Artic Tourism - Sustainable Tourism Good Practices
'Tourism development and tourist activities – in the Arctic and elsewhere – become sustainable when a business is not only concerned about its economic success, but also looks at environmental and social aspects of its activities.' For more information on benefitting the local economy, operating in a responsible manner and more, check out the above link.

Prince Edward Island National Park of Canada
The Park is undertaking a number of initiatives to protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources found in the area. Along with a beach facility which was developed using a sustainable design concept, it also has a 10kW wind turbine that provides 100% of the electricity requirements to the Cavendish Campground. This year, the park will install a 50kW wind turbine that will provide the necessary power for a “grid-free” new administration building and compound (Parks Canada, 2008)

Sustainable tourism in Turkey?
The project aims to establish "sustainable tourism" in the Belek Tourism Centre. Betuyab's goals and activities are realized through cooperation among the investors, the local inhabitants, the official association and establishments, and the relevant ministries (Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Forestry etc.). Read about their achievments and lessons learnt.

Gaia Napa Valley - The First US “Green” Hotel LEED Gold Certified by The U.S. Greenbuilding Council
In the lobby: a real-time display of how much energy this new, green hotel is using and saving, moment by moment – along with the energy contribution from the solar panels on the roof. Two swans populate a pond in the center courtyard, while guests lounge in 132 totally “green” rooms – painted with special, low-VOC paints, recycled carpets, state of the art, energy-saving air conditioners and heaters that use 15% less energy. Behind the walls, all the wood used in construction was certified as new growth wood; outside the landscaping is chemical-free. It’s a first of its type: the blending of luxury and comfort in a new hotel with features endorsed by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards (LEED).

Atman Hospitality Group, Inc. is a South San Francisco-based, California corporation that mainly engages in development and operation of "green" (environmentally friendly) hotels in California. Their mission is to develop a new "green" hotel system to help transform the general public's consciousness of deep ecology, and to be a model in a series of sustainable "green" hotel developments. Atman Hospitality Group, Inc., a member of U.S. Green Building Council ( <http://www.usgbc.org/> USGBC), incorporates custom design, solar energy, specialized building materials, conservation techniques, and environment-friendly practices to set it apart from regular commercial hotels.

San Francisco gone green
San Francisco has pulled out all the stops - LEED certified buildings, reducing waste, diverting from landfill, acknowledging parks and green space and their contribution to quality of life and tourist enjoyment!

The Siwa Sustainable Development Initiative, Egypt
The Siwa Environmental Quality Initiative (EQI) offers a Shali lodge, ecotourism activities, organic agriculture products, women's artisanship and other offers which were developed based on consultations with the local community and other stakeholders. EQI designed and implemented the commercial ventures with the aim of promoting economic development in Siwa that is in harmony with its sensitive environment and that revitalizes its unique cultural heritage.

Sandals Montego Bay, Jamaica
Sandals Montego Bay in Jamaica - winner in the large hotel category - has a fully implemented Environmental Management System and Health and Safety program. This program received Green Globe 21 certification in January 2001; since then, Sandals Montego Bay has been continuously improving its operation, with programs such as:

* Energy Conservation Management
* Freshwater Resource Management
* Waste Minimization
* Improved Social and Cultural Development
* Safe Care, Use and Handling of Chemicals

They also created an Emergency Disaster Plan Manual as well as an HIV/AIDS Workplace Program Policy. Sandals Montego Bay has a full time environment, health and safety manager, responsible for staff training, developing community awareness, and liaising with the Montego Bay Marine Park and National Environment and Planning Agency.

Staff are encouraged to participate and become involved with Monthly Awards, Annual Health and Safety Expositions, Field trips, Committees, Clubs and Special Events such as medical missions for children's infirmaries, AIDS hospices, and neighboring mental hospitals, as well as youth training and recruitment programs, and community clean-ups - both above and below the water.

3 Rivers Eco Lodge & Sustainable Living Centre
The 3 Rivers Eco Lodge & Sustainable Living Centre, reiterates in 2006 its commitment to sustainability after earning this award in 2005. Located in Dominica, this family business lives by a fundamental goal: to live in harmony with, yet has as little harmful impact as possible on the unspoiled natural beauty of its surroundings and community.

Their philosophy is driven by a belief in their role to protect and enhance the environment for guests, as well as the residents of the local community. Keeping in line with their goals, every aspect of the hotel has the environment in mind. The management embraces a sustainable lifestyle, minimizing the use of all resources, and monitoring all systems.

The sun powers the entire property. Even the water supply is pumped from the river using a solar powered pump, which works in silence to avoid disturbing the surrounding natural habitats. Likewise, solar hot water heating systems are used. To minimize water consumption, gray water is treated and then re-used in the garden and campers use dry toilets.

The hotel composts all kitchen and garden waste, and uses that compost to grow as much organic food as possible without the use of chemicals or fertilizers. A truly original invention is the modification of a pick up truck that has been retrofitted to run on used vegetable oil as well as diesel fuel. With the 'cooking oil truck' they have reduced harmful emissions by some 93%, and are able to re-cycle oil that had been previously discarded by local restaurants in local rivers and ravines. Whenever possible, the hotel avoids purchasing packaged goods. The hotel shops locally, recycles and uses biodegradable products, and tries to keep waste products to a minimum. Water, electricity, gas, solid waste and paper consumption are monitored daily to continuously find new ways of reducing usage.

An important aspect of 3 River's philosophy is to involve the local community. Employees come from local villages, and they are trained in sustainable living. As an Eco-Lodge, the hotel owners feel that community-based tourism is essential in order to ensure that their local friends benefit from the hotel's existence. Bearing this in mind, the hotel offers a number of local community based activities for the visitors' enjoyment, which, at the same time, help many native people earn money to provide for their families. The activities give guests a true taste of life in Dominica, as seen by a Dominican, and are as innovative as they are engaging. They include:

* Learning traditional farming methods and how to make & taste one of Dominica's national dishes - Calalou Soup.
* A day at an organic herb farm, discovering traditional herbal medicines & remedies, and tasting various bush teas.
* Coffee and cocoa preparing and roasting - where tourists can take some home at the end of the day.
* Visits to the local village primary school - getting to know the kids, sharing experiences with them and learning the local history.
* Band practices with the local Reggae and Calypso stars - The Blazing Squad.
* Learning to make ancient knitting or flower crafts, among others.

These are just some of the responsible practices that 3 Rivers Eco Lodge proudly undertakes. "Environmental issues concern not just the air we breathe and the water we drink; they also concern our obligation to each other, and to future generations to protect our planet," said CHA President, Berthia Parle, MBE. "In the Caribbean hospitality industry, businesses that utilize the most solid social and environmental practices benefit communities and save not only our environment, but our heritage as well." (this case study is taken directly from the Caribbean Hotel Association announcement)

Santa Lucia Lodge, Ecuador
In Ecuador, ecotourism has been helping to preserve and sustain Santa Lucia Lodge. A runner up for the 2005 WTTC Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and the 2004 Responsible Tourism Awards, the lodge offers a multitude of elements that help sustain the local area and community. Examples include: staff training for native guides, courses in cooking, hospitality and administration and capacity building; conservation (having now planted native trees in 20 hectares of land). More information can be found at www.santaluciaecuador.com

Travel Green Wisconsin
Travel Green Wisconsin is a voluntary program that reviews, certifies and recognizes tourism businesses that have made a commitment to continuously improve their operations in order to reduce their environmental and social impact. The program, set up by the Wisconsin Environmental Initiative (WEI) and the sustainable tourism ad-hoc committee made up of local businesses, NGO's and governement agencies aims to develop a voluntary environmental certification
program for the Wisconsin tourism industry.This voluntary program helps businesses evaluate their operations, set goals and take specific actions towards environmental, social and economic sustainability. The project is currently being piloted.

Hawaii Bio- Beetle 100% Recycled Vegetable Oil Powered Cars
Now when you travel to Hawaii, you can hire one of the first environmentally friendly cars - powered by 100% recycled vegetable oil.

Bay of Bengal Green Model for Eco-Tourism
This case study presents a green model for eco-tourism as it is currently in place at the Welcomgroup Bay Island (WGBI) hotel in Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The model concentrates on a so-called four-R’s strategy, which includes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink of procedures and policies for the hotel. (quoted from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) , 2005)

Tofino Cedar Corner Development
A real example of triple bottom line. Tofino sits at the entrance to Clayoquot Sound, a globally unique biosphere now designated by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve, it attracts approximately 1 million visitors per year. With the environmental and social pressures stemming from the tourist population and the fragile environment, this is a good example of multiple sustainable considerations. Built from 100% recycled timber and equipped with the latest water-saving, energy efficient and power alternative features, their philosophy is the following "Ultimately a successful business is a business that: a) makes money; b) exists symbiotically with its community; c) has an absolute minimum negative impact on the environment; and d) becomes a working model of a profitable, socially conscious, 'green' business showcased to the world". For more information on their building, investment and management practices and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, click on http://tofinobrewhouse.com/

Green Hotel Initiatives
A range of initiatives aiming to promote and develop environmentally responsible accommodations

Cristalino Jungle Lodge (Amazon, Brazil) The lodge is private forest reserve in the Southern Brazilian Amazon rainforest. Along with offering ecotourism and adventure tours, its main objective is to preserve the rain forest and to contribute to conservation efforts in part of the Amazon that is rapidly changing. The lodge, in conjunction with the Ecotourism Development Program of the Brazilian Amazon (Proecotur) has developed a long term sustainability strategy for the area.

CAMPFIRE in Zimbabwe?
Tourism development has helped many of Zimbabwe's poorer rural communities as part of the Communal Areas Management Programme For Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE). Through CAMPFIRE, foreign visitors buy licences to hunt wildlife within certain quotas. As well as keeping wildlife numbers at sustainable limits, the profits from these licences and the sale of meat and skins of the animals is ploughed back into local communities to build new schools, wells and health clinics. Is tourism under threat in Zimbawe as there have been fuel shortages and many tourism resorts are owned by white landowners and community tourism initiatives feel they cannot attract tourists. For more information, see this case study illustrated by Global Eye at http://www.globaleye.org.uk/secondary_spring2002/focuson/case1.html

Balearic Green Card (Targeta Verde)
Although the ecotax was scapped in 2003 with the change of government, the new government issued a joint initiative called the 'Targeta Verde' which is a green card giving discounts to museums and natural attractions and promotes the card in Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera saying that 'your contribution counts'. Interestingly, the card also gives discounts to amusement parks, golf and parking (are these promoting 'greeness' or sustainability?

Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania
Chumbe Island is the first privatly managed marine park in the world and takes serious note in its sustainability operations. Its income from eco-friendly visitors finances conservation and the 7 palm thatched bungalows, while comfortable and beautifully unique are also built entirely out of local material and designed with solar lights, catch, solar-heat and filter its own water. Chumbe has won the 2004 TODO socially responsible tourism award and 2004 Responsible Tourism Award in addition to many others. For more information, check out http://www.chumbeisland.com.

Greening Melbourne's hotels
The City of Melbourne introduced an innovative environmental program to help city hotels to cut energy, water and waste management costs. The Savings in the City program aims to provide leadership, support, recognition and advice to hotels in the municipality. It will help hotels to identify economically viable actions they could take to reduce energy consumption and operating costs.

Hotels are the first sector to be targeted in the Savings in the City program, with 11 being among the top 200 water users in the City of Melbourne. And the hospitality sector - including accommodation and food providers - generates up to 18 per cent of all waste in the municipality, so there's plenty of scope to make meaningful savings.

Responsible Tourism in West Africa
A recent opportunity to explore West Africa offered a unique way for cultural interaction to take place. As many westerners wish to visit rural communities for history and cultural interaction, giving money to a village may interupt the economic balance or status. In the southern Burkinabe village of Kontambougou, tour guide leaders chose to bring chairs for the elders in the community as a gift. Elders in the village of Kontambougou used to stay in their huts as they aged but with the gift of chairs, they sit out in the village and socialise and interact with the other villagers. The villagers welcome the westerners by showing them their hospitality through music and dancing and the chief's son explains the village structure and formation to the tourists. Another way to bring something back to the village was by bringing photographs of the elders that were taken on the last visit so that the village had a record and photograph of the old chiefs and significant elders.

Vietnam's green map
This ecotourism initiative represents national parks, nature reserves and proposed protected areas spread over mountains, lowland forests, wetlands, islands, coral reefs and 3,440 km of coastline. Locked within these natural pockets is an endemic and indigenous biodiversity that makes Vietnam a truly special country. An estimated 12,000 species of vascular flora occur in Vietnam. The organisation's goal for the ecotourism map is for international tourists to take note of Vietnam's spectacular natural composition, whilst being responsible, respectful and considerate of local communities. By engaging local people through the use of guides, home- stays and various modes of transportation, it is hoped that tourism will serve to increase local communities' awareness of their natural environment whilst providing them with alternative sources of income. All sale proceeds from the map go directly to support Vietnamese primate conservation. For further information, please contact: huong.lan.hoang@ffi.org.vn

Dominica gets eco certification
Dominica is situated at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, nestled between the two French islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe. The Commonwealth of Dominica has become the first complete country in the world to be benchmarked as a Green Globe 21 Eco Destination.
The government is introducing new green legislation in all areas to comply with the green globe requirements and aims to be fully certified within the next year or so. (source: greentravel and 3 Rivers ecolodge)

How do you tell “green” rhetoric from reality? It's not easy, concludes a report, Protecting Paradise: Certification Programs for Sustainable Tourism and Ecotourism. For more information on eco-certification check out http://www.ips-dc.org/ecotourism/pppr.htm or http://www.caribbeannetnews.com/2004/12/04/becomes.htm

Governments getting on board - Greenwich and sustainable tourism?
Greenwich's award of Beacon Status for Sustainable Tourism came as the result of an ambitious regeneration programme with tourism at the heart of its agenda. The council adopted the strategy in 1999 to focus on the local benefits of regeneration. Tourism is now responsible for 25% of all employment and contributes £327 to the local economy. The main focus was on quality improvement and regeneration as well as securing World Heritage site inscription.

Cinque Terra Sustainable Tourism Project
The territory of the Cinque Terra located on the coast of northeastern Italy has established a sustainable tourism project to protect the culture, heritage and environment. Cinque Terra is famous for the five villages that are accessible only by train or trail: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggore, however the large number of tourists has a significant impact on the sustainability of the region. The region was recognized as a National Park in 1999 and as a UNESCO protected territory since 1997. The sustainable tourism project has established an Environmental Quality Brand for accommodation facilities, a cinque terra card, guidelines for tourists and public information about conservation. In order to control tourist numbers, a Cinque Terra Card is provided which includes access to all paths, nature observations centres, botanic paths, picnic areas, and bird watching areas. Tourists exploring the region can purchase a 1, 3 or 7-day card which also provides unlimited access to the train and bus between villages. The fee goes to protect the trails, marine and national park and maps, train and ferry times as well as a list of main business sectors participating in the scheme are accommodations which implement energy and water saving techniques as well as the purchase of local produce, recycling and using sustainable transport. An easy to read pamphlet offers visitors and businesses in the region simple, straightforward and easy options to reduce impact, support local economies and protect the fragility of the region.

For information on a participating hotel, please see Hotel Câe Adrean located in Manarola at http://www.cadandrean.it /or http://www.cinqueterre.it/de for more information.

Jamaica's projet to improve coastal towns
As a section of the Ministry of Tourism in Jamaica http://www.tpdco.org/mit/about.htm is the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) is “to develop and improve the tourism product, to position Jamaica as a preferred destination and to ensure that tourism is sustained as a major contributor to the development of the economy”. As one of the initiatives, the Government of Jamaica project to improve resort towns. Some of the aims of this project are to -Clean, upgrade and maintain the resort towns, concentrating on designated project corridors.

• Increase the security presence in order to reduce visitor harassment
• Implement environmental and tourism awareness programmes in schools and communities
• Improve the facilities at the cruise ship piers.

The Red Sea Sustainable Tourism Initiative (RSSTI)
One of the first tourism programs in the Middle East to adopt principles of sustainable development, this programme was funded by USAID. The Tourism Development Authority (TDA) in Egypt plans to build approximately 200,000 new hotel rooms in the next 15 years near and around the Red Sea and Sinai Peninsula (source: greenhotelier). The RSSTI has a mandate for sustainable tourism and advocates their mission by working with the TDA and encouraging environment and socially responsible projects which involve local participation in decision making, eco-efficiency, the use of EIA', Environmental Management Systems, etc. In addition, a set of economic instruments have been developed to encourage developers to be more responsible. For more information click here.

Maho Bay, US Virgin Islands
The most significant aspect of this island destination is the staff. Management is sensitive to guest needs and they are welcomed in an open and friendly way. Upon request, we were showed around the facilities on St John. Although the site has been criticized from a community standpoint for not employing locals or consulting with them during the planning process, it is a good example of environmental and technological aspects.

Stanley Selengut, owner of Maho Bay Camps built the first tents in 1976 and has become a pioneer for using and showcasing sustainable techniques in energy, water and waste management, educational and training and unique guest programs. The camps seek to preserve, protect, and even enhance the fragile eco-system of the Virgin Islands.
Some examples of effective protection and conservation systems include:

• - Elevated walkways to prevent soil erosion and protect the beach and fragile coral. The walkways help protect the ecosystem, hide wires and add an element of uniqueness to the area. Plants along the boardwalks are well labeled adding an educational element.
• - Construction methods minimized removal of vegetation and use recycled building materials such as "plastic lumber", recycled glass tiles and rubber tire rugs. The plastic lumber not only is recycled but provides for grip when walking in the rain.
• - The sun, using timers and sensors to maximize efficiency, generates much of the electricity. Passive solar design, photovoltaic, rain collection and roof scoops that circulate cooling breezes are used. In the kitchen, guests are asked to clean their own tables and sort their recycling accordingly.
• - The Concordia units at the far end of the island collect rain water and are almost entirely self sufficient from the main water pipes. The Concordia units also offer low flush composting toilets, energy efficient showers and solar lighting. Solar energy units are displayed in the tent for guests to monitor their energy use.
• - Staff hold educational seminars about energy and waste conservation as well as offering programs for health and wellbeing.
• - Recycling has become a marketing tool for public relations as well as a profitable guest program. In 1997 a comprehensive recycling center was installed with glass crushers, furnaces, annealing ovens, cardboard shredders, and tools to convert waste into marketable products. The Camps Trash to Treasures program now sells unique art made from recycled glass from the restaurant.

Maho Bay has employed many site sensitive practices to promote sustainable tourism concepts. For more information about Maho Bay, please check out www.mahobay.org.

Life Environment Project
The Life Environment project is called 'Strategies and Tools for Sustainable Tourism in Mediterranean Coastal Areas'. The project is centered around Rimini, Italy and Calvia, Spain. Approximately 4 million tourists descend each year upon their beaches and the destinations are looking to combine economic and social aspects which have a respect for the environment. The project which is co-financed by the European Commission is centered around main lines of action including:
- an integrated strategy for the management of coastal areas in mass tourism destinations
- improving environmental peformance of private operators
- and raising tourist and tour operator awareness on environmental issues
For more information look at www.calvia.com and www.provincia.rimini.it

European Sustainable Tourism Prize
The Province of Rimini was awarded with the first European Sustainable Tourism Prize, “Carmen Díez de Rivera” for its LIFE-Environment Project "Strategies and Tools towards Sustainable Tourism in Mediterranean Coastal Areas". The award from the EU is divided into public and private iniatives for sustainable tourism. Some objectives include new management systems, planning and managing tourist destinations and implementing new management of tourist destinations in accordance with their environmental, social, cultural and economic values.