DRAFT DestiNet for Destinations Gordon Sillence, Herbert Hamele ECOTRANS e.V., Saarbrücken September 2011

European Network for Sustainable Tourism Development (founded 1993) -Members in 14 countries -International studies & research -European pilot projects & initiatives -Knowledge centre for Tourism Ecolabelling -Networking and dissemination of good practice Founding Member of  DestiNet - UN Partnership for Sustainable Development  Global Sustainable Tourism Council  Global Sustainable Tourism Partnership

Contents 1.Background - Stakeholders, Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Tourism Development 2.A Guide through the DestiNet Portal for EDEN – an online Learning Area to help you take the best decisions 3.Collaboration Opportunities DestiNet for Destinations

1.Background Stakeholders, Challenges and Opportunities in Sustainable Tourism Development

Agenda 21, the SDS and the European Knowledge economy and tourism – a cross-cutting theme Stakeholders are making decisions every day which can help or not to making tourism more competitive and sustainable. Many stakeholders are interested and willing to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development. Stakeholders Tourism is made by many stakeholders: Governments, NGOs, Destinations, Academics, Businesses, Travellers

Challenges for destinations To engage the stakeholders in contributing to a common tourism development strategy facing the challenges of: Quality Assessment, Certification & Marketing Knowledge Networking, Training & Education Sustainable Supply Chain Management Climate Change- Energy & Resource Efficiency Destination Management & Good Governance Sustainable Transport & Travel Natural and Cultural Heritage Sustainable Consumption and Production & Tourism (overarching)

Opportunities for Destination Management to engage the stakeholders What information do they need? What information is available? How to bring stakeholders and information together?

What key information is available for each of the 8 main topics (challenges) ? In which language? Whom can I contact for further information? What recommendations can I give to other stakeholders? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

Who is working for making tourism more sustainable? Where are these organisations? What are they doing? Which information and support do they offer? How can I contact them? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

What does ‚sustainable tourism‘ mean? What criteria and indicators can I use to measure my own progress and performance? What destinations have implemented an observatory for their own development? What opportunities for comparing, exchange and benchmarking are there? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

What tools and guidelines are there for planning, financing, training, certification, marketing, measuring, control? Where are these tools available? How can I access them? What about language issues? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

How can I find good practice examples? Which certificates and awards for sustainable/responsible tourism are available? Which tourism services, oprtstors otr destinations have recently been awarded? What for? How can I find and contact them? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

Which awarded/certified tourism services and destinations are out there? Where can I promote my awarded/certified products and services? Which tour operators and marketing channels are interested in collaboration? Which products, services and experts are available for making tourism more sustainable? Stakeholders need information to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

20 years of sustainable discussion, research and development A lot of information and knowledge is out there – and can be made available in a Destination Learing Area Opportunity for destinations - enable stakeholders to contribute to and to benefit from sustainable tourism development

2. A Guide through the DestiNet Portal An online Learning Area to help you take the best decisions

Bringing together the know-how and the tools to do the job... together

But all of that information and all those contacts can leave you in the dark...

Which is why we need to do the job of sustainable tourism development.... together

DestiNet – Partnership for Connecting Sustainable Tourism EEA + UNWTO + UNEP + Ecotrans (executive body)  To bring stakeholders and information together  DestiNet - Sustainable Tourism Knowlegde Networking Portal Most advanced ICT system for knowledge networking and market access DestiNet - UN Partnership for Sustainable Development

DestiNet Features Based on EC „Innovation in Tourism“ Coherent stucture: local to global level Google maps and Google search DestiNet Atlas with detailed filtering Google translator (59 languages) Bulk uploading and downloading Basket of approval to assure quality Mailing services and survey tools Global „Atlas of Excellence“ Global „Market Place“: green mapping Calendar and News buletin Integration with own websites …

DestiNet: Exemplary Uses Public information (free access), e.g. 100 universities in Europe Alpine Pearls Eco-Destinet library 130 certificates, standards and awards Atlas of Excellence with 500 award winners, incl. EDEN certified tourism, e.g. Ecotourism Norway, CSR Tourism operators, Ecocamping, Austrian Ecolabel, European Charter parcs, 300 in Latin America, … 30 online marketing services, e.g. Green travel Bridge

DestiNet: FAST-LAIN

Knowledge Networks for Competitive and Sustainable European Tourism (EC – DG Enterprise) Project FAST-LAIN Further Action on Sustainable Tourism – Learning Area Innovation Networks ( ) Ecotrans is running this pilot project to establish a European Sustainable Tourism Observatory and to develop regional sustainable tourism innovation clusters. “Sustainable Tourism - From Research to Market Place” Tourism authorities and research bodies from Germany, Spain, Croatia, France, Sweden, Norway and Portugal - with support from the EC, UNWTO, UNEP, EEA, European Travel Commission, German Tourism Association and Italian Ministry of Regional Development – are working together to monitor their sustainable tourism development regarding a set of main topics (situation, strengths, needs, progress) to map their stakeholders, projects, tools and best practices, and to market their eco-certified tourism.

DestiNet: FAST-LAIN

DestiNet: Exemplary Uses Destination: Biosfera de la Palma uses DestiNet as FAST-LAIN partner:  Assess own „competitve and sustainable tourism“ situation  Folder for mapping stakeholders, strengths, needs, progress  Innovation cluster „La Palma Club“: set up learning area with members  International knowledge networking  Green map „Biosfera La Palma“ on the global market place  Observatory concept on sustainable tourism

DestiNet: Opportunities for Destinations DestiNet is giving you online access to the information you need, is helping you to engage your stakeholders and to network with other destinations, to map and to promote your excellent offer to the market

3. Collaboration Opportunities – DestiNet for Destinations

1.Saving of high cost for the development of an own system 2.Provision of long- term web presence and secure ICT system 3.An own language „My Destination“ place with all DestiNet functionalities 4.A Learning & Innovation Area for your destination, facilitating knowledge networking between your stakeholders according their specific information needs 5.A dissemmination system of good practices in your destination (Atlas of excellence”) (cont.) Benefits of using DestiNet

6.Assistance in choosing criteria and indicators to measure performance of your destination in terms of competitive and sustainable tourism 7.Use your space as an observatory for your destination 8.Facilitate building European marketing groups and processes with other destinations meeting certain standards 9.Exchange and collaboration with other destinations, networks and initiatives to create project learning, funding and investment opportunities 10.Promotion of your green products and services on the global market place Benefits of using DestiNet

Destinet Services for Destinations DestiNet Services for DestinationsCost Implementation of „My Destination“ folder with all functionalities (p.a.) 500 € Induction training: Content management500 € Workshop „Innovation in Tourism – create your Learning Area“ (knowledge networking, mapping and monitoring) 1,000 – 5,000 € + travel cost As k expert service (per day, recommended) 650 € Promotion on the DestiNet global market place (p.a.)50 € i-frame and RSS feed servicesfree Discount (e.g. for network members with DestiNet collaboration agreement) % Kick back for DestiNet services sellers30%

Contact: Herbert Hamele Gordon