Kick off for the Sustainable Tourism Destinations project

The EUROPARC Federation has been a leader in the field of protected areas and sustainable development. The Charter for Sustainable Tourism is now over 15 years old and although the principles are well founded a review and assessment of its current status is necessary.

In the November E-News we informed you about a new project that EUROPARC is developing with generous funding from the support of the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) to take the Charter further. This project, entitled  “The value of the Charter in identifying sustainable tourism destinations”, is of particular importance as it seeks to build on the Charter work that has preceded it , and assess and examine how EUROPARC should further development the Charter and how it may be improved.

A study group of long time “Charter” protected areas, the Sierra Nevada National Park (ES), Alpi Maritimme Regional Park (IT), Parc naturel régional Scarpe-Escaut (FR), the Mourne Area of Outstanding National Beauty (Northern Ireland, UK), Syöte National Park (FI) all with experience in Sustainable Tourism have come together to help direct the project with their expertise. It is however important to the success of the project that all Charter parks and EUROPARC members are involved with the collection of data, evidence and ideas that will shape the future direction of sustainable tourism in protected areas.

Please look out for our regular updates in the e-news and please be forthwith with information about sustainable tourism in your area when we ask. The data you provide is valuable in setting the course for the future of the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism.

Kick off meeting in the Sierra Nevada National Park

The project kicked off with an excellent meeting in the Sierra Nevada National and Nature Park in Andalusia. The project team came together in the wonderful tio tobas accommodation, where we were lodged in caves, albeit quite luxurious ones! Tio tobas is a charter partner with the Sierra Nevada and a fine example of how the Charter is bringing business and protected areas together.

The meetings were long and detailed. Project partners worked hard to define clearly the terms of the project and to examine what data is needed from protected areas. This will enable a clear identification of the economic, social and ecological added value the Charter can bring to an area.

Our hard work was rewarded by a short but invigorating hike into the Sierra Nevada, to see some of the tourism products developed and some of the visitation issues they face.

For more information please use the links above or contact Alex Crineanu