Forming the European Ecotourism Network - Knowledge Network Formation using the DestiNet Portals' Learning Areas Approach

Posted by ecovassilis at 30 May 2011 19:29:48

Fabulous initiative - I'll comment later.

Valere

Posted by Valere Vision on Sustaianble Tourism at 30 May 2011 19:37:23

I think destinet can be turned into a platform for ecotourism professionals, but can we have a bit more user friendly format? The opening page is a bit chaotic, which might divert a few potential users.

Aivar Rukel suggested to link thelongin to facebook as an option. I am not really good on technical issue, but if this is possible, it will be very useful. zoltan (panparks)

Posted by zoltkun at 30 May 2011 21:12:33

I agree with you Zoltan, yesterdays format was a littlle chaotic, as the whole forum has been a very reactive job done at the 11th hour and on a big learning curve for all I think!  Now I hope Day Two's forum layout is a big improvement. 

As Ron and Aivar say elsewhere we need to use different platforms to communicate. DestiNet is the ECOLNET project internal platfrom to map the EEN process, but can easily be linked ot other social media platforms.  When we see it working in other network situations with Facebook and Linked in, DestiNet has the role of a common library and mapping system to back up ongoing forum discussions ... Also, the forum tool we have in DestiNet can be further developed to match ecotourism stakeholders specific needs, if we go that way.  What this means in practice is that the EEN would have:

A Webpage

A Destinet Portal page

A facebook page

A linked in page

A twitter Feed

All these tools can be combined v easily these days. W just have to agree on how to use them together.  The 2012 conference process linked to the  ECOLNET Work packages should decide this.

I think there is a need for an European Platform, both to see who is who, what is going on, which processes are important, etc.. For us, Norway, it works well that way, but the need for a market place might not be that large. This will vary, as marketing also is part of the marketing competition between nations and consepts. It is difficult to find good ways of cooperate on the marketing site, but of course possible. What could be on a market place is good sustainable solutions in tecknology etc. It might be very ambicious, but I think technology development is quite important in the field of sustainable tourism.

INgunn, Innovation Norway 

Some people need more marketing than others ...!

In the decade of the IYE we have been dealing with the issue of green washing, which is why we feel the solution needs to be a combined public access quality control forum deciding on what can be labelled as sustainable and a market place with  products and services wearing that tag. DestiNet is pooling together eco-labels and other stakeholdeers in the certification circle under the GSTC process to provide that dual format.

Also, the DestiNet Market Place contains a section 'Market Solutions', which fits exactly what you think would be useful Ingunn.  Suppliers of such products and servcies should register now, to be the first wave in the global market place.

I sould add that the Who's who in Europe and Whats Going On will also be dealt with in other DestiNet related processes, particulary the Euroepan Tourism Observatory development.  Our Atlas can be a public access gateway to a multisatkeholder audience.

I think that if we are going to provide a resource for ecotourism professionals we must list exactly what a) we are able to provide and b) what is required - in very simple terms. Maybe everyone could develop a comprehensive personal list? I for one would be happy to do so. Kind regards to all from Valere (Valere Tjolle, publisher, Vision on Sustainable Tourism)