In the course of the ECOSERT project, three
Inter-Regional Workshops have been organised
with the involvement of external experts to
discuss key elements of the work, as follows:
Preparation of a Regional Tourism Plan:
A Vision for Sustainable Tourism Development
in Europe, held at Chester Town Hall
on 9th February 2001.
Applications of Eco Management and Audit
Scheme (EMAS) in Tourist Destinations and Attractions,
held at Labein Centro Technologico, Bilbao,
on 15th April 2002.
Implementing Sustainable Tourism Projects,
held at Conza della Campania, Avellino, on 8th
July 2002.
The first Inter-Regional Workshop
focused on the RESTP methodology and discussed
the RESTP Guidelines that had been prepared
in draft form. External experts participated
in the workshop, including guest speakers from
the English Tourism Council (Sustainable Tourism
Policy Manager) and the Royal Town Planning
Institute (former President) and another Recite
II Project (LODIS). The aim of the workshop
was to discuss the approach, methodology and
principal components of the RESTP and its proposed
application to the three partner regions. The
workshop helped revise the draft guidelines
so that the methodology could be tested in each
region.
The purpose of the second Inter-Regional
Workshop, on Applications of EMAS in Tourist
Destinations and Attractions, was to engage
discussion and gather the opinion of participants
on the merits of the approach, methodology and
principal components of the EMAS Guide prepared
in draft form for the event. External experts
participated in the workshop, including guest
speakers from the European Commission Directorate-General
for Environment, EMAS Section and another Recite
II Project (EMASSER). The workshop discussed
the application of the EMAS methodology to selected
demonstration projects in each partner region
with a view of assessing their potential as
a common methodology for other similar future
sustainable tourism developments. The workshop
led to the preparation of the final EMAS Guide.
The overall aim of the Inter-Regional
Workshop on Implementing Sustainable Tourism
Projects, was to discuss and gather opinion
on the design and implementation of the demonstration
projects and to assess their contribution to
promoting environmentally sustainable tourism
and diversifying visitor attractions in depressed
areas seeking to promote tourism. External experts
participated in the workshop, including guest
speakers from the European Commission Directorate-General
for Enterprise, Tourism Unit, and the Italian
Ministry of Production (responsible for tourism).
The workshop discussed the synergies in approach
and best practices achieved through the pilot
demonstration project experience and other local
actions on sustainable tourism. |
