The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas is a practical management tool for ensuring that tourism contributes to a balanced economic, social and environmental development of protected areas in Europe. The Charter is a voluntary agreement and aims to encourage good practice by recognising protected areas, which are meeting agreed requirements for the sustainable development and management of tourism.

The Charter and its methodology were developed by a group representing protected areas, the tourism industry and their partners, led by the Federation of Regional Nature Parks in France under the umbrella of the EUROPARC Federation.

The Charter and the Charter Network is managed by the EUROPARC Federation, a pan-European and non-governmental umbrella organisation of protected areas in Europe.

Latest news

• Charter evaluations and re-evaluations being processed

About 20 protected areas applied for evaluation and re-evaluation this year. Read here about the experience of Exmoor National Park with the re-evaluation visit.

• More destinations in Europe accessible for all

EUROPARC appreciates the advance of more protected areas and towns towards "tourism for all". Take the example of Marathon who succeeded in the European contest Accessible Tourism 2012/2013 in Greece. This contest took place within the framework of the European Destinations of Excellence- EDEN project. Read more on accessible tourism and its importance for the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas.

• Step by step tourism destinations identify and assess their sustainability

End of February the European Commission launched in Brussels the European Tourism Indicator System (ETIS), designed to assess the sustainable management of destinations. Now in a second phase the toolkit’s feasibility will be analysed by... Click here to read more.

• Protected areas prepare for summer season with public transportation offer

With the start of spring and summer season more tourists are expected to visit protected areas for day trips and holidays. To minimize the impact of individual transport to, from and within the parks, many of EUROPARC's Charter areas offer a public bus service. The busses run regularly, especially on weekends and national holidays and connect the protected area to the surrounding communities. This service protects the environment through fewer emissions and soothes visitors’ nerves by not sitting in traffic. For examples check the websites of some of our Charter areas: Forest of Bowland Rambler Bus (UK); Müritz National Park Bus Ticket (D); Mournes Rambler Bus (UK).

• Share your experiences on tourism and outdoor sports at 2^nd Nature & Sports Euro’Meet

Share your project, innovating policies, or exemplary actions relating to tourism and outdoor sports until 31^st May and be invited to present them during the 2nd Nature & Sports Euromeet which takes place 2^nd - 4^th October 2013 in Liptovsky Mikulas/Slovakia. For more information check their website.