Archives
Tourism (NACE code 55.)
14/10/05
Parks in Quality Project: Stakeholder involvement has been identified as most relevant environmental aspect in protected natural areas
The “Parks in Quality” pilot project is financed through the Interreg initiative. A simple application of ISO 14001 or EMAS to parks' administrations has shown that the direct environmental aspects are normally not significant. People working in the park on a contractual basis have to be considered as indirect aspects, but the majority of pressure on the environment actually originates from all other activities in the Park.
The “Parks in Quality” model started the environmental analysis of the situation as a whole in order to really improve the environmental quality of a protected area. This analysis addresses all indirect aspects of the full range of activities in the park and the involvement of the stakeholders with whom the environmental policy and the environmental programme have to be agreed. In a next step, the project intends to test the implementation of EMAS in protected areas according to this model.
The project on protected natural areas was initiated in the Parco Nazionale del Circeo and the Parco Fluviale del Po, on the stretch of the river between Vercelli and Alessandria in the Piemonte Region (Italy). They were chosen because these parks are moderate in size, have well-established organisational structures, and because economic activities carried out in them are representative of those generally present in protected areas.
For more information about the INTERREG project “Parks in Quality” contact Lucia Naviglio or visit the project web site.
15/07/05
EMAS welcomes you to the sceanario de Lisboa
The oceanario de Lisboa is a giant public aquarium entirely dedicated to the oceans and their conservation. It was one of the key attractions at the Lisbon World Exposition of 1998 whose theme was The Oceans: A Heritage for the Future.
The centre aims to set an example to follow in environmental protection and will contribute towards the education of children in this area. The implementation of the quality and environmental management system started in January 2002, with the aim of satisfying the expectations of both customers and the community in which the aquarium is located. One of the milestones was obtaining the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications in 2003, the first awarded to a public aquarium in Europe. |
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But the route did not stop there. It became an irreversible and unstoppable process according to the organization. Thanks to the commitment of both management and staff, the oceanario has just become the first service company to obtain EMAS registration in continental Portugal. This achievement was celebrated in a ceremony where guests included the Portuguese Environment Secretary of State for the environment, Prof. Dr. Humberto Rosa, among other personalities.
EMAS is a key feature, rather than the endpoint, of the oceanario’s strategy to meet the growing expectations of clients, providers, partners and the environment. As the organisation puts it, “more than just a new concept, it is also a management philosophy for any organisation that wants to be credible and socially useful†.
For more information please visit http://www.oceanario.pt
15/07/05
TUI includes EMAS and ISO 14001 certificates when identifying Environmental Champions among their hotels
In 2004 German tour operator TUI AG introduced environmental management certificates into the market research questionnaire presented to TUI holidaymakers. While the guest still has the ability to express a personal rating for measures implemented by a TUI holiday hotel, both the environmental policy and the appointment of an environmental manager will now be eligible for points.
TUI has changed the assessment scheme for the first time to a more complex scoring system which, apart from the customer assessment, takes into account additional factors such as environmental certification according to ISO 14001 or EMAS, energy, water and waste management. The scheme operates in brochure descriptions of TUI Germany, TUI Switzerland and TUI Austria.
Ten hotels selected by TUI customers to be the best in terms of environmental friendliness receive the “TUI Environment Champion†award, which is indicated in the TUI brochures.
More information about the scoring system and the list of the current TUI Environmental Champions 2004/2005 can be found here (in German) and here (in English).
17/06/05
Parque Nacional del Teide searches for EMAS best practice
The Teide Nacional Park in Tenerife, home to Spain’s highest peak, the 3,718 meter high Pico del Teide, is searching for other national parks to exchange best practice on environmental management under EMAS. Biodiversity in Tenerife is among the top 15 for islands world-wide, but the park’s unique combination of alpine and maritime vegetation on volcanic ground suffers from erosion and from the impact of 4 million tourists in the park every year. Sharing best practice is seen as an important step in taking the environmental management forward.
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More information on EMAS in the Parque Nacional del Teide is available from Anabel Piñero, environmental manager of the Parque Nacional del Teide. |
17/06/05
International conference on tourism and environmental certifications and labels in Portugal
After having registered the first hotel under EMAS, Portugal will host
its first 2-day International conference on tourism and environmental
certifications and labels (ISO, EMAS and Eco-Labels).
In times of mass tourism, tour operators and hotel managers find it more and
more difficult to communicate their offer as an outstanding one. Environmentally
sound tourism offers an eye-catching approach.
The conference will identify and discuss the cost and benefits of EMAS, as
well as distinguish between the different standards. The conference is preliminary
scheduled for the 16-17th February 2006 in the Algarve.
More information is available from www.nordeconsult.com or Cláudia
Jesus Rydin.
17/05/05
Hotel professionals in Valencia (Spain) are offered free training to go for EMAS
The Valencia Autonomous Community is offering free training on environmental management in hotels to SMEs and independent professionals. Participants will acquire the necessary knowledge and tools to implement an environmental management system that can lead to an EMAS registration or certification in accordance with the ISO 14001 standard.
The course “Environmental Management in Hotels”is part of a wider initiative that aims to help SMEs and independent professionals capitalize the environmental aspects of their businesses in order to strengthen and improve their competitiveness. Other courses on offer deal with areas such as: environmental legislation, eco-efficiency, eco-design, waste management and environmental risk management. The programme is co-financed by the European Social Fund.
A detailed outline of the course is available here (in Spanish). For more information visit: www.campusambiental.com
14/03/05
EMAS: Environment and Tourism within the new Europe
This Meeting on Tourism was held 11th February 2005 at Bibione, San Michele al Tagliamento, near Venice. Representatives of several European countries attended the meeting in order to discuss new relationships that can and must be created to link tourism and respect for the environment.
As Mr Pino Lucchesi, Chairman of Italy EMAS Committee, pointed out "Bibione is one of the best examples of how important it is that local authorities become involved in promoting EMAS commitment. Both through direct self registration and by prompting those who are concerned to promote and register their care of the environment."
Mr Lucchesi reminded the delegates that Italy's EMAS Committee pledges itself to support and promote a strong cooperation within ANCI (the body that brings together smaller Italian local authorities), Upi (which groups the district local authorities), Agenda 21 (Organisation born after the Rio de Janeiro Summit in 1992) and other local bodies and institutions in this sector. Among those that shared and joined the programme are Provincia di Parma, Comune di Grosseto, Autorità Portuale di Livorno, Parco Delle Dolomiti Bellunesi and Riserva Marina di Miramare.
Mr Lucchesi underlined the possibility of easing EMAS procedures to obtain the registration without decreasing its importance and value. According to Mr Lucchesi it is a matter of making new registration and re-enrolment easier, including the registration of “Homogeneous Industrial Areas” or “Industrial Districts”.
José-Jorge Diaz del Castello, speaking on behalf of the Environment Directorate-General of the European Commission, thanked both San Michele local authorities and Italy's EMAS Committee. He noted that Bibione represents the type of leading role that local authorities can play towards other bodies that affect the territory. The European Community wants to continue doing close work with local authorities as they can contribute greatly to the quality of the environment .
Having reminded the audience of the worldwide interest in the environment and the important role that can be played by EMAS, Mr Diaz del Castello pointed out that the existing institutions have a remarkable and important role to play in involving all citizens that are interested in working to save the environment where they live.
14/03/05
Italian Bagno Santo Hotel joins the EMAS trend in tourism
The management of hotel Bagno Santo at Grosseto (Tuscany) has always seen its unique selling point as being its magnificent position within the town and nature of this very special part of Tuscany. To protect the natural environment and to make management even more sensitive to the needs of tourists, the hotel has completed EMAS registration, making it the second hotel in Italy, following the trend set in the tourism industry in Germany and Spain.
For more information on Bagno Santo Hotel visit its website.
13/01/05
Tourism has become the fourth most popular EMAS sector
Tourism, comprising hotels and restaurants, has become the fourth largest sector in EMAS, following the food and beverages sector, the chemical sector and the manufacturing of metal products. More than 190 tourism organisations have now joined EMAS. Within the sector, some see EMAS as rivalling national "eco-label-like" award schemes, but only EMAS hotels commit to continual improvement of their environmental performance.
Hotel chains which apply EMAS include: Sol Melià, Garden Hotels, Occidental Hotels, Elitor, Iberostar, Acorn and the Spanish Paradores de Tourismo.
05/09/04
Maltese Hotels forming platform to start implementing Eco-Management and Auditing System
The Malta Tourism Authority's Product Planning and Development Directorate has developed a plan as part of its Eco-certification scheme to assist hotels which implement EMAS (Eco- Management and Auditing System). To this end, a number of representatives of hotels participating in the scheme recently attended a training program in Majorca designed to assist them in starting implementing EMAS. The representatives originate from: Hilton Malta, Crowne Plaza, Corinthia San Gorg, New Dolmen Hotel, Grand Hotel Mercure, Costa Corallia Selmun Palace and the Barcelo Riviera Resort. |
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Accommodation and training facilities were provided by the Green Garden Hotel in Cala Ratjada, Majorca, part of the Spanish chain ‘Garden Hotels', which is represented locally by the Garden Ramla Bay Hotel. The Green Garden Hotel implemented EMAS more than three years ago.
The local hotels will develop their environmental management system through different stages of the plan and, amongst other things, will be required to conduct an internal environmental audit.The MTA will assist these hotels through support and training programs.
" We are satisfied that our hard work to spread environmental consciousness amongst our hotels over the past year since the introduction of Eco-Certification is seeing fruitful results. The interest in Eco-Certification from hotel management and the Eco-Coordinators is driving them to develop their environmental management systems to levels praised by environmentally conscious countries, such as those in the European Union," said Product Planning and Development Director Mr. Mario J. Attard.
More information on the Eco-certification scheme and EMAS development in Maltese hotels may be obtained from tel. no: ++356 22915 801 or email: nicholas.crockford@visitmalta.com
13/12/04
The WWF-Miramare Natural Marine Reserve comes of age and celebrates with EMAS certification
The year 2004 will be remembered as a very important period for the Miramare Natural Marine Reserve ( Trieste , Italy ) and for its Management Body, WWF Italy Onlus.
The first Italian marine reserve, established by the Ministry of Environment in 1986, celebrated its 18 th year in operation with the EMAS registration, thus becoming the first European marine protected area to be certified.
Hard and stimulating work was necessary for fitting the EMAS requirements to a specific and particular site as the 120 hectares of marine protected area, lying beneath the castle of Miramare .
The definition of work flows for all management activities, the identification of environmental impacts and aspects and their relevant extend have rationalised operational steps, thus providing compliance with environmental norms and procedures as well as with a strict and effective management of the Marine Reserve itself.
The process has identified environmental performance indicators by testing and adjusting those used in assessing the effectiveness of measures to safeguard biodiversity and actions to evaluate the carrying capacity of the protected area.
Among the 8 environmental targets are: Preservation of rare species like the brown algae and the Pinna nobilis mollusc; ecological conservation of the municipalities in the Gulf of Trieste ; and reduction of submarine noise.
Gaetano Benedetto of WWF Italia, which runs the reserve, pointed out the importance of having the ecological and economical activities of the Miramare Natural Reserve verified by independent authorities.
For more information on the WWF - Riserva Naturale Marina di Miramare contact
info@riservamarinamiramare.it or visit http://www.riservamarinamiramare.it/riserva/emas.htm .
16/11/04
Terceira Mar Hotel ( Azores ) - first Portuguese Hotel to receive EMAS registration
On the islands of the Azores (not Madeira , as has been recently stated in last month's update), Hotéis, Turismo e Animação dos Açores S.A. has completed the implementation of EMAS in their Terceira Mar Hotel, after verification by UK verification organisation SGS.
In this context, the Terceira Mar Hotel invested in various equipment that allows high quality services using all resources in a rational and environmentally friendly way. This included refrigerated room for organic waste, a watering hole to use rain run-off for gardening water and central technical management to monitor and control energy consumption.
The Terceira Mar Hotel, a four star unit of the Group Bensaude Turismo, opened in May 2003 and is located in Fanal Bay beneath Mount Brasil (Environmentally Protected Landscape considered World Heritage by UNESCO), near the city of Angra do Heroísmo.
15/07/04
Maltese Tourism depends on local authorities’ environmental commitment
Mr. Galea concluded his address stating “environmental audit and certification is of paramount importance to the credibility and performance of service providers. Tourism is a case in point. With one third of our economy depending entirely upon the provision of tourism services, Malta has to keep abreast of European and worldwide standards thus ensuring that it is on a level playing field when competing with others in the attraction of potential tourists. The creation of awareness to the acquisition of standards, coupled with the assurance of an optimal delivery of service can ultimately lead to our aim of an overall competitiveness. These are today’s requirements – no one can afford to be left behind.”
Domestic authorities participating in June 22nd/23rd seminar included the Water Services Corporation, the Malta Environmental and Planning Agency (MEPA), Waste Service, the Malta Tourism Authority, Malta Enterprise and the Department of Local Government.
Mayors and representatives of Local Councils present included Naxxar, Qrendi, Victoria, Gozo, Pieta’, Marsa, Lija, Tarxien, Mellieha, Marsascala, Msida, Gharghur, Saint Julian’s, Fgura, Kirkop, Santa Venera, Xaghra and Senglea.
© Copyright 2004 - MaltaMedia Online Network, Ruth Davies
17/07/02
Paradores de Turismo: No 1 in tourism
State owned Paradores de Turismo in Spain, has just become the European
hotel chain with the highest number of EMAS registered hotels. Facing
increasing demand from tourists and responding to the philosophy of
the Paradores - most of which are located on cultural or historical
sites - the chain decided to implement an environmental management
system in 42 of its 86 hotels. The remaining ones are expected to
join the scheme very soon. 19.5 million euro were invested in waste
management (reduction and separation), waste water treatment (purification
and reuse), energy efficiency (cogeneration and use of bio energy)
and automatisation of systems (mainly detectors for heating and lighting).
Registered hotels have installed energy and water efficient laundry
services and are now using environmentally friendly cleaning products
and recycled paper. A training plan was set up for more than 2,000
employees, who attended a total of 300 courses. On the way to the
final result, the environmental statement, a complex documentation
system was established and a series of best practice and guidance
documents were drafted.
More information on www.parador.es
27/03/02
Inter-Regional Workshop on EMAS in Tourist Destinations and Attractions
ECOSERT is a European project under the RECITE II programme that pulls together three partner regions in the UK, in Italy and in Greece for the development of sustainable development through tourism. The project methodology is applying EMAS to key demonstration projects in each of the three partner regions.
The application of EMAS to particular tourist attractions and destinations, covering specific sites for conservation, restoration, promotion of cultural heritage and accessibility to tourists, is an innovative feature of the ECOSERT project. Guidelines have been prepared on how to measure and achieve the environmental sustainability of the pilot projects being implemented within the partner regions.
The overall aim of the Workshop will be to engage discussion and gather the opinion of participants on the merits of the approach, methodology and principal components of the EMAS guidelines and their application to the demonstration projects.
Monday 15 April 2002
Labein Centro de Investigacion Tecnologica,
Bilbao, Spain
For more information please visit the ECOSERT
website