Aira Andriksone Ministry of Economics, Latvia Member of Baltic 21 TOUTF and EC TSG 3rd AGORA Meeting LITHUANIA, October 2006 Baltic 21 objectives for the development of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region Aira Andriksone Ministry of Economics, Latvia Member of Baltic 21 TOUTF and EC TSG 3rd AGORA Meeting LITHUANIA, October 2006

International Tourism in Europe, 2005 Tourism has shown its extraordinary resilience and continued growth: Despite of terrorist attacks, military conflicts, natural disasters, avian flu, increased oil prices, slow economic growth, strong Euro, intensified competition Despite of terrorist attacks, military conflicts, natural disasters, avian flu, increased oil prices, slow economic growth, strong Euro, intensified competition Due to EU enlargement, development of emerging source markets, on-line travel, improved access (e.g. expansion of low-cost airlines), rising consumer’s confidence and protection Due to EU enlargement, development of emerging source markets, on-line travel, improved access (e.g. expansion of low-cost airlines), rising consumer’s confidence and protection

Tourism in BSR (1) Tourism is a key economic sector with one of the strongest potentials for creating jobs and growth for the benefit and prosperity of the Baltic Sea Region Tourism is a key economic sector with one of the strongest potentials for creating jobs and growth for the benefit and prosperity of the Baltic Sea Region Tourism is booming in some BSR Tourism is booming in some BSR areas areas

Tourism in BSR (2) Political, economic and technological changes have revealed an opportunity to make the BSR one single tourism mega-product with global potential Political, economic and technological changes have revealed an opportunity to make the BSR one single tourism mega-product with global potential

Tourism in BSR (3) Tourism industry is standing at strategic crossroads Tourism industry is standing at strategic crossroads All different tourism stakeholders need to be interlinked and interdependent in the long term All different tourism stakeholders need to be interlinked and interdependent in the long term

Background (1) Saltsjobaden Declaration (1996) - Baltic 21 (Baltic Agenda 21) Saltsjobaden Declaration (1996) - Baltic 21 (Baltic Agenda 21) Berlin Conference on Biological Diversity and Tourism: Berlin Conference on Biological Diversity and Tourism: - Berlin Declaration - Berlin Declaration International conference “Management for a Sustainable Coastal Tourism - a Contribution to Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Area” (Rügen, 1997): International conference “Management for a Sustainable Coastal Tourism - a Contribution to Sustainable Development in the Baltic Sea Area” (Rügen, 1997): - Rügen Recommendations - Rügen Recommendations

Background (2) Agenda 21 - Baltic Sea Region Tourism (1998) Agenda 21 - Baltic Sea Region Tourism (1998) International conference “Sustainable Tourism Development in Baltic Sea Region - Baltic 21 follow – up” (Riga, 1999): International conference “Sustainable Tourism Development in Baltic Sea Region - Baltic 21 follow – up” (Riga, 1999): - Declaration - Declaration - Concept “Blue Flags, Green Keys and - Concept “Blue Flags, Green Keys and Colourful Cultures’’ Colourful Cultures’’

Background (3) Indicators for the development of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region (2001) Indicators for the development of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region (2001) Establishment of the Baltic 21 Tourism Task Force (2002) Establishment of the Baltic 21 Tourism Task Force (2002) Interreg IIIB Seed Money Application for AGORA project (2004) Interreg IIIB Seed Money Application for AGORA project (2004) AGORA project approved (2005) AGORA project approved (2005)

Selected reference documents (1) HELCOM Recommendations HELCOM Recommendations COM (2001) 665 – “Working together for the future of European tourism” COM (2003) 716 – “Basic Orientations for the sustainability of European tourism” COM (2006) 134 – “A renewed EU Tourism Policy: Towards a stronger partnership for European Tourism”

Selected reference documents (2) Basic guidelines for sustainable European tourism (European Parliament resolution) Renewed EU Sustainable Development Strategy (European Council, 2006) WTO-UNEP publication: Making Tourism More Sustainable: a Guide for Policy Makers

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (1) Overall goal - to achieve a common understanding about the requirements of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region Overall goal - to achieve a common understanding about the requirements of sustainable tourism in the Baltic Sea Region

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (2) Objectives: To sustain a sound environment, to safeguard the recreational quality of natural and man- made landscape and to integrate natural, cultural and human environments To sustain a sound environment, to safeguard the recreational quality of natural and man- made landscape and to integrate natural, cultural and human environments To promote and sustain the competitive quality and efficiency of the tourism business To promote and sustain the competitive quality and efficiency of the tourism business To create satisfactory social conditions for tourists and the local population To create satisfactory social conditions for tourists and the local population

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (3) Action areas: National and regional tourism plans National and regional tourism plans Spatial and regional planning Spatial and regional planning Education, training and environmental awareness Education, training and environmental awareness Co-operation and networking in Baltic Sea Region Co-operation and networking in Baltic Sea Region

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (4) Action areas: Environmental Management Systems Environmental Management Systems Support of sustainable tourism in urban and rural areas Support of sustainable tourism in urban and rural areas Organising sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region tourism as a high class destination Organising sustainable development of the Baltic Sea Region tourism as a high class destination Co-ordinated use of available institutional and EU-resources and national funds Co-ordinated use of available institutional and EU-resources and national funds

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (5) Stakeholders: local population local population tourists tourists providers of tourism services (hotels, restaurants, shops, tour programmes etc.) providers of tourism services (hotels, restaurants, shops, tour programmes etc.) tour operators tour operators staff of enterprises staff of enterprises

Agenda 21 – Baltic Sea Region Tourism (6) Stakeholders: transporters of goods and passengers transporters of goods and passengers organizations organizations authorities authorities environment (nature, built environment, culture, economy) environment (nature, built environment, culture, economy)

HELCOM (1) Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission Helsinki Commission (HELCOM) - Baltic Marine Environment Protection Commission Main goal is to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, and to restore and safeguard its ecological balance Main goal is to protect the marine environment of the Baltic Sea from all sources of pollution, and to restore and safeguard its ecological balance

HELCOM (2) HELCOM - the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area" HELCOM - the governing body of the "Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area" (Helsinki Convention, 1992/2000) (Helsinki Convention, 1992/2000)

HELCOM recommendations (1) HELCOM Recommendation 21/3 (2000) HELCOM Recommendation 21/3 (2000) ”Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Tourism in the Coastal Zones of the Baltic Sea Area’’ ”Sustainable and Environmentally Friendly Tourism in the Coastal Zones of the Baltic Sea Area’’

HELCOM Recommendation 21/3, 2000 (1) To base tourism development policy and plans for new tourist projects on the "GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE BALTIC SEA AREA“ To base tourism development policy and plans for new tourist projects on the "GUIDELINES FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN THE BALTIC SEA AREA“ All development, marketing and management of tourism should be based on the criteria of sustainability - it must be ecologically sound in the long term, economically viable, as well as ethically and socially equitable for the local communities and also be oriented on the objectives, principles and obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity All development, marketing and management of tourism should be based on the criteria of sustainability - it must be ecologically sound in the long term, economically viable, as well as ethically and socially equitable for the local communities and also be oriented on the objectives, principles and obligations of the Convention on Biological Diversity

HELCOM Recommendation 21/3, 2000 (2) For the development of large scaled tourist projects be preceded by a spatial planning process and be incorporated into ICZMP For the development of large scaled tourist projects be preceded by a spatial planning process and be incorporated into ICZMP EIA or similar procedures be carried out, before realizing tourism infrastructure and tourism operations EIA or similar procedures be carried out, before realizing tourism infrastructure and tourism operations All Contracting Parties work together and design bi - or multilateral transboundary strategies for environmentally friendly tourism development All Contracting Parties work together and design bi - or multilateral transboundary strategies for environmentally friendly tourism development

HELCOM recommendations (2) HELCOM Recommendation 24/10 (2003) HELCOM Recommendation 24/10 (2003) ’’Implementation of Integrated Marine and Coastal Management of Human Activities in the Baltic Sea Area’’ ’’Implementation of Integrated Marine and Coastal Management of Human Activities in the Baltic Sea Area’’

HELCOM recommendations (3) HELCOM Recommendation 15/1 (1994) HELCOM Recommendation 15/1 (1994) ’’Protection of the Coastal Strip’’ ’’Protection of the Coastal Strip’’

Baltic Development Forum Report ’’Tourism Development in the BSR. Creating Joint Policies as a Win- Win Scenario’’ (2004) Report ’’Tourism Development in the BSR. Creating Joint Policies as a Win- Win Scenario’’ (2004) 2nd Round Table Meeting (2005): 2nd Round Table Meeting (2005): - a common vision, mission and - a common vision, mission and objectives and establishment of objectives and establishment of think-tank (more formalised think-tank (more formalised platform) are needed platform) are needed

Future of the BSR tourism Only sustainable tourism has a prospects in the Baltic Sea Region Baltic Sea Region has a wide opportunity to become an essential sustainable tourism destination

Thank you for your attention! Ministry of Economics 55, Brivibas Str., Riga LATVIA, LV-1519 Phone: (office) (mobile) (mobile) Fax: