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The primary aim of the project
was to build the capacity of the CEEweb network through a
twinning program between Ecological
Tourism in Europe and CEEweb.
The first phase of implementing the Twinning Program was
a training exchange for Anna Iványi, the coordinator and Gábor
Törőcsik, the chair of the working group tourism in Bonn,
in the office of Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE) and in
the surrounding area, including:
The theoretical background and the historical overview of
ecotourism and sustainable tourism were presented, as well
as the attempts made so far to regulate tourism development
while safeguarding biodiversity, natural and cultural values.
In this matter the latest development is the Guidelines for
Biodiversity and Tourism Development, adopted at the 7th meeting
of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD). Getting to know the Guidelines in more detail
help us to distribute the knowledge and experience manifested
in these Guidelines, which hopefully effectively contributes
to the conservation of biodiversity in the CEE region during
the development of tourism activities. A cornerstone of the
Guidelines is that a continuous consultation process is needed
among all stakeholders on all levels, so that the interest
of all concerned parties can be appropriately taken into account
throughout the planning, development, implementation, management,
operation and monitoring of tourism activities.
Of course not only lectures were held: we paid a visit to
the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and
Nuclear Safety, where Ms. Sigrid Hockamp-Mack, working in
the division responsible for tourism, sports, leisure activities
and recreation answered our questions regarding the efforts
Germany makes towards the sustainable development of tourism,
the implementation of the CBD Guidelines, and the role NGOs
play in the process. The conclusion of the discussion is that
although the need for cooperation is recognized, the situation
is far from perfect; effective communication and the involvement
of NGOs still needs some improvement.
We also visited the Nature
Park Eifel-Ardennen in Nettersheim and the newly established
National Park North-Eifel,
to see some examples of tourism activities in different protected
areas. The practices presented here gave useful ideas in which
direction to develop and where to pay attention to avoid the
pitfalls of turning protected area management into pure and
uncontrolled tourism development. The experiences of these
areas are underlining the need for involving the stakeholders,
especially the tourism industry and local community, to ensure
the long-term sustainability of such initiatives. The support
of the inhabitants may be an important driving force, and
can give be a solid base to build upon.
Supported by PHARE Multi-Country Programme
"Environment and Enlargement"
This program is implemented with the financial
assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document
are the sole responsibility of CEEweb, and can under no circumstances
be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
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