.panparks.org/

ECEAT Quality Label

Tourism products, services: Rural accommodation services

Summary

The certification provided by the European Centre for Ecological and Agricultural Tourism (ECEAT) is focused on the environmental, socio-cultural and economical sustainability of the accommodation. The businesses have to adhere to a basic set of standards and a set determined by the type of the accommodation facility, in order to be certified.



Criteria available on the website: Yes (http://www.eceat.org/fx/en/10/index.html)


Webpage http://www.eceat.org/



Ecotourism Norway

Tourism products, services: Tours, nature activities, accommodation

Summary

Ecotourism Norway is owned by Innovation Norway/Visit Norway and was developed through a three year process in cooperation with a test group of tourism companies and destinations, GRIP - The Norwegian foundation for sustainable development and the Norwegian directorates for Cultural Heritage and Nature Management. The Norwegian government is funding the project. As a result of the project a certification scheme for Norwegian ecotourism was officially presented in January 2008.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: 5

Geographical coverage Norway

Criteria available on the website: Yes

Type (Academic & Scientific Bodies)

Organisation Ecotourism Norway

Webpage http://www.grip.no/okoturisme/english%20info.htm

National Certificates



Das Österreichische Umweltzeichen für Tourismus / The Austrian Ecolabel for Tourism

Tourism products, services: Accommodation & catering services; since 2008: travel packages offered by Austrian tour operators

Summary

The Austrian eco-label for tourist establishments is awarded to campsites for their commitment in the fields of environmentally friendly management and social responsibility.


Geographical coverage Austria, World (travel packages)

Criteria available on the website: Yes (German)

Type (Administrations, Governmental Organisations)

Organisation Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft (BMLFUW)

Webpage http://www.umweltzeichen.at/tourismus

Association of Ecotourism in Romania



Tourism products, services:

Ecotourism programmes / tours provided by tour-operators or guides (i.e. eco-tours of maximum 15 participants),

Small-scale accommodation structures in rural and natural areas (eco-lodges and guesthouses of maximum 25 rooms), eco-destinations (one or several communities within natural areas).

Summary

The certification system is based on the Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Programme promoted by the Australian Ecotourism Association and on Nature's Best developed by the Swedish Ecotourism Association. It is one of the few ecotourism focused certification systems in Europe.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: Around 20 (16)

Geographical coverage Romania

Criteria available on the website: Yes (http://www.eco-romania.ro/en/certificationsystem.php )


Webpage http://www.eco-romania.ro

Nature's Best

Tourism products, services: Certifies tour operators and their tour packages

Summary

The labelling system is based on a set of 6 principles and a set of Basic and Bonus criteria. The businesses to be certified must have at least 2 references. The criteria are focused on environmental and social sustainability, conservation, interpretation and health & safety. Nature’s Best is the first ecotourism label in



Europe.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: Around 80 tour operators

Geographical coverage Sweden


Yes (http://www.naturensbasta.se/nb/grundprinciper.asp )


Webpage www.naturesbest.nu

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label

Tourism products, services: Ecotourism related activities

Summary The label is a joint effort from various Estonian tourism related organisations. The Estonian Ecotourism association coordinates the certificate.


Geographical coverage Estonia


Yes (in Estonian)

(http://www.ecotourism.ee/?lk=lingid&id=65&lang=est&uid=10)




Webpage http://www.ecotourism.ee

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

Below is a selection of certificates that are targeted at sustainable tourism and are relevant to some ecotourism criteria and indicators

The European Ecolabel for tourist accommodation services and camp site services

Tourism products, services: hotels, B&B, alpine huts, group accommodation, camping sites

Summary

The EU Ecolabel is an official sign of environmental quality that is both certified by an independent organisation and valid throughout Europe. The label focuses its criteria on lowering the use of natural resources by the tourism business, use of renewable resources, reduction of hazardous to the environment substances and promoting environmental education and communication.

Nr. of certified services/products: around 290

Geographical coverage European Union


Yes (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/product/pg_tourism_en.htm#criteria)

Type (Governmental & Administration Bodies)

European Certificates



Webpage http://www.ecolabel-tourism.eu/index.php

http://ec.europa.eu/environment/ecolabel/index_en.htm

Nordic Ecolabelling - The Nordic Swan for hotels and youth hostels

Tourism products, services: accommodation businesses (mainly hotels and youth hostels) and restaurants

Summary

Nordic Ecolabelling has the commission to promote a more sustainable consumerism with the goal of creating a sustainable society. For tourism it certifies tourism accommodation and restaurants. The criteria are divided into a minimum set of values and environmental requirements. The label is usually valid for three years, after which the criteria are revised and the company must reapply for a licence.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products:

around 150

Geographical coverage Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland


yes

(http://www.svanen.nu/Default.aspx?tabName=CriteriaEng&menuItemID=7056)


Webpage http://www.svanen.nu/Default.aspx?tabName=StartPage

The Green Key




Hotels, youth hostels, conference- and holiday centres, campsites, holiday houses, leisure facilities and restaurants

Summary

The criteria are divided to international baseline criteria and national criteria. Each country develops national criteria consisting of all the international baseline criteria plus twenty percent national additions. The criteria cover three main areas: environmental management, communication and training, and technical criteria. Besides pure environmental demands, the criteria include demands on policy and action plans.


around 650

Geographical coverage

Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, Morocco, Portugal, Sweden, The Netherlands, Tunisia


yes

(http://www.green-key.org/criteria.htm)


Webpage http://www.green-key.org/

ECOCAMPING


Certifies the environmental management of camping sites in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy (region Alto Adige)

Summary

Ecocamping e.V. is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of environmental protection, safety and quality in campground management. The principal object of the certificate is the improvement of the environmental protection at camping sites through the introduction of an environmental management system according to the EU Eco-Audit Scheme (EMAS).




around 190

Geographical coverage Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Italy


yes (http://www.ecocamping.net/20041/Campingunternehmer/Downloads/index.aspx)


Webpage http://www.ecocamping.net

BioHotels

Tourism products, services: Accommodation

Summary

The BioHotels certifies accommodation businesses according to and in cooperation with Bioland standards. Bioland standards are focused on organic agriculture and organic products, thus bio-hotels standards are mostly focused on the supply and use of organic products (food and beverage) in accommodation businesses.

Nr. of certified tourism services/products: n/a

Geographical coverage Austria, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland


yes (bioland standards) http://www.bioland.de/bioland/biolandqualitaet/standards.html

Type



Webpage www.biohotels.info

VIABONO, Germany

Tourism products, services: Accommodation businesses, destinations and other tourism businesses in Germany.

Summary


Geographical coverage Germany

Criteria available on the website: Yes (German)


Webpage http://www.viabono.de/

Green Certificate, Latvia

National Certificates



Tourism products, services: Rural accommodation providers

Summary

The certificate is focused on sustainable tourism and environmental performance and assesses all aspects of an accommodation unit operation. The certificate is granted from the National Certification Commission after the application details of the business have been verified by an on-site audit.


Geographical coverage Latvia


Yes (http://eco.celotajs.lv/

pn/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=59)


Webpage http://eco.celotajs.lv/pn/index.php

Green Tourism Business Scheme

Tourism products, services: Tourism related businesses

Summary

The scheme is one of the largest in Europe and its criteria are focused on sustainable tourism criteria and environmental performance of the tourism businesses. An approved auditor assesses the businesses on site. There are four different award levels (Going Green, Bronze, Silver, Gold).




Geographical coverage U.K


Yes, in brief (http://www.green-business.co.uk/

GreenBusiness_Criteria_Introduction.asp)

Type Tourism Businesses and Intermediaries

Webpage http://www.green-business.co.uk

Steinbock Label, Switzerland

Tourism products, services: Accommodation

Summary


Geographical coverage Switzerland


Yes (in Swiss) (http://www.steinbock-label.ch/pages/auszeichnung/)


Webpage http://www.steinbock-label.ch/



APPENDIX B

GSTC and draft EETLS criteria

GSTC Criteria

A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management.

• A.1. The company has implemented a long-term sustainability management system that is suitable to its reality and scale, and that considers environmental, sociocultural, quality, health, and safety issues.

• A.2. The company has complied all relevant international or local legislation and regulations (including, among others, health, safety, labor, and environmental aspects).

• A.3. All personnel receive periodic training regarding their role in the management of environmental, sociocultural, health, and safety practices.

• A.4. Customer satisfaction is measured and corrective action taken where appropriate.

• A.5. Promotional materials are accurate and complete and do not promise more than can be delivered by the business.

• A.6. Design and construction of buildings and infrastructure:

A.6.1. comply with local zoning and protected or heritage area requirements;

A.6.2. respect the natural or cultural heritage surroundings in siting, design, impact assessment, and land rights and acquisition;

A.6.3 use locally appropriate principles of sustainable construction;

A.6.4 provide access for persons with special needs.

• A.7. Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to customers, as well as explaining appropriate behaviour while visiting natural areas, living cultures, and cultural heritage sites.

B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.

• B.1. The company actively supports initiatives for social and infrastructure community development including, among others, education, health, and sanitation.

• B.2. Local residents are employed, including in management positions. Training is offered as necessary.



• B.3. Local and fair-trade services and goods are purchased by the business, where available

• B.4. The company offers the means for local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products that are based on the area’s nature, history, and culture (including food and drink, crafts, performance arts, agricultural products, etc.)

• B.5. A code of conduct for activities in indigenous and local communities has been developed, with the consent of and in collaboration with the community.

• B.6. The company has implemented a policy against commercial exploitation, particularly of children and adolescents, including sexual exploitation.

• B.7. The company is equitable in hiring women and local minorities, including in management positions, while restraining child labour.

• B.8. The international or national legal protection of employees is respected, and employees are paid a living wage.

• B.9. The activities of the company do not jeopardize the provision of basic services, such as water, energy, or sanitation, to neighbouring communities.

C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts.

• C.1. The company follows established guidelines or a code of behaviour for visits to culturally or historically sensitive sites, in order to minimize visitor impact and maximize enjoyment.

• C.2. Historical and archaeological artefacts are not sold, traded, or displayed, except as permitted by law.

• C.3. The business contributes to the protection of local historical, archaeological, culturally, and spiritually important properties and sites, and does not impede access to them by local residents.

• C.4 The business uses elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage in its operations, design, decoration, food, or shops; while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities.

D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

• D.1. Conserving resources

D.1.1. Purchasing policy favours environmentally friendly products for building materials, capital goods, food, and consumables.

D.1.2. The purchase of disposable and consumable goods is measured, and the business actively seeks ways to reduce their use.

D.1.3. Energy consumption should be measured, sources indicated, and measures to decrease overall consumption should be adopted, while encouraging the use of renewable energy.



D.1.4. Water consumption should be measured, sources indicated, and measures to decrease overall consumption should be adopted.

• D.2. Reducing pollution

D.2.1. Greenhouse gas emissions from all sources controlled by the business are measured, and procedures are implemented to reduce and offset them as a way to achieve climate neutrality.

D.2.2. Wastewater, including gray water, is treated effectively and reused where possible.

D.2.3. A solid waste management plan is implemented, with quantitative goals to minimize waste that is not reused or recycled.

D.2.4. The use of harmful substances, including pesticides, paints, swimming pool disinfectants, and cleaning materials, is minimized; substituted, when available, by innocuous products; and all chemical use is properly managed.

D.2.5. The business implements practices to reduce pollution from noise, light, runoff, erosion, ozone-depleting compounds, and air and soil contaminants.

• D.3. Conserving biodiversity, ecosystems, and landscapes

D.3.1. Wildlife species are only harvested from the wild, consumed, displayed, sold, or internationally traded, as part of a regulated activity that ensures that their utilization is sustainable.

D.3.2. No captive wildlife is held, except for properly regulated activities, and living specimens of protected wildlife species are only kept by those authorized and suitably equipped to house and care for them.

D.3.3. The business uses native species for landscaping and restoration, and takes measures to avoid the introduction of invasive alien species.

D.3.4. The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value.

D.3.5. Interactions with wildlife must not produce adverse effects on the viability of populations in the wild; and any disturbance of natural ecosystems is minimized, rehabilitated, and there is a compensatory contribution to conservation management



APPENDIX C

Talking about Ecotourism- Useful Terms

Sustainable tourism

This can be defined as tourism that meets the needs of tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while preserving social and cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems. Sustainable tourism is a management approach applicable to both mass tourism and small-scale ecotourism.

Nature-based tourism

Tourism that occurs in a natural setting and often focuses on activities in this specific natural setting, such as walking, safari trips, climbing, rafting, horse riding, ski trekking etc.

Ecotourism

Nature based tourism in relatively undisturbed natural areas that involves education on and awareness of the natural environment and is managed to be ecologically sustainable and will contribute to the social and economic benefits for the local communities. (see definition p.5)

Ecotourism industry

That sector of the tourism industry directly involved in ecotourism operations, the development of ecotourism operations and/or the provision of services for ecotourism operations

Ecotourism region

An ecotourism region is the combination of physical, biological, social, cultural and managerial conditions that give value to a place. A region includes qualities provided by nature (vegetation, landscape, topography, scenery), qualities associated with ecotourism use (intensity and types of use) and conditions provided by management (development, access, regulations). By combining variations of these qualities and conditions, a variety of ecotourism opportunities can be provided in each of the different regions

Zoning

The division of a territory into specific zones for specific purposes, based on an evaluation of the area's physical and social carrying capacity and its tourism potential. Zones in which no or only a limited level of development is allowed, ensure optimal environmental conservation

Carrying capacity



The maximum level of tourism in an area without damage to natural or socio-cultural environment or visitor's experience of tourism attractiveness. Carrying capacity is dynamic as it may vary: during the year (e.g. breeding seasons) or as result of planning or other, physical developments. Carrying capacity is often divided as follows:

� Ecological carrying capacity: the maximum level of tourism that does not harm the natural environment

� Psychological carrying capacity: the maximum level of tourism that does not reduce the visitor's experience or tourist attractiveness

� Socio-cultural carrying capacity: the maximum level of tourism that does not harm the socio-cultural environment.



Further reading

All referenced publications of this Handbook are also available through the Eco-Destinet Library of Ecotourism Training Material at:

http://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu/topics/ecotourism/eco-destinet/eco-destinet-library

The Library contains more than 300 publications on the theme and is a good source for further reading on the topic.

Other useful resources are:

DestiNet portal (public)

Sustainable tourism information portal, which hosts the Eco-Destinet Library and the

Forum

http://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu/

Voluntary initiatives in Tourism -Worldwide Inventory and Comparative Analysis of 104 Eco-labels, Awards and Self-Commitments

Research by Econtrans, Published by WTO, 2002

http://www.wtoelibrary.org

Sustainable Development of Ecotourism: A Compilation of Good Practices in SMEs A compilation of 65 case studies from 47 countries depicting outstanding practices in small ecotourism business. Published by WTO, 2003 http://www.wtoelibrary.org

Nature’s Best: A quality labelling system for Swedish ecotourism

A thorough guide for interested applicants

Published by Nature’s Best initiators, the Swedish Ecotourism Association and Swedish

Travel and Tourism Council, 2002

The VISIT initiative: Tourism eco-labelling in Europe – moving the market towards

sustainability

Presentation of the VISIT initiative designed to demonstrate how European eco-labels

can collaborate and move the tourism market towards sustainability

Published by ECEAT, ECONTRANS, 2004



Sustainable Development of Ecotourism: A Compilation of Good Practices

This publication includes 55 case studies taken from 39 countries which represent a wide range of successful ecotourism initiatives. Published by WTO, 2003

Documents

HANDBOOK OF ECOTOURISM LABELLING CRITERIA ...ecoroute.prismanet.gr/themedia/File/ECO-DESTINET HANDBOOK...1.1 Concept of ecotourism 7 1.1.1 What is ecotourism: definition and principles