1. MEETING ON EUROPEAN CHARTER FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FOR THE COTSWOLDS AONB Cotswolds Conference Centre, Broadway 18 th February 2010

2. Introducing the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas Rosie Simpson, Europarc Consulting

3. 1. Evolution 2. Aims & Essentials 3.The Principles 4.Summary & where next? The story of the Charter...

4. Issues with non-sustainable tourism in protected areas Visitor pressures Pressure on resources & pollution Reactive management Disturbance to species, special qualities & local people Benefits of tourism not realised/unevenly spread Visitors don’t understand the special qualities of the areas

5. 1991: EUROPARC Working Group on Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas 1993: ‘Loving them to death – Sustainable Tourism in Europe's Nature & National Parks” (Revised 2001) 1995: Development of Charter methodology 2001: First seven pilot protected areas signed the Charter 2007: Start of European CharterNet project 2009: Pilot of DIY Toolkit and Mentoring Scheme Evolution of the Charter… Loving them to Death? ISBN: 3-9806882-8-3

6. What is the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas? Practical management tool Recognition of protected areas Voluntary agreement A process & methods for managing sustainable tourism

8. Aims of the European Charter Increase awareness of, & support for, Europe’s protected areas Improve sustainable development & management of tourism there…. taking account of needs of environment, local people, businesses & visitors

10. UK: Brecon Beacon, Cairngorms & Exmoor NPs, Mourne Mountains & Forest of Bowland AONBs, Some Charter Protected areas France: Cevennes NP, Luberon Parc Naturel Régional Spain: Zona Volcanica de Garrotxa Nature Park

11. Vision and commitment to Charter principles Strategic & partnership approach Well-functioning Stakeholder Forum Separate Sustainable Tourism Strategy 5 year Action Plan with implementation resources The Five essential Charter requirements

13. Commitment to 10 Charter principles 3. Protect natural & cultural heritage 4. High quality visitor experiences 5. Clear communication of PA special qualities 6.Tourism products relate to discovery & understanding 6.Capacity building on sustainability 7.Tourism supports local quality of life 8.More tourism benefits to the local economy 9. Monitor visitors and reduce negative impacts

14. Charter Principle 4 To provide visitors with a high quality experience in all aspects of their visit Visitor surveys Meeting special needs of disadvantaged visitors Check and improve quality of facilities and services

15. Charter Principle 6 Encourage specific tourism products which enable discovery & understanding of the area: New product development, activities events & packages related to the area’s character Interpretation of the area’s special qualities

16. 16 Parc natural régional Luberon: results of positive cooperation with tourism businesses New image of sustainable tourism New lines of alternative tourism in villages Tourism in keeping with the park’s Charter & the European Charter Tourism for local people as well as visitors

17. Charter Principle 7 To increase knowledge of the protected area and sustainability issues amongst all involved in tourism Education & awareness programmes Training for staff of protected areas, tourism enterprises & other organisations

18. www.european-charter.org Charter website – regular news updates Biannual newsletter Network meetings Stands at tourism trade fairs European Charter Areas: News and Networking

19. The European Charter - Summary A Practical management tool Working in Partnership An approach for managing sustainable tourism A process & commitment to continued improvement

20. EUROPARC and the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism: The prospect of sustainable tourism across Europe

21. So the story of the EUROPARC Charter continues ……… For more information: www.european-charter.org rosie.simpson@btinternet.com With thanks to the EUROPARC Tourism Charter Team & to Wilf Fenten, Richard Partington & Jacques Décuignières for providing some of the pictures & slides

22. 2. Diagnosis of characteristics, key issues, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats 3. Current visitor types/numbers & potential markets 4. Strategic objectives arising from the diagnosis 5. Action plan to meet these objectives & who will act monitoring & evaluation 6. Staff & financial resources allocated Sustainable Tourism Strategy: Outline Structure 7. Proposals for monitoring & evaluation

23. Benefits for the protected area of well-managed sustainable tourism... Economic, social and environmental Strengthened relations with local tourism stakeholders Higher profile regionally, nationally and across Europe New ideas and improvements through internal and external assessment Exchange of expertise and experience within the Charter network Public relations opportunities with visitors and media Greater credibility amongst potential funding partner organisations

24. Benefits for tourism businesses... Close co-operation with the protected area Provision of high-quality information about the protected area Co- operation with other economic sectors in the area Engagement with protected area staff and other local stakeholders Participation in a European wide network Opening of new markets