Tourism2030 - Vision's interviews with the first nominators

Austrian Ministry for Environment: Austrian Ecolabel

2014-11-22T11:12:30Z

Focus on the VESTAS number 1: Austrian EcoLabel

Regina Preslmair

The Austrian EcoLabel is one of the first European certification agencies to join with the VESTAS and nominate its chosen members for a 2011 VESTA award

In this first focus on the VESTAS - Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards - the Austrian Ecolabel introduces itself and its aims. The first VESTA winners will be announced at ITB Berlin in 2011.

Regina Preslmair of the Austrian Ecolabel talks to Valere Tjolle of Vision on Sustainable Tourism

Valere Tjolle: Could you give me the full name of your certification and its history, when did Das Österreichische Umweltzeichen - The Austrian Ecolabel start?

Regina Preslmair: It started in 1990 with the first criteria documents for products. In 1996 we developed the worldwide first national ecolabel for tourism enterprises (accommodation, restaurants and camp sites). In the tourism sector we developed futher criteria documents for Travel Offers in 2008 and for Green Meetings in 2010. Another sector that we are covering is education. Here we have our Ecolabel for Schools and Teacher Training Colleges since 2002 and our Ecolabel for Extracurricular Educational institutions.

Valere: Who are the guiding team and what do they do?

Regina: The team of the Austrian Ecolabel consists of members of three institutions: the Ministry of Environment, the Austrian Consumer Association (‘Verein für Konsumenteninformation’ - our national independent consumer´s organisation) and last not least our marketing experts from ‘nosugar’. The Federal Ministry of Environment is the official holder of the Austrian ecolabel and gives the certificates to the audited businesses. Responsibility for the administration and preparation of award criteria lies in the first place with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Austrian Consumer Association (VKI). Beside the technical work of developing criteria and supporting documents and tools for interested businesses, the Austrian Consumer Association is also responsible for the administration of the ecolabel and the organisation of the audits. All marketing business for the Austrian Ecolabel lies in the hand of the marketing firm ‘no.sugar’.

Valere: What organisations are certified?

Regina: In the tourism sector we are certifying tourism enterprises like hotels and campsites but also restaurants and caterers. Moreover we are certifying individual travel offers from registered tour operators and "green meetings" from PCO´s (Professional Congress Organizers), Convention bureaus etc.

Valere: Where are they?

Regina: They are spread all over Austria but we have some concentration in the Vienna area (appr. 17% of guest beds in Vienna are in Ecolabel-hotels).

Valere: and what are they certified for?

Regina: For the tourism there are comprehensive criteria documents , which aim to judge the company / the travel offer / the meeting as a whole. The measure and management criteria are covering environmental as well as some social issues. The Austrian Ecolabel differentiates between mandatory criteria and optional criteria. To be certified, the applicant must fulfil all the mandatory criteria and a certain number of points of the optional criteria (according to the size of the business and the services offered).

The following areas are covered for tourism enterprises:

environmental management
energy
water
waste
air, noise
office and reception area
cleaning, chemicals and hygiene area
building design, interiour fittings and equipment
food and kitchen area
traffic
outside area

Travel offers are judged according to the following areas:

Journey to and from the destination (incl. limit for CO2 emissions (equivalents) per day of stay and person)
Accommodation
Activities / mobility on the spot
Destination / Information
Green Meetings have to fulfill criteria in following areas:
Mobility and CO2 offsetting
Accommodation
Event location
Procurement, material and waste management
Exhibitors/Exhibition stand builders
Catering
Communication and social aspects

Valere: In your view, what has your and other certification programmes achieved so far and what have they failed to achieve?

Regina: We have achieved a relatively high brand recognition of between 40 and 50 % which makes us happy. But in the tourism sector, especially among guests, we are still far away from that general level of recognition. The Ecolabel is still mainly seen as a product label but maybe that´s going to change with our new Ecolabels for Travel Offers and especially for Green Meetings, which finds broad acceptance in the sector. It is also worth mentioning, that the Austrian Ecolabel for Tourist enterprises covers businesses of all size and category: from small alpine mountain huts and private (farmhouse) accommodation via eco-hotels to urban 5 star hotels, from traditional Viennese cafes to well known restaurants. And all of these businesses made their contribution to reduce energy and water consumption, waste and chemicals and helped to improve our environment!

Valere: Which best practices have you nominated for the VESTAS and why?

Regina: We have nominated all these enterprises for the VESTAS:

Accommodation

Boutiquehotel Stadthalle - The World’s First City Hotel with a Zero Energy-Balance (www.hotelstadthalle.at/zero-energy-hotel) but not only because of this...
Biohotel Florian - one of the ecolabel pioneers in Austria: first Tirolean hotel with the Austrian Ecolabel, first Austrian (and 3rd European) hotel with the EU-Ecolabel (EU-Flower), certified 100% organic and vegetarian wholefood kitchen, green electricity, pellet heating system, waste reduction like no other hotel, and ...
VILA VITA Pannonia - ecotourism center for renewable energy; reduction of 797 tons CO2 per year

Tour packages

"Sommerfrische" im Rogner Bad Blumau **** - the renaissance of the traditional "summer retreat" in a modern and ecological spa, designed by the artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser
Im Blickwinkel der Donau - walking as the most sustainable way of travelling, through a wonderful landscape, visiting historical sites, staying in a ecolabeled accommodation, ...
Donauradweg Schärding - Passau - Wien - the most popular cycling tour of Austria alongside the danube, travelling through natural and cultural heritage ,...

Valere: If you had one wish – what should happen in 2011 to support your certification programme in making tourism more sustainable?

Regina: Guests travelling in and to Austria (and of course also all those travelling worldwide) should be aware of the importance of sustainable tourism, should be asking for certified products and should be happy to find them!

Valere Tjolle

ECOCAMPING

2014-11-22T11:12:30Z

Focus on the VESTAS number 2: ECOCAMPING

Marco Walter

ECOCAMPING is one of the first European certification agencies to join with the VESTAS and nominate its chosen members for a 2011 VESTA award

In this first focus on the VESTAS: Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards the ECOCAMPING introduces itself and its aims

The first VESTA winners will be announced at ITB Berlin in 2011.

Marco Walter of ECOCAMPING talks to Valere Tjolle of Vision on Sustainable Tourism

Valere Tjolle: Could you give me the full name of your certification and its history (when did it start? Who are the guiding team and what do they do?)
Marco Walter: ECOCAMPING is a registered association and has been active since 2002; before, ECOCAMPING was a project of the international Lake Constance Foundation, which started the project in 1998. The members of ECOCAMPING are mostly camping associations and environmental organisations.

The most important aim is the improvement of environment protection, nature conservation, safety, quality and qualification of the entrepreneurs and their staff, as well as an image improvement in politics and Civil Service. Ultimately, ECOCAMPING aims to support the whole business towards sustainability and success.

Valere: What organisations are certified? Where are they? and what are they certified for?
Marco: Currently, 230 camping businesses are awarded with ECOCAMPING MANAGEMENT – in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Denmark.

To exemplary camp sites, ECOCAMPING awards the distinction of ECOCAMPING

MANAGEMENT. This stands for the excellent organisation of environmental protection and service quality.
ECOCAMPING and the participating camp sites want to realise the following goals
Increasing the satisfaction of guests through high service quality standards
minimising and recycling waste
using energy and water efficiently
damaging neither soil nor water supplies with sewage
designing and maintaining camp sites in a nature-oriented way
avoiding damage / pollution caused by traffic
cleaning in an environmentally friendly way
avoiding the use of environmentally damaging materials
processing and selling regionally produced products
considering nature and the environment with the choice of leisure activities.

Valere: In your view, what has your and other certification programmes achieved so far and what have they failed to achieve?
Marco: I can only answer for our program. In my view we achieved to build up the largest network of sustainable camping sites in Europe. We achieved to bring together all important organisations for the camping sector in Germany for the goal of sustainable camping tourism. We achieved to increase the knowledge of campers mainly on German campsites about eco aspects and ECOCAMPING within the last 10 years. In our last guest survey from summer 2010 41 percent of the campers already knew about ECOCAMPING. Nine years ago only 14 percent have heard something about ECOCAMPING before. And we achieved to bring ecological aspects from a nice-to-have to a must-have for campsites with the goal of being better than others. Until now we have failed to reach the camping sector of Europe with our certificate, because less than 10 percent of the companies with ECOCAMPING are outside of Germany. But we will do our best to change this situation!

Valere: Which best practices have you nominated for the VESTAS and why?
Marco: It was, of course, very difficult to nominate 3 of 230 companies for the VESTAS. Every campsite with ECOCAMPING has its special strengths and interesting aspects. We nominated “Jesolo International Club Camping“ from Italy because of its unique concept of climate protection, “CAP-Integrations-gGmbH“ from Germany because of its integration concept for handicapped employers and „Campingpark Kerstgenshof“ from Germany for its nature orientated communication zones and playgrounds as a concept to harmonise the needing of humans and nature.

Valere: If you had one wish – what should happen in 2011 to support your certification programme in making tourism more sustainable?
Marco: The first alien is landing on a campsite with ECOCAMPING certificate and explains: “I am here to make my first camping holiday on earth and there is something I want to learn: How can I bring the ECOCAMPING idea to my home planet!”

Valere Tjolle

Legambiente Turismo

2014-11-22T11:12:30Z

	FOCUS ON THE VESTAS NUMBER 3: LEGAMBIENTE TURISMO
	30 November, 2010

	Legambiente Turismo is one of the first European certification agencies to join with the VESTAS and nominate its chosen members for a 2011 VESTA award In this third focus on the VESTAS: Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards Legambiente Turismo introduces itself and its aims The first VESTA winners will be announced at ITB Berlin in 2011. Sandra Sazzini of Legambiente Turismo talks to Valere Tjolle of Vision on Sustainable Tourism Valere Tjolle: Could you give me the full name of your certification and its history? Sandra Sazzini: The full name was “Recommended because of commitment to environmental protection”, however recently we use Legambiente Turismo. As environmentalist association committed to sustainability in tourism, Legambiente Turismo intends to help all kind of tourist businesses reduce impacts and raise visitor awareness, while improving quality of service and involving local stakeholders in more sustainable choices, including conservation of nature, culture and heritage and the improvement of life quality in urban and rural communities. These objectives (i.e. improving environmental management in tourist services by minimising waste, recycling, using less water and energy, promoting soft mobility practices, healthy food and typical local produce and products, promoting local nature and culture heritage) are implemented by criteria and measures that are agreed with local stakeholders and players. The scheme started with an agreement of Legambiente Turismo with a local group of 30 seaside hoteliers and the municipality of Riccione in 1997 and gradually widespread in Emilia Romagna and Marche first and then to other 16 regions of Italy (426 members in 2010). The basic layout of the Decalogue (listing 10 main sustainability issues) has proved to be quite valid in the years, though criteria and measures have been regularly updated based on the business input (from audits and consultations). The team of Legambiente Turismo consists of two permanent employees, one expert, and several local part-time auditors trained to do on site visits. Luigi Rambelli is the President of Legambiente Turismo and guides the scheme through shaping the strategy and leading the research and development of new partners (local groups). Valere: What organisations are certified? Where are they? and what are they certified for? Sandra: Membership lasts one year: in July 2010 there were 426 members: mainly family-run SMEs, but also chain hotels (6 Best Western), Deluxe (4 Small Luxury Hotels). Types of accommodation are: 213 hotels, 26 campsites, 76 agritourisms, 25 restaurants, 57 B&B, 15 hostels and other holiday residences, 14 non accommodation businesses (marina, beaches, guides, boat and diving operators). They receive the ecolabel Legambiente Turismo because of their commitment to environment protection, are visited every year and must be compliant with all measures they have agreed. There is a basic set of measures that have to be complied with plus other additional measures each local business grouping chooses to add. Once the group commits to do additional measures they’ll become compulsory for that group: i.e. organic meals, food mile menus etc per week. Therefore local sets of measures to comply vary from 25 to 38 depending on the local project. Valere: In your view, what has your and other certification programmes achieved so far and what have they failed to achieve? Sandra: I would count among strengths for LT (and other VISIT schemes) awareness raising of tourist operators in general, practical application of good practices, useful feedback from businesses about results and difficulties, promotion of the link between sustainability and quality of tourism in Europe( = competitiveness and resilience of tourism), conservation of biodiversity through the local actions of businesses involved with ecolabels. Valere: Which best practices have you nominated for the VESTAS and why? Sandra: Best Management: Hotel Montemerlo - Fetovaia (Isola d'Elba) See www.welcometoelba.com/elba/eng_benvenuto.html The hotel is member since 2003 and performs all LT requested measures with great care. See all measures: www.legambienteturismo.it/en/index.php Additionally the hotel participates in the local group of LT Elban members to keep the initiative alive and on the frontline of local environmental problems (esp. Separate waste in the Island: Elba is the largest of Italy’s small islands but separate collection is hardly implemented at all by local waste utilities). Hotel Borgo Piani della Bruca - Scalea (Calabria) (new entry 2010)Though in their first membership year, the business showed very good understanding and compliance with all measures and is very active in promoting the local natural resources. The hotelier is very active in promoting this area of Northern Calabria for seaside holiday and natural inland excursions even at national and international levels. They also promote “holiday for all” packages including special excursions for disabled. Communication on local nature and heritage: Casale Camalda di Serravalle (Parco delle Foreste Casentinesi, Tuscan Appennine) In addition to complying with LT measures, this places has exploited its secluded but special location in an effort to become a reference point for the whole network of old paths and itineraries and places to reach. As you may see, in the website (www.agriturismocamalda.it/inglese/inglese.htm), there is already plenty of information on the area and the park and alternatives for walking around, alone or with organised tours. Valere: If you had one wish – what should happen in 2011 to support your certification programme in making tourism more sustainable? Sandra: In general a better governance of the destination, especially with reference with waste (reduction and better waste disposal management), more sustainable transport policy, better management and services for tourist and residents, local food to sustain local farmers. In these hard times for capital investment, still sound management and coordination make the difference in destinations. I would wish a larger investment of time and thinking on better management of all the existing excellences and pros of Italy’s manifold destinations, i.e. a better investment on people (businessmen, workers etc.) for people (guests). Valere Tjolle Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite: EXTRA SPECIAL OFFER at: www.travelmole.com/stories/1145345.php

Pan Parks nominates accomodations, attractions and packages

2014-11-22T11:12:30Z

FOCUS ON THE VESTAS NUMBER 4: PAN PARKS

Pan Parks is one of the first European certification agencies to join with the VESTAS and nominate its chosen members for a 2011 VESTA award

In this fourth focus on the VESTAS: Vision European Sustainable Tourism Awards Pan Parks introduces itself and its aims

The first VESTA winners will be announced at ITB Berlin in 2011.

Edit Borza of Pan Parks talks to Valere Tjolle of Vision on Sustainable Tourism

Valere Tjolle: Could you give me the full name of your certification and its history (when did it start? Who are the guiding team and what do they do?)
Edit Borza: PAN Parks Foundation carries out certification through independent experts. The Foundation was founded in 1997 and is a non-profit conservation organisation working on protecting Europe’s wilderness, the continent’s most undisturbed areas of nature.

Certification, that is to create a network of excellent protected areas serving as best practice examples of wilderness protection and sustainable tourism development, is a tool in its conservation work.

The team of the Foundation consists of 7 people working in different fields of expertise (conservation, communications, finance). Managing certification is part of the team’s work but is done by independent experts (with international conservation and tourism background).
For further information: verification: http://www.panparks.org/learn/pan-parks-concept/concept history: www.panparks.org/about-us/history
team of the Foundation: www.panparks.org/about-us/team

Valere: What organisations are certified? Where are they? and what are they certified for?
Edit: PAN Parks provides effective third-party certification system setting an important benchmark for high standards for protected areas. The certification is based on verification carried out by independent experts, in accord with PAN Parks quality standards. There are five PAN Parks principles; covering relevant wilderness protection, social, economic and cultural aspects. Principles allow for objective verification and transparency.
PAN Parks certifies protected areas and local businesses in/around certified PAN Parks through a local group
Being a certified PAN Park means that the protected area has high standards of management for both conservation and sustainable development and encompasses a wilderness area without human intervention on at least 10,000 ha (with another 10,000 ha surrounding this core).

A PAN Park always offers a real wilderness area with undisturbed nature while in other sections of the park it has high quality tourism facilities, well balanced with wilderness protection and sustainable local development.

Local businesses, certified based on environmental standards and their commitment to conservation, are recognised by the PAN Parks logo.

For further information: certification criteria: www.panparks.org/learn/apply-for-verification/principles-and-criteria
certified protected areas:www.panparks.org/visit/discover-pan-parks
certified local businesses: www.panparks.org/visit/local-tourism-partners

Valere: In your view, what has your and other certification programmes achieved so far and what have they failed to achieve?
Edit: Benefits provided for protected areas:

Improved wilderness protection
Easier access to funding
Expertise exchange in a living network
Improved co-operation with rural communities
Tools to control and monitor tourism
Support in lobbying at decision makers
International recognition

Benefits provided for local businesses:

Increased collaboration in park management
International promotion
Economic benefits

The main achievement of certification in the case of the PAN Parks Foundation is an improved wilderness conservation of protected areas and through the created certified network the spreading of information on wilderness management and the more widespread use of its approaches.

However, in order to achieve this it is essential to support an improved cooperation of the park with local communities and the sustainable development of tourism – these are important tools in our conservation work.

For further information: Benefits for partners: www.panparks.org/about-us/benefits

Valere: Which best practices have you nominated for the VESTAS and why?
Edit: Most Sustainable and Responsible Accommodation places were picked from our local certified business partners (described above). They were chosen from the more than 80 partners as they are the best in applying ecologically sustainable practices.
Most Sustainable and Responsible Attractions were chosen from the the 11 certified PAN Parks (described above).

Most Sustainable and Responsible Tour Packages were chosen from those packages that are offered by our partner international tour operators that partnering with us in order to offer PAN Parks tours.

Valere: If you had one wish – what should happen in 2011 to support your certification programme in making tourism more sustainable?
Edit: It would be great to involve more international tour operators in our partnership programme to provide more travellers the opportunity to travel to PAN Parks destinations with reliable companies thinking in line with our sustainable development concept supporting wilderness protection.

Valere Tjolle

Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite 2011 - latest news on the suite at
www.travelmole.com/stories/1145712.php