VISIT

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• VISIT
• A Joint Initiative on
• Tourism Ecolabels in Europe
• Naut Kusters
• European Centre for Eco and Agro Tourism (ECEAT)

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The European labels for sustainable tourism
40 Ecolabels in Europe...

• Since the late eigthies
• Diverse background and geography
• Different criteria and procedures for
  certification

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Moving the market towards sustainability

• Consumer demand exists
• Environment friendly accommodation
  41
• Low traffic levels and good public transport
  35
• Certified products in travel catalogues
  19
• German Travel Analysis

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Moving the market towards sustainability

• Tour operators demand
• Responsible entrepreneurship
• Pressure from society
• Pressure from host country (Alps)
• Influence of nature- and environmental
  organisations
• Environment quality
• It pays to go green
• Clean environment is precondition for tourism

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• Marketing not succesfull
• Reliability not clear
• Too many labels confusing for consumers
• Lack of information and overview
• No funding and marketing expertise with
  ecolabels
• Tour Operators lack capacity to invest in
  sustainable product development

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• VISIT, Voluntary Initiatives for Sustainability
  in Tourism
• 4 goals
• Common Basic Standard
• European roof-organisation
• Joint image campaign
• Marketing of certified products

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? Requirements for VISIT Ecolabels

• Management
• Basic ISO norms
• Environmental management
• Clear minimum standards
• Independent inspection 1-3 years
• Monitoring of effects
• Training of staff, information to guests

• Environment
• Protection of Nature and landscape
• Use of eco-friendly products
• Low water and energy consumption
• Use of sustainable energy
• Reduction and recycling of waste
• Public Transport, soft mobility

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Moving the market towards sustainability
Les Clefs Vertes - the French ecolabel for
campsites
Blue Flag - for a clean beach holiday
Green Globe 21 - a global certificate
Luxemburg - the luxembourg ecolabel for
accommodation
Green Tourism Business Scheme - green tourism in
Schotland
The Netherlands - the environmental barometer
Den Groenne Noegle - The green key in Denmark
Scandinavia - the nordic swan for hotels
Austria - the Austrian ecolabel
Legambiente Turismo - recommened by Italian
nature organisations
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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• Roof organisation
• Accreditation organisation for ST initiatives
• Accommodations, destinations, transport,.
• Accreditation committee for ecolabels
• Members All types of Tourism Ecolabels
• Advisors Consumer Environment Tourism Org.
  
• Linking with global Sustainable Tourism
  Stewardship Council initiative

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joint image and promotion Campaign

• Joint image campaignCaring for the Environment
  ... ...is Caring for the Visitor
• 2002 contribution to the International
  Ecotourism Year
• Advertisement page and articles in magazines
• Stand and exhibition at fairs
• Dissemination of brochures, mini cards
• Presentations and discussions at conferences,
  workshops, international events
• Internet www.yourvisit.info makes the
  difference

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? Internet
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VISIT Holiday Guide

• Standardised questionnaire and d-base
• Inventory of 1000 accommodation and other
  certified products (beaches, marinas,
  destinations, etc.)
• Short print version with 100 appetisers, all
  addresses
• 2003 web site for free search with map of Europe
• Launch at RP 2003
• Links from/to partners supporters web site
• Integration of VISIT products into web-site
  Eco-tour (NFI)

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• Marketing - tour operators
• Www.greentravelmarket.info
• Launched in 2003
• Matching tour operators with sustainable
  products
• Global products and market
• 500 Tour Operators
• Matchmakers
• Marketing information
• Visits of fairs

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• 30 Supporters
• European Environmental Agency
• German alliance of touroperators
• IUCN WWF Netherlands
• ANWB / ADAC
• European Travel Commission
• Travel Unie

• Initiators
• ECEAT
• ECOTRANS
• NFI
• ARPA
• Reisepavillon

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The European labels for sustainable tourism

• www.yourvisit.info
• makes the difference