Outcomes of the Sustainable Tourism Conference in Croatia
The three-day International Conference on Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism that took place in Opatija, organised by the CEETO project partners with the special involvement of the partner World Organization for Nature Protection WWF Adria, analysed the influence of tourism sector in decision-making, related to the management of protected areas. The Conference participants concluded that
"we are all guests of nature and we should behave accordingly"
however, this is something seldom happening and that we need put in place – if we want to preserve the beautiful nature that surrounds us, in protected areas and Natura 2000 sites, and to ensure local communities benefit from such coexistence with nature.
“The tourism sector should recognise all the values of a particular protected area and, as a partner, participate in tourism management and in monitoring of the impact of tourism activities, especially visitation of the area,” said Andrea Štefan from WWF Adria while presenting the results of group work sessions with almost 80 participants of this conference that came from eight countries.
Improving Tourism in Protected Areas
Conference participants concluded that one way to keep track of whether tourism activities are sustainable is the use of existing European quality labels and methodologies in which natural values need to be integrated. The tourism sector representatives should be partners in new major topics such as climate change, but also participate in creating and ensuring financial resources for protected areas.
“Protected areas should work with all stakeholders to achieve sustainability in their area. Stakeholders should also be allowed to participate in decision-making process which is impossible to achieve without support from the top level. This is the only way they can participate in the development of local economies, which is necessary for everyone“, concludes Štefan, adding that the goals of education and interpretation within protected areas can be achieved through the creation of tourist offers.
For that, it is fundamental that each protected area establishes a member of staff dedicated to tourism development, who knows how to establish and maintain a relationship with the local community. Building mutual trust takes time but the results can be very positive.
Presentations available for download:
22nd October
- Interreg CEETO – Tools for nature protection, by Monica Palazzini, Regione Emilia Romagna, CEETO project Lead partner
- Nature under pressure - ˝Loving it to death˝, by Igor Kreitmeyer, Ministry of Environment and Energy
- Sustainability and resilience of tourism in mountain areas. Experience and remarks in international mountain Conventions: the Alps and the Carpathians, by Diego Albanese, Federparchi
- UNESCO MAB Southeast Rügen cross-sectoral co-operation for the development of the region, by Olaf Ostermann, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
- How to link Tourism & Conservation – ideas and experience, by Peter Prokosch, Linking Tourism & Conservation
- Valle dei Cavalieri, Community Cooperative, by Oreste Torri, Valle dei Cavalieri Community Cooperative
- How to generate social and economic benefits in cooperation with the local community, Una National Park
23rd October
Workshop Session 1 - For policy and decision makers
Workshop Session 2 - For Protected Areas and Tourism Practitioners
24th October
- Supporting parks, protecting nature, promoting sustainability, bringing people together, by Carol Ritchie, EUROPARC Federation
- The re/buffing effects of tourism on landscape, by Saša Košuta, architect
- Conference closure, by Monica Palazzini, Regione Emilia Romagna, CEETO project Lead partner
