Legambiente Turismo

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