© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat The “Network of Cities for Sustainable Tourism” Study Visit on Environment Best Practice on Sustainable Tourism Rimini, 15 – 19 May 2006

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat The Network I... was launched at the International Conference on Sustainable Tourism held in Rimini in … it was one of the activities of a LIFE environment project involving the Province of Rimini and the Municipality of Calviá. The project finished in 2003, but the Network still works!

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Why a Network of local governments for Sustainable Tourism? Municipalities play an important role in developing a more sustainable tourism because of: ...their key role as facilitators and co-ordinators in the design of a common view for the future together with local stakeholders; ... Local policies contribute to shape both the local community and an economic asset: the tourists destination! ...their responsibility to react to any damage or problem that is caused by tourism.

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat ICLEI’s functions Democratic Association of Local Governments International Environmental Agency for Local Government Movement of Cities  Membership services  Strategy, advocacy  Partnerships  Local Agenda 21  Cities for Climate Protection  Water Campaign  Procura Plus  Information  Training  Technical services  Sustainable Management  Sust. Tourism ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat The partners Calvià (Spain) Çanakkale (Turkey) Cervia (Italy) Chioggia (Italy) Comunità Montana del Giovo (Italy) Georgioupolis (Greece) Kallithea (Rhodos, Greece) Lloret de Mar (Spain) Mancomunidad de Municipios de la Costa del Sol Occidental (Spain) Punta Umbría (Spain) Province of Rimini (Italy) San Benedetto del Tronto (Italy) Sousse (Tunisia) Tortolì (Italia) The Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI) Venice (Italy) Suvot Project Partners ………………… who’s next?

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Some features of the Network … local governments or associations of local governments; … mass tourism destinations; … more than 15,000,000 inhabitants in total; … more than 20,000 square kilometres scattered throughout the Mediterranean; … more than 20,000,000 arrivals every year; … about 60% of arrivals and presences concentrated in the period June-September

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Some goals of the Network To develop and implement joint projects to pursue sustainability in the tourism sector; To exchange information & experience (study visits, exchanges, etc); To search for funds from the European Union and from other potential funders in order to implement joint projects; To develop a common promotion and dissemination strategy in order to: increase awareness in more local governments, in the tourists and in tour operators, and to present the Network achievements.

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Goal: sustainability! Quality of Life Economic Activity Natural Resources

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Work Plan: short term Awareness raising among tourist and tour operators: The rules of the sustainable tourist: leaflet in 4 languages Dissemination of the rules of the sustainable tourist among local tourism operators, among Tour Operators working in the area, via the local tourism agency... Local Agenda 21 forums and involvement of local stakeholders: Organisation of local events to present the Network & its goals Development of Common projects at the: European level National level Local level

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Create European working groups that are going to focus on specific areas of work or topics:  Sustainable procurement  Certification and labelling  Measure and “accounting” of the environmental externalities  Carrying capacity  Seasonality Create National working groups that are going to focus on specific areas of work or topics:  Agenda 21 on Sustainable Tourism Work Plan: mid to long term

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat The Province of Rimini engagements Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment (TCCA): used to design potential development scenarios (Integrated Zonal Coast Management - ICZM) and take decisions for the future, together with local stakeholders (Plan of Local Agenda 21); support to local tourism operators by supplying them with training and information about: green purchasing, ecolabel, environmental management; awareness raising and stimulate interest of tour operators (Sustainable and Vocational Tourism policies) awareness raising among tourists (10 Golden Roules)

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Benefits of networking? Develop broader projects that can be transferred to other local governments with similar conditions Join efforts to negotiate with multinational companies, international funders, national governments, etc Benefit from joint dissemination strategies which are more likely to reach the tourists and the tour operators

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat awareness raising among Tour Operators: how do we stimulate interest of the TO? Contacts with Tour Operators and organisations in the countries where the tourists come from Involve local Tour Operators that pursue a Sustainable way of Tourism Develop relationship with national Tour Operators that pursue a Sustainable way of Tourism Improve the co-operation and exchange of information with big European Tour Operators that pursue a Sustainable way of Tourism

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Awareness raising among tourists: how do we reach the tourists? How do we talk to them? Contacts with local governments and organisations in the countries where the tourists come from Involve local tourism operators (hotels, restaurants, shops, etc) Develop relationship with Tour Operators The “10 Golden Rules” of the sustainable tourist

© ICLEI Sustainable Tourism Office ICLEI European Secretariat Thank you ! Network Web Page