Ioannis Ch. Saridakis Chemical Engineer ELOT, Hellenic Organization for Standardization Initial meeting, Athens, 11 May 2010 AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

understanding the site/ identify core values of the area/ natural environment/landscape, biodiversity, living and built culture, facilities, cultural and human resources, relationships between local people and visitors, sensitivities, fragile areas/ vulnerability, capacity limits and need for conservation e.g. water reflect local heritage/favour small scale development which use existing resources and reflect natural and cultural heritage in style, design and setting AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010 success stories

know your existing and target visitors/ identify specific visitor experience that reflect the real value of the site integration/use of endogenous resources, use and encourage use of local products, promote local employment, support facilities and services improving the quality of life of local residents, integrate agrotourism into local development plans and use natural, human, social and cultural local resources/ identify and encourage use of locally produced food, crafts and other products, sale to visitors, use by tourism enterprises, support networking and improvements of distributions systems of local producers AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories involvement of stakeholders from the beginning to raise awareness and commitment and ongoing consultation with local communities, local media. Involve local residents in tourism planning and have a regular opportunity to express their views and concerns working in partnership/local development is a shared concern/ local stakeholders – mutual agreement and synergies between different projects, link producers, product and services providers together traditions and innovation, rural/countryside culture and tourism services/ improvements to increase the quality of the visitor experience AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories promoting the cultural heritage/ wide range of agricultural products and small scale, local knowledge, handicrafts, architectural heritage, fairs conserving the environment/guaranteeing environmental resources for local development identify opportunities themes / wildlife and environmental conservation activities, nature guided tours, local traditions, fairs, farms, craft producers, walking or cycling routes encourage visitors involvement/ encourage visitors awareness, participation, contribution to resources protection, conservation, develop programs and mechanisms for visitors to support conservation AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories reduce waste/ use fresh products avoiding individually wrapped products, recycle waste, use of recycled or partially recycled products, encourage the use of environmental friendly products reduce energy consumption/ reinforce insulation to avoid heat loss, reduce CO2 emissions by using wind or solar power, install low energy bulbs for lighting and low consumption electrical equipment, inform your guests of rules to observe that can save energy AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories provide appropriate guidance/ to owners, operators and personnel. Seminars and training programs improve communication/choose the most appropriate communication tools for target audience, provide mechanisms for joint promotion between local organizations, form promotional alliances with other sites at national and European level exchange of information and innovation/ natural resources conservation and management, sustainable and organic farming practices, value added and marketing innovations, renewable energy and energy conservation AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories communicate good practise through media obtain synergies/ e.g. with environmental conservation initiatives and organic agriculture assessing and measuring the impacts of agrotourism/ carry out environmental assessment of the site, use measures promoting positive impact, reducing negative impact and restore damage caused encourage not polluting transport/favour access by walking, cycling, not polluting vehicles and public transport both to and within the area reduce seasonability AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

success stories visitor orientation and providing information/ inform about safety and quality standards of site services support traditional economic activities/support specific initiatives which support other local traditional sectors monitoring and gaining feedback from visitors/obtain regular visitors feedback networking AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

values/principles visitors as guests who live a cultural experience sustainability of tourism development integration with existing economies interpersonal relations visitor-owner/operator working in partnership, local development as a shared concern contribution in fostering local identity innovation challenge, sustainable tourism services based on rural tradition AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

issues/ units environmental management/waste, energy, water, ecosystem cultural resources management, recreational activities and cultural events human resources integration with local economy partnership and synergies innovation guests experience accommodation, facilities and services food/catering and gastronomy AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

definitions tourism activity of persons travelling to and/or staying in locations outside their permanent place of residence for leisure, business or other purposes NOTE 1 Adapted definition from EN “Tourism services - Travel agencies and tour operators – Terminology” NOTE 2 Traveller is a person moving from one place to another. Tourist is a traveller for leisure or similar purposes. NOTE 3 Tourism services comprises transport, accomodation, food/catering and recreational activities AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

definitions of EN tourism activities of persons travelling to and/or staying in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business or other purposes tourist traveller for leisure purposes traveller person moving from one place to another visitor traveller who has arrived at a location which is not it’s permanent place of residence AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

definitions of EN tourism services services provided for travellers, visitors and tourists NOTE Types of services provided are e.g.: transport, accommodation, food, package tours AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

definitions sustainable tourism tourism that its development valorises/exploits and preserves natural environment, culture, heritage and traditions in the destination’s region NOTE 1 Sustainable tourism is a form of sustainable development (in alternative to conventional/mass tourism) aiming at minimizing tourism influence on the local environment. NOTE 2 Sustainable tourism promotes tourists/visitors more active participation on local activities that protect and preserves natural environment, culture, heritage and traditions. AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010

definitions The definition of EN sustainable tourism concept of development and planning of tourism in such a manner as to protect and preserve the environment in all its aspects and to respect the way of life of local residents

AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010 definitions rural tourism sustainable tourism at rural areas involving recreational experience by participating in or experiencing activities, events or attractions NOTE 1 Rural tourism is experience oriented. Rural tourism involves tourists witnessing or participating in activities that form the core of country life and interaction between the tourists and the locals for a more enriching tourism experience. NOTE 2 Rural tourism is similar to ecotourism except that its primary appeal is not the natural landscape/resources but the cultural landscape/resources

AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010 definition agrotourism rural tourism in which visitors experience the countryside and agricultural life, local products and its community’s lifestyle NOTE Agrotourism capitalizes on rural culture as a tourist attraction.

AgriTourNet /ELOT May 2010 Thanks Ioannis Ch. Saridakis