Sustainable tourism in rural areas

By P.C. Galema (Pieter) in co-operation with J. van Oene (Jan)

RIGA date January 24 - 2003

Contents

• Overijssel - Latvia• Rural matters• Environment projects for

accommodation tourism• Milieubarometer• Finally

Co-operation Overijssel - Latvia • Co-operation fields:

• The ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development

• Rural Tourism: Lauku Celotajs

• Regional tourism-development: Kurzeme (KTA)

• Sustainable tourism

About Overijssel - I

• Garden of the Netherlands• 1 million inhabitants• Main activities during

holidays:• cycling• walking• swimming• boating• (relaxing)

About Overijssel - II

• Accommodations• hotels / guesthouses / B&B 242• leisureparks (bungalows) 51• campsites 295• small-scale campsites (farms) 172• groupaccommodations 93• yacht basins 46

Statistic figures about tourism• Number of holidays 1.022.000• % of holidays in the Netherlands 9%• Number of overnight stays 62.184.000• Origin tourist in Overijssel 90%

Netherlands 10% foreign

• Employment (full- and partime) 20.000 people

Themes of environmental care

• Acidification• Eutrophication• Dehydration• Waste• Reduction

Consequences

• Farmers stop• Small villages die

Liveability of the country

Rating tourismof GNP• Agriculture 4%

• Transport 5% • Tourism 6%

Occupied area

• Agriculture 60%• Tourism 2-3%

Pleading for a minister of State for tourism

Environmental projects

• Stimulation instead of legislation• Improvement• Volunteering• Part of entrepreneurship

The environmental project in Overijssel (started in

1996)• Scan• Subsidy • Group meetings• Monitoring• Certification

(milieubarometer)

Themes:

• Energy• Water• Waste• Chemicals• Sustainable purchasing and

building• Wildlife and countryside

Theme Energy:

• Reduction (measurement)

• Efficiency• Renewable sources

Theme Water:

• Reduction (measurement)

• Sources (rain/pool water)• Efficiency (flow)

Theme Waste:

• Reduction (payment)

• Separation• Recycling

Theme Chemicals:• Disinfectants and detergents

(less damage to the environment) • Reduction

Theme Sustainable purchasing and building:

• Office equipment• Sustainable renovation• Sustainable building (new)

Theme Wildlife and countryside:• Native regional plantation• Green wall• Information to

the guests • Profit to flora

and fauna

Three stages in the environment project• Stage 1: Energy, water

and waste management

• Stage 2: Sustainable purchasing and sustainable building management

• Stage 3: Landscape management

Three stages in the environment project:

-5

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

stage 1 stage 2 stage 3

About landscape management• Recreation companies need 30%

more land• Expansion only when sustainable

• Milieubarometer • Environmental plan • Profit to flora and fauna

• More than 140 companies participate in environmental-plan projects

Environmental plan

Overviewparticipatorsenvironment projects 2002

2010

25

60

6025

35

15

5550

25

2

In totality almost 400 campsites, bungalow parks and group-accommodations in 11 provinces.

The Milieubarometer• Grow model: Bronze,

Silver and Gold• Milieukeur (the Gold

level is acknowledgedby the Dutch Competent Body)

• European standard(VISIT)

• 2002: over 200 MB

Expansion of Barometer target groups• Hotels (restaurants)• Small campsites (at the farm) • Day trip (attraction) parks

The Milieubarometer• Compulsory measures

• Environmental archive • Information to the guests • Measures of reducing energy, water and waste

• Optional measures• Renewable sources• Environmental plan• Education employees• Environmental activities for guests

Historical overview

220

190

110

60

15

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Overijssel 3 provinces 12 provinces 12 provinces 12 provinces

Milieubarometers, in bronze, silver and gold.

Overijssel

13

9

5

Gelderland

17

17

3

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Index numbers per overnight stay 1996 2002 • Water: 0,20 m3 0,10 m3

• Electricity: 4,50 kWh 3,00 kWh• Gas: 1,00 m3 0,60 m3

• Waste: 2,00 kg 1,50 kg

Motivation• To be the best• Profit • Sustainability is a part

of quality• Common • Subsidy / Support• Philosophy

Environment example companies

• Now: campsite De Papillon• New: outdoor park• Expected: bungalow park

Tourism as a solution ?

Only if:• More sustainable• Regulated• Improvement to flora

and fauna

With thanks to:

Sylvia van Itegem

Jan van Oene