Sustainable tourism and protected areas: a successful partnership

The network of protected areas participating in the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas continues to grow at a dramatic rate. Today 89 protected areas across nine different countries are actively involved in the Charter process.

During the EUROPARC 2011 Conference this year in Bad Urach, 12 protected areas from Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and UK received the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism after a positive evaluation. In addition five parks were re-evaluated this year after their first five years of work with the Charter.

The large number of new areas applying for the Charter each year clearly shows the growing interest from protected areas across the whole Europe for the Charter process. Furthermore almost all the awarded parks are applying for a re-evaluation after the first five years of implementation, and continue to recognise the strategic function of the Charter for the management and development of sustainable tourism strategies and actions within protected areas.

Download the Charter award presentation for more information