making tourism more sustainable: international initiatives, tools, examples herbert hamele

Herbert Hamele www.ecotrans.org

Making tourism more sustainable: International initiatives, tools,

examples

Herbert Hamele

ECOTRANS e.V.European Network for Sustainable Tourism Development

Saarbrücken/ GermanyAER, PRESERVE, Brussels, 05 February 2009


1. Integrate environmental, social and economic sustainability goals into local/regional policies and decision making processes

2. Help tourism suppliers and intermediaries to make their services more sustainable

3. Help environmentally sustainable tourism (SME) to reach the demand

4. Monitor progress and make decisions for continuous improvement

Needed

- Access to state of the art information on Sustainable Tourism: initiatives, tools, examples, …

The central role of regions


Since October 2008 a set of “Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria” is recommended by UNWTO, UNEP, UN Foundation, CBD, Rainforest Alliance a.o.

1. The GSTC are the result of a comprehensive analysis of more than 4500 single criteria (> 60 ST guidelines, codes, certification systems)

2. The GSTC consist of four sections: • Management • Social - Economic• Culture• Environment

3. The GSTC shall give guidance to tourism suppliers (hotels, etc.) and tour operators, as well as to education bodies, destinations, regions, intermediaries, NGOs, ST related projects and initiatives, …

4. Regions: The GSTC can be used e.g. to define aims, set up an action programme, monitor progress, exchange and networking, …

What does “Sustainable Tourism” mean?


A. Sustainable Management A.1. Management System A.2. Legal Compliance A.3. Employee Training A.4. Customer Satisfaction A.5. Marketing Accuracy * A.6.1. Zoning * A.6.2. Design and Siting * A.6.3. Sustainable Construction * A.6.4. Special Needs Access A.7. Interpretation

B. Social/Economic B.1 Community Development B.2. Local Employment B.3 Fair-Trade B.4 Local Entrepreneurs B.5. Indigenous Communities B.6. Exploitation B.7. Equitable Hiring B.8 Employee Protection B.9. Basic Services

C. Cultural Heritage C.1. Code of Behavior C.2. Historical Artifacts C.3. Protection of Sites C.4. Incorporation of Culture

D. Environment D.1.1. Purchasing Policy D.1.2. Consumable Goods D.1.3. Energy Consumption D.1.4. Water Consumption D.2.1. Greenhouse Gas D.2.2. Wastewater D.2.3. Waste Management Plan D.2.4. Harmful Substances D.2.5. Other Pollutants D.3.1. Wildlife Species D.3.2. Wildlife in Captivity D.3.3. Landscaping D.3.4. Biodiversity Conservation D.3.5. Interactions with Wildlife

Tourism suppliers: compliance with the GSTC?


Demand: environmental qualities of tourism


Challenge: to reduce environmental consumption

Energy and water consumption in hotels in EuropeAverage + benchmarks / overnight stayEnergy2-3*: Av.: 90 kWh > Benchmark: 45 kWh4-5*: Av.: 76 kWh > Benchmark: 33 kWh

Water2*: Av.: 454 l > Benchmark: 283 l3*: Av.: 424 l > Benchmark: 210 l4*: Av.: 335 l > Benchmark: 201 l5*: Av.: 594 l > Benchmark: 310 l

Pool: ca. 60l/overnight stay

Best practice example

Hotel Victoria, Freiburg5* stars

Certificates: EMAS, Viabono

Input energy: 33 kWh-eco-power system

-wood pellets

Output CO2: 1kgOther 5* hotels: > 10kg

Saving potential: > 90 %

Source: Environmental initiatives by European tourism businesses, ECOTRANS/IER, 2006


Offer: Eco-certified tourism

Global initiative: STSC

The „Sustainable Tourism stewardship Council“ is to accredit certificates whith

- Criteria in compliance with the GSTC

- Reliable verification procedure (on site audit,…)

Certificates for: accommodation businesses, restaurants, marinas,beaches, canoeing,local destinations,protected areas,ecotourism packages,golf courses, …

All Sustainable tourism certificates on DestiNethttp://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu


“Innovation in Tourism: how to create a Tourism Learning Area” (EC Tourism Unit, 2006)

e.g. set up a “TLA for Sustainable Consumption and Production” as regional online platform 1. Give easy access to existing information

• Stakeholders in a region: administration, NGOs, businesses, educational bodies, partnerships • Aims and Topics: climate change, biodiversity, …• Available Instruments: financial, certificates, control, marketing, publications, …• Good practices: transport, accommodation, restaurants, activities, attractions, packages • Calendar with Events, News Bulletin

2. Co-ordinate a learning and training platform to match offer & demand3. Monitor progress of actions and exchange with other regions

Challenge: continuous innovation


Online tool for regions: DestiNet

Advantages • Hosted by European Environment Agency• Free access to quality assessed ST information• Easy administration • Designed for TLA SCP, exchange and networking• Regions: Restricted sections available

DestiNet is a UN Type II Partnership ofEEA, UNWTO, UNEP, ECOTRANSregistered with the UN CSDhttp://destinet.ew.eea.europa.eu

DestiNet


Market: from the offer to the demand (Example)

Tour operators

Travel agencies

Information & booking services

Journalists

Educational bodies

Destinations

…

200- Hotels - Camping sites- Restaurants- Travel packages (!)

e.g. Austria: Sustainable tourism policies > programmes > tools > eco-label > training > fulfil criteria > certification > use DestiNet as independent information

platform > to reach the demand


Thank you for your attention!Herbert Hamele

[email protected]

ECOTRANS e.V.www.ecotrans.org

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

„In future our main concern will no longer be whether we can travel to every place on earth.

Our main interest will be whether it is worthwhile arriving there.“

Hermann Löns, German poet, 1908

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ecotrans.org/

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

making tourism more sustainable: international initiatives, tools, examples herbert hamele

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