Eco-labelProject – Marketing for tourism 2006

Work on the Implementation of the EU Eco-label Scheme

in the Areas of MarketingLot 8

Presentation Reise Camping, Essen, Germany

22–26 March 2006

Report

7 April, 2006Marco Walter, Carina Dambacher, Ecocamping

On behalf of the European Commission

Results

Presentation of the European Eco-label for Campsite Services at the Reise Camping Essen at a stand from 22nd to 26th March 2006 The ECOCAMPING Association hosted a stand at the Reise Camping in Essen in order to inform as many visitors and potential camping guests as possible about the European Eco-label. The 30 m2 stand was organised by ECOCAMPING and presented the new EU-Eco-label roll-up with the EU-Flower, posters, and brochures in addition to a nature oriented design with flowers, wooden elements and green parts imitating grass. As a highlight and an element to attract visitors to the stand two exhibits were used. A solar cooker was set up at one front corner to symbolise the use of solar power and alternative energy resources. And a pair of bicycles – a traditional penny-farthing and a modern electric-powered bicycle – decorated the other front corner as a symbol of alternative transportation. The roll-up and the poster served as primary information about the EU Eco-label and the camping sites that are already awarded with the flower. Brochures supported this approach and were handed over to interested guests. Moreover, information was provided to guests of the fair at the stand by Carina Dambacher, Constance Braun and Marco Walter. The fair registered more than 100.000 visitors during the 5 days. The main part of the visitors was German but also other guests from other European nations were present, e.g. from the Netherlands and France. The EU Eco-label stand has been a good opportunity to inform potential camping and other tourist guests about the EU Eco-label and the already awarded camping businesses.

The camping fair in Essen also attracts a lot of campsite managers mainly from Germany but also from other European countries. It is a central meeting event of the branch in spring. This allowed a lot of conversations with campsite managers about the EU Eco-label.

Moreover, various stakeholders have been present and Carina Dambacher, Constance Braun and Marco Walter were involved in various talks and discussions with multipliers and interested parties. Amongst them were the ADAC – German Automobile Club, the BVCD – Federal German Camping Association, CIVD – German Caravan Industry and Trade Organisation, the ECC – European Camping Guide / Drei Brunnen Verlag GmbH, and 11 regional camping associations. At the BVCD-Forum, the central and annual meeting of the Federal German Camping Association, Marco Walter held a presentation about the EU Eco-label for campsites to more

than 100 campsite managers and stakeholders. The presentation included information about the criteria, the process of applying for the label and the marketing possibilities.

In general, contact persons at the fair were for example:

Contacts

Stefan Thurn Chief editor ADAC Camping Guide

Jochen Müller Chief editor ECC Camping Guide

Georg Spätling President Campsite Association Bavaria

Ursel Dauenhauer President Campsite Association Rhineland-Palatinate & Saarland

Wolfgang Rösch President Campsite Association Baden-Wuerttemberg

Wolfgang Neumann President Campsite Association Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Leo Ingenlath President Campsite Association North Rhine-Westphalia

Barbara Hackenschmidt President Campsite Association Brandenburg

Gert Petzold President Campsite Association Schleswig-Holstein

Anton Harms President Federal German Campsite Association

Sonja Glasmeyer, Director Federal German Campsite Association

Ralph Binder Marketing chief of German Caravan Industry Federation

Erich Egger President South Tyrol Campsite Association

Impressions: