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Tourism and environment - the current situation

Peter ZIMMER - Futour Chairman, Munich, Germany

 

About 20 years ago, the tourist specialist and critic Jost Krippendorf and the futurologist Robert Jungk expressed the desire for "moderate tourism".

Today the travel industry claims to be "green" and possess an ecological conscience. Is this change real or merely a publicity stunt? What is really involved and where can the changes be found ?

In the 1980's we were dramatically made aware of the limitations of industrial growth with one ecological disaster following on from another.

Acid rainfalls, the dioxin scandal, poison in baby food and the accident of the Ukrainian nuclear power station of Chernobyl have sharpened consumer ecological awareness. What was previously accepted is now subject to critical scrutiny. If according to a survey in 1980 the environment was only placed a modest 9th in the list of concerns of the German citizens, in 1988, ecology was ranked second after unemployment. 52 % of households in federal Germany (FRG) declared themselves to be suddenly conscious of their ecological responsibilities.

Furthermore, one out of two Germans believed that the environmental issue was the greatest challenge of the future.

Ecological awareness reached a peak at the end of the 1980's. Since then as the years pass the issue has become less topical and less important to the consumer. Discussion concerning ecological problems has experienced a considerable turnaround during the last two decades. At the end of the 1980's and at the beginning of the 1990's, in Central Europe a large ecology movement was observed. Today ecology is on the decline with no public pressure to defend it and hedonism is once again back on the agenda. Whilst crying "Long live ecology !" we travel more often and further than ever. Economic problems, the increase in crime rates and the European Union dominate public debate. Moreover, fewer and fewer people believe the environment to be threatened, an idea which is completely out of touch with reality.

In the 1980's, criticism of tourism was listened to and one was able to talk about the damages and problems that the uncontrolled proliferation of tourism generated then and generates still. This was the decade when the responsibilities and structures of the tourist industry were discussed openly and rigorously. The work group "For a correctly understood tourism", founded in 1986, submitted themes for discussion each year to the tourist congress in Berlin. The travel industry was faced with even greater pressure. Ecologists continually criticised the cost of tourist development, namely the abuse endured by whole regions, the contempt for and the social and cultural impoverisation of local populations for the sake of the tourist season, known as "the prettiest weeks in the year".

Klaus Betz, journalist and fellow critic of the ecology movement, observed that :

"Towards 1991/92, thinking in the tourist industry changed radically, at least in appearances. Tour operators had apparently understood how to manipulate ecological criticism by cutting the ground from under the feet of their critics and by taking up the ecological banner themselves. The critical group "For a correctly understood tourism" broke up in 1992 after the tourist industry had in one fell swoop regained its place and beaten them at their own game."

So, what did all this amount to ? A simple prestigious brochure talking about the Air Transport Environment Task Force created in a rush, for example ? No, it's not quite that bad. I myself was member of this critical group and I created a consultancy company for environmental, tourist and regional development issues, called FUTOUR, which now has more than 18 colleagues working in 3 offices. We have been working for 10 years on the basis of a global and sustainable tourism, and on highly tangible and feasible projects. I follow all the trials and achievements in the tourist industry and we have ourselves launched or partnered some of the projects.

Of course, the emphasis is no longer placed on the same areas. Whilst during the "green phase" the emphasis was on the possibilities of economising water use in toilets, now at the end of the 1990's, we want the time spent on the toilet to be enjoyable. We are living through a period of quality and exhibitionism. The ecology point of view has nevertheless found its mark and its famous recycling symbol is not the only one to triumph the world over.

The ecology in tourism theme is no longer the exclusive domain of a few critics and has long been an integrated part of the tourism quality offer. However few service organisations have truly applied these principles, with only pioneers practising sustainable protection of the environment in a visible way.

At all corporate levels, the "environment" factor is a considerable marketing argument, both for their image and for customer communication. Action taken by managers vary from participating in ecology competitions or special ecology activities on a corporate level, to the carrying out of ecological audits and the creation of information networks on the 'Tourism and environment" theme. To illustrate these projects, here are a few examples taken from tourist regions (sites), organisations of tourism, accommodation, tour operators and transport.

Information	The SSR-Reisen catalogue
Activities	The Lernidee-Reisen tree plantations
Environment department	TUI
Audits	Studiosus, Hotel Bartholomä
Quality labels	Tyrolean ecological label
Competitions	Ecological hotels in Bavaria,Tourism for Tomorrow Award
Prizes	DRV, Europäische Reiseversicherung
Networks	ECOTRANS, NETS
Foundations	AlpenRock House

 

Accommodation

The hotel and restaurant industries are among the most important service providers within the tourist industry. Customer satisfaction on an organised trip, for example, depends entirely on the quality of the facilities and the services of these companies. For more than 10 years now, environmental concerns are increasingly taken into account. In spite of several attempts in this direction, only a few establishments have succeeded in combining quality assurance with ecological commitment. The example of the Bavarian green hotels and restaurants is proof of this : several partners have collectively drawn up ambitious criteria that only approximately 10 % of them can respect.

Bavarian green hotels and restaurants

Bavaria, since 1991

Conception/Partners/Costs

• Conceived by the Bavarian State government and headed by the minister of the environment, in collaboration with the partners
• Association of Bavarian hotels and restaurants, BTV (Bavarian association of tourism), working group of the Bavarian Chamber of commerce and industry
• Provisional costs covered by the minister of the environment with the cost of the competition since 93/94 being covered by all partners

Criteria

• Highly detailed and comprehensive: reduction/recycling/disposal of waste, water and energy economies, supplies/construction/development of open air installations, transport/traffic, communication of information to staff and customers

Candidates/appraisal procedure/monitoring

• Duration of the distinction : 3 years
• Ongoing appraisal with inspections and points system
• On site monitoring of all award winners by authorised inspectors

Impact

• Competition entrants 1993/94 : approximately 1,000
• Award winners in 1993/94 : approximately 100 gold and silver medallists (500 awards)
• Award winners in 1997 : 104 gold and silver medallists
• Publication: prizes handed out during a ceremony, official list, diplomas, the handing out of a "green vest" and from 1997 a "green label "
• Many establishments now have a more ecological and more economic system of management

Comments : the competition was modified in 1997

Other examples :

• Our trade is ecological, North RhineWestphalia

Tyrol-South Tyrol Ecological Quality Label

The outstanding example of the Tyrolean ecological label shows how an ecological label whose primary aim was the promotion of tourism, became the basis for a ecological quality label shared with another region, namely South Tyrol. The lesson to be learnt is that it is the criteria, which makes a label worthwhile! Another important criterion for the appraisal of an ecological label lies in its evolution. Continued evolution due to acquired experience is just as important as the integration of new ideas.

In Tyrol since 1994, in South Tyrol since 1995

Conception/Partners/Costs

• Decision of the Tyrol state government
• Designed by a work group representing the various domains concerned, assembled especially for the occasion,
• Concept taken up by the agency promoting tourism in South Tyrol in 1994
• Tyrol : Chamber of commerce and of agriculture, association of owners of private rental accommodation ; South Tyrol : promotion of tourism of South Tyrol, union of South Tyrol hotels and restaurants
• Reimbursement of participation expenses for successful establishments : approximately 700 DM for hotels and restaurants; with 200 DM for owners of private rental accommodation ; with half of these amounts being reimbursed the following year

Criteria

• New or modified criteria, 1997-1999: local produce/co-operation with agricultural partners, waste, water and sewage, energy, air, land, traffic, noise, communication of information to staff and customers

Candidates/appraisal procedure/monitoring

• Duration of the distinction : 1 year
• Appraisal by trained and independent inspectors

Impact

• Up to November 1997 the number of award winners : 37
• Festivities, decided by the governments of both regions
• Publication of results via the prospectus "Travelling with nature" in Tyrol and in South Tyrol, local brochures as well as the electronic information system (TIS), publishing the successful establishments on the Internet
• Evolution of the range of products
• Commercialisation of regional products by co-operation with the operation's agricultural partners
• Marketing concept awarded international prices

Comments : The concept and the criteria of the Tyrol/South Tyrol ecological label have inspired among others, the Austrian ecological label (from 1997)

Other labels :

• "Alcudía - Municipio Ecoturístico", Spain : both a label and a model
• Ecological label of Kleinwalsertal ("Silberdistel")
• Grecotel

Special gastronomy

The AlpenRock House group's action "Save the Mountains" is an example of a company's individual commitment. This group's foundation supports sustainable development in mountain regions.

The "Save the Mountains" foundation of the AlpenRock House group contributes to the sustainable development of alpine areas with concrete ecological projects, which enable a small amount of money to be removed from the plains and to be used in depressed mountain regions. For each brochure purchased, 2 Swiss francs are given to the foundation. You can support the projects and the Save the Mountains cause by sending other donations. Thank you for your ecological commitment.
Save The Mountains - foundation of the AlpenRock House group
Bahnhofsplatz 9, BP 6139
CH-B023 Zürich
Tel. 01-2120527, Fax 01-21244 02
www.alpenrock-house.com/stm.html

The activities of the AlpenRock House group are international. Whistler Mountain, in Canada, is a new strategic base for the company's action.

Tourist regions and sites

Ecological commitment has become a considerable marketing instrument, especially for localities and regions. The appearance of several partners is often another sign of quality. The most important prerequisite is the existence of an organisational model for localities, regions or tourism, drawn up by a round table with the population's participation. Representative of tourist development the model has also become a tool used in destination management. Competitions such as "German ecological holiday destinations" or projects like "Ecological audit for tourist communes" also contribute to the ecological organisation of tourist sites.

Ecological audit of a tourist site - Uhldingen-Mühlhofen (Lake Constance)

• Defining a tourist commune
• The tourist commune as player in policy defending the environment
• Various services organisations are involved in the "sustainable tourism" product

Tour-operators

The process of consolidation, which has effected the travel industry over the last few years, has resulted in the appearance of "global operators". For the image they portray to the outside world, these giant groups should take action in environmental issues. Such projects create a climate of confidence and appease consumer conscience. However it is impossible to evaluate the quality and efficiency of such commitment.

Concerted effort by a company leaves a positive impression but with groups of this size it is more difficult to see how their efforts have been converted into action. The example of the TUI shows how the biggest tour operator in Europe embraces issues concerning the environment and sustainability. The TUI's principles and policy can be seen in the recommendations it makes to its clients. This initiative is above all exemplary, as it encourages other sectors to take the protection of the environment seriously.

The TUI example

The 8th fundamental principle of the TUI

"We are committed to defending the environment"

Keeping our nature and environment intact is particularly important to us. It enables us to conserve our natural resources and the future of our company. Each sector of our company has a responsibility towards the environment. Each member of staff is invited to think of new ideas, as the protection of nature is first and foremost an individual affair. The ecological nature of our products is one of our quality criteria. In Germany and abroad, our reputation in terms of defending the environment has already been made. It is our ongoing obligation to maintain our ecological credibility.

"To defend the environment efficiently, we must combine forces !"

The TUI's environment network the TUN, mobilises thousands of TUI staff, contracted partners, environmental specialists, tourist agencies, unions and international associations for the defence of nature, who draft reports and work towards common solutions designed to protect the environment and to improve the quality of the tourist offer.

The knowledge emanating from the TUI's environment operation is presented to tourist managers during local or regional conferences or seminars. These results are also addressed to regional or national government authorities as well as to international organisations, presented in the form of "recommendations".

The joint short-term objective of the TUI environment network partners is the reduction of pollution in the TUI hotels, by using simple measures, such as improving the ecological yield (consumption of energy, water and surface area, etc.).

The long-term objective, with sustainable development in mind, is to encourage preventative work, such as avoiding pollution thanks to the rigorous management of ecological problems by the TUI.

 

Period	Ecological objectives	Measures	Economic objectives
Short term	Reducing pollution	Information/advice Programming Hotel management	Improved quality Optimised product Increased earnings
Medium term (up to 2015)	Preserving the environment Preventing pollution/protecting the biodiversity	Standards and ecological labels Information system/ecological quality standards	Reducing risk and hazards Management of innovations Increased profits
Long term (up to 2050)	Preserving nature Preventing pollution Sustainable development	Ecological monitoring Ecological products Ecological assessment	Secured future Increased profits Sustainable development

Pioneer of environment management
The first ecological audit of a tour operator

The increasing importance of the defence of nature by companies and the management of the environment is undoubted. The European decree concerning ecological audits, which came into force in 1995, was initially limited to industrial companies and did not directly concern the service sector. Certification was consequently impossible to obtain. However, some airlines, hotels and tour operators, together with certain service sectors, such as banking and insurance were able to achieve the introduction of this "optional system of ecological management and corporate monitoring" into tourism. Among these pioneers of the tourist industry is Studiosus Reisen München.

By using this ecological audit under the European decree (EMAS), Studiosus was not only aiming to continually improve its offers from an ecological point of view, but also wanted to assess how social responsibility could be converted into action. The following is an extract from the model :

" All Studiosus' products and services must not only comply with highly demanding quality criteria. They must also be ecologically correct and characterised by social responsibility. "

FUTOUR assisted Studiosus in carrying out these ambitious objectives. For the requirements demanded by the audit, a series of new instruments was created for Studiosus, special commissions were set up and a large range of work and measures were commenced. The stages of the operation were the following :

• Defining an ecological policy
• Carrying out an ecological inspection
• Defining objectives
• Drawing up an ecological programme
• Formulating an ecological management system
• Drafting a report

The audit team consisting of senior management, heads of department, environmental managers and FUTOUR, had an influence at all company levels. Studiosus decided the audit should integrate not only products and office premises but also the social consequences resulting from the trips. This willingness is also reflected in the company's ecological policy.

Then it was time take stock of the situation: the Studiosus premises had to be fully inspected in terms of waste, energy, detergents, office and marketing material. The trips proposed were looked into thoroughly in order to check their social and ecological impact relative to the transport used, the accommodation, the food, the programme and itinerary of the trips, the guides and the communication. We were then able to define objectives and draw up a tailor-made social and ecological programme. The audit team allocated the various responsibilities, drew up a schedule and established deadlines.

It was only then that we were able to install the ecological management system. This notably included a flow chart, work directives and job descriptions, etc. This initially meant loosening up an apparently "rigid" system, motivating the staff and aiming to achieve ongoing improvements. An ecological policy report then gathered together all the data and relevant activities whilst at the same time encouraging dialogue with the general public.

Since then, Studiosus has been awarded the Munich award for the environment for being the first certified tour operator. 

SSR-Travel 

SSR-Reisen, the Swiss travel agency for young people is known in Europe for having a particularly ambitious policy in terms of the environment. In their biannual magazine "Travel and the environment", they informed their customers that a return flight from Zurich to Bangkok resulted in an energy consumption of 37,850 megajoules per person, which amounts to the annual electricity consumption of a 4-person family, whilst a train journey to Tuscany only consumes 990 MJ. The ecological journeys only represent 1 % of the total turnover.

Transport companies

Companies offering transport services, either by train, bus or plane, are continually accused by the public of causing pollution. Rail transport is a different matter. In terms of mass transport it has an "ecological" reputation and its responsibility in the destruction of landscapes is only called into question over new projects such as the ICE or the Transrapid, as the rail network has partially existed for more than one hundred years. Bus transport is only a drop in the ocean of discussions concerning vehicle emissions.

On the other hand, the increasingly important role of air transport fuels the debate on emissions and on the hole in the ozone layer. This is why airlines find themselves at the heart of public criticism. The LTU example shows what considerations and what measures are required to face up to these criticisms. The LTU has applied an environmental model with concrete measures concerning customers as well as staff. Tight collaboration with scientific institutes shows the companies desire to reduce pollution using innovative techniques.

LTU (www.ltu.de)

The LTU model environment

"We are aware of the risks resulting from the increase in tourism from an economic, ecological and cultural point of view. As part of our ambitious objectives, we have a responsible and constructive attitude towards the society in which we live and are part of. Action carried out by our company will be based on this principle whenever possible and useful. We are committed to helping the needs of the destination countries.
We highly encourage social and ecological awareness in our staff. We support constructive propositions which comply with this objective and the defence of the environment."

Protecting the environment before the flight

In order to make the shuttle buses used by air transport the most ecological possible, the LTU has launched the following initiatives :

• Co-operation with the public transport companies Rhein/Ruhr and Rhein/Sieg : Each LTU ticket is equally valid for transport on the Rhein/Ruhr and Rhein/Sieg network, during the 24 hours preceding departure and following arrival. As more than 50% of LTU passengers live in the North Rhine-Westphalia region, this offer encourages a large number of passengers to leave their cars at home.
• LTU Sky Shuttle Frankfurt-Dusseldorf/Dusseldorf-Frankfurt bus : By paying 30 DM, our passengers can benefit from a connecting bus on long distance flights departing from Dusseldorf. Our passengers are therefore able to get to Dusseldorf airport from the densely populated Rhein-Main zone, without taking their car.
• Rail & Fly : For a price ranging from 79 to 99 DM, LTU passengers can buy a return train ticket to all airports with LTU departures.

Émissions, bruit & Co

• Air traffic : Modern fleet, low consumption of kerosene, low noise pollution
• Catering : Sorting of waste aboard, reusable cutlery and trays, recycling of paper, glass and of white metals (tin cans)
• Technical domain : Sorting of waste to improve the level of recycled matter, continued reduction in the volume of waste

Flight and Environment

All transport of people and goods has an impact on the environment. Transport takes up space, uses raw materials and provokes noise and exhaust fumes. It is true that the pollution caused by air transport is particularly important in relation to the number of people transported.This is especially true of the emissions that air traffic dispels into the atmosphere.

What emissions are due to aeroplane engines ?

Airlines, manufacturers of aeroplanes and engines are working towards reducing the average consumption of kerosene and specific emissions by implementing new technologies. Whilst world air traffic has increased on average by 5 % each year over the last decade, the global consumption of kerosene has only increased by 3 % per year.

A multitude of research projects

• Max-Planck-Institute at Mayence
• Institute of research on troposphere at Leipzig
• Institute of meteorology and climatic research at Karlsruhe

gather together the data which will be the basis of a sustainable development of air traffic. Ecology does not go on holiday : is the LTU "ecological bag" slogan. On all LTU flights for the Maldives, passengers are given an ecological bag in which they are asked to put all their waste during their stay on the Maldive Islands and to bring it back to the airport for their return flight. When booking in, LTU staff collect the bags and sort them. The bags are then placed in special containers on LTU aeroplanes and taken to Germany where they are processed.

Another LTU ecological project that is closely connected to the ecological bag operation, is called Clean up the Maldives. In collaboration with the diving association, PADI, divers once a year clean up the reefs of the Maldive hotel islands. Once again, the collected waste is transported to Germany aboard LTU aeroplanes to be processed.

The German company has for years published reports on the environment. The Lufthansa Technik AG was the first company in the industry to be certified under the European decree on ecological audits. As part of this audit Lufthansa published an ecological report for Hamburg and Frankfurt, listing the effects of its activities upon the environment. The conditions for certification include an ecological management system corresponding to European standards and the definition of ecological objectives on a short or medium term. Lufthansa declared : "The preservation of the environment and its resources is naturally one of the responsibilities of our company. For a long time now we have been using our technical superiority to progress in this area".

In 1997, for the first time fuel consumption in passenger transport was under the magical level of 5 litres for 100 passenger kilometres (PKM), Lufthansa achieved its objective to improve this figure by 0.1 litre per year. On Passage Airline, CityLine and Condor fleets, specific consumption has been reduced by a total of 0.2 litre, to give an average of 4.9 litres for 100 PKM. A proportionally higher increase in transport capacity (+12,3 %) has at the same time led to a 9 % increase in absolute consumption.

Goods transport has also experienced similar development, with transport capacity increasing by 3.4 %, whilst fuel consumption has only increased by 1 %.

There is also good news concerning noise reduction : the Boeing 737-000 fleet has been replaced by new Airbus A319's, whose acoustic levels are 90 % lower. The Lufthansa fleet, which is one of the most recent in the world, currently complies with the strictest acoustic standards. The modernisation of the fleet has also had a positive impact on emissions: since 1991, specific emissions of carbon dioxide have been reduced by 43 % and that of hydrocarbon residues by 63 %.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG - Ecological Balance Report 1998/99

The annual ecological report "Balance" talks about all company sectors in terms of tolerance and ecological activities.

Contents

2 At a glance 3 Ecological policy guidelines 6 Introduction 7 Lufthansa, the company magazine 8 Mobility and infrastructure 9 It isall to do with hubs 12 Rudolf Mönch and the work carried out by Frankfurt's anti-noise commission 14 The train, aeroplane and road become partners 18 A procedure for complicated situations 20 Opinion - Jürgen Trittin and Jürgen Weber 22 Aurora boreal 24 SLD - a box speeds up the transport of microchips 28 Repairing rather than throwing away, to economise resources and reduce waste 30 Biological potatoes, happy geese and an unusual partnership 34 Ecological projects in the Near East 37 Lufthansa and research 40 Postface Facts and figures 41 Insight 42 Passenger fleets 45 Lufthansa Passage Airline 48 Condor 51 Lufthansa CityLine 53 Lufthansa Cargo 57 Lufthansa Flight Training 58 Lufthansa Technique 61 LSG Lufthansa Service/SKYChefs 64 Lufthansa Systems 66 Background and organisation of the defence of the environment at Lufthansa 68 Promoting ecology 69 Overall view : staff and ecology 72 Environment-ABC 75 Notes

NETS - Network for Soft Mobility in European Tourism

NETS - the "Network for Soft Mobility in European Tourism" brings together for the first time partners from tourist, transport and environmental organisations. One of the objectives of NETS is to develop a "Car free tourist destinations" offer. Tour operators, tourist sites and companies are working together to offer the public mobility which is not damaging to the environment.

The network is aimed at tourist sites and regions which consider soft mobility to be a quality criterion for sustainable tourist development. Soft mobility must take the form of model proj-ects, with appropriate measures, or tourist offers which already exist.

The network's strong points are :

• Transnational collaboration
• Economic advantages for those taking part
• Lobbying and public relations
• Lobbying for soft mobility as a criterion of quality
• Co-operation and exchange of experiences
• "Car free tourist package" marketing service

Activities to date :

• Edition of the NETS web page www.soft-mobility.com
• Organisation of the "European Forum for Soft Mobility" in December 1998 in Bad Hof-gastein
• Co-operation workshop at the ITB in Berlin 99
• Public relations work with presentations and information brochures at various conferences
• Network of contacts

Founder members

• GAST, IAKF, IG Sanfte Mobilität, ÖAR-Regionalberatung, FUTOUR, Trafico-Verkehrsplanung
  • Contract signed in November 1999 in Saas-Fee
  • The network is currently looking for new members and is defining new projects

Organisation of tourism

In environmental terms, a very special role is played by the tourist confederation. It is in the privileged position of being able to give their members certain directives and recommenda-tions. A good example is the German Federation of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (DRV), whose organisational principles not only adhere to this theme but, with its interna-tional ecological projects competition, also conveys the idea of sustainable tourism, which respects the environment. Publications concerning environmentalfriendly measures also help to encourage adherents in their activities.

German Federation of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (www.drv.de)

Declaration of the DRV's commission for environment and culture (extract)

The German Federation of Travel Agents and Tour Operators supports the creation and preservation of the environment and cultural diversity in tourism in order to guarantee the industry's economic foundations (taken from the DRV's 12 working principles).

The work principles of the environment and culture commission

1. Life and human activity rely on land, water, air, plant and animal wildlife. These resources must be preserved through the active management of the environment. The diversity of plant and animal wildlife must be maintained.
2. Interference to the ecological cycle by tourist activity must be kept toa minimum. In all cases of tourism, wastage of energy, raw materials and foodstuffs must be avoided, as must the pollution of water, land and air.
3. A region's specific features are derived from its inhabitants and their culture. Tourist activ-ity must take into account the spiritual and material heritage of the host country and respect them as much as possible.
4. Globally, tourism must allow the sustainable development of destinations to be achieved. The efficient functioning of our ecosystem is not only essential for man's survival but also for the biodiversity of the whole planet.

Development is sustainable when it "meets present day requirements without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own requirements" (Brundtland-Report 1987)

Objectives of the DRV's environment and culture commission

1. Assisting tour operators and travel agencies in their attempts toeconomise and preserve natural resources in tourist regions and to contribute to their maintenance or their regeneration.
2. Enabling travel agencies and tour operators to adopt ecological methods by providing tar-geted assistance.
3. Establishing international co-operation in order to encourage development and the con-tinuation of measures and methods iming at defending the environment and preserving the cultural heritage. Defending tourist development that respects the environment and the social context in tourist regions.
4. Asking tourists to behave sympathetically to the natural and cultural heritage of the country visited thus contributing to the preservation of resources and livelihoods.

Activities of the DRV's environment and culture commission

1. Reducing pollution - by developing and encouraging ecological concepts for travel agen-cies and tour operators, on a commercial and administrative level, (a) by informing and train-ing employees of DRV member companies, (b) by encouraging co-operation at the heart of the industry, so that knowledge circulates as efficiently as possible.
2. Political representations - (a) by taking part in the commissions involved (tourist sites and associations, ministries, European Union), (b) by being associated with the formulation and application of tourist legislation, (c) by providing financial and intellectual aid to projects.
3. Informing tourists - Explanations and information must incite tourists to protect the natu-ral and cultural heritage and must increase awareness of the value and beauty of nature. We propose (a) that informative brochures are given to travellers, (b) that guides are given train-ing about environmental matters so that they can convey their knowledge to tourists and to partners in tourist regions, (c) the elaboration of appraisal criteria, categories and signs show-ing the ecological situation of both hotel facilities and tourist regions.
4. Exercising a direct influence on tourist regions - by exchanging ideas between German tour operators and on-site partners, notably hotels, travel agencies and coach companies and through contact with regional and supra-regional decision-makers as well as tourist and envi-ronment ministers of countries used to playing host to a large numbers of German tourists.

DRV environment brochures

• DRV international environment prize
• 10 years of DRV international environmental prize, jubilee brochure
• DRV ecological recommendations for tourist installations, travel agencies and tour op-erators
• DRV ecological recommendations for tourist regions
• Travelling ecologically, preserving nature
• Ecological manufacture and disposal of catalogues and other written material from the tourist industry

DRV's environment prize

Award winners :

1987 Ecological associations for safeguarding the Tara gorges, Montenegro, Yugoslavia
1988 Bern Oberland tourist association for its "A summer of trees" campaign
1989 Annapurna Conservation Project (ACAP), project development in Nepal
1990 Grup Balear d'Ornithologia i Defensa (GOB), a Balearic group for the defence of the environment
1991 Tourist shops in the Uhldingen-Mühlhofen commune on Lake Constance for its many ecological measures
1992 Hotel Kürschner, the ecological hotel, Kötschach-Mauthen special prize: ATT-Reisen for its ecological
action on Turkish coasts
1993 Mari Daskalantonakis and team, Maria Valerga and Judy Smith- Spala of the Grecotels, Crete, Greece
1994 Tyrol Publicity for its ecological Tyrol label
1995 Alfred Mandl, ALSATOUR, Îles du Cap-Vert, for the "Integrated tourism - it is possible" project
1996 Shamwari Game Reserves, South Africa
1997 CORPOMEDINA for promoting ecological tourism in Venezuela
1998 President Gayoom´s Environmental Awareness and Conservation Initiative, Maldives Green Magic Nature Resort - Kerala, India

The jury :

Martin Buese, GeBeCo, Kiel ; Theodor Geus, FAZ, Frankfurt ; Dr. Jochen Martin, Messe Belin GmbH, Berlin ; Prof. Dr. Albrecht Steinecke, Paderborn University, Paderborn ; Prof. Dr. Andreas Troge, Federal environment Office, Berlin

Competition 

TO DO! 99 Competition- Socially responsible tourism

 

Competitions are designed to seek out positive examples and to encourage and commercialise them. As well as competitions such as "Ecological Bavarian hotels and restaurants" or "Tourism for Tomorrow Award", there is also a competition emphasising social responsibility.

• 1. The future of tourism will largely depend on the socially responsible character that it will have in relation to the region's population. In the same vein, the international tourism 2000 conference in Berlin will take place, providing the fifth invitation to participate in the international TO DO competition, for socially responsible tourism.

  2. Projects on tourism may be entered. Their preparation and implementation must take into account the concerns and needs of the local populations (notably de-rived from the population's involvement and thorough research for ideas and a public relations campaign).

  3. Projects must also take into account the following :

  • Encouraging local population awareness of the hazards and risks involved in the development of tourism upon their daily lives, from an economic, social and cultural point of view
  • Making sure that as much of the local population as possible benefit from the positive effects of tourism economically, socially and culturally
  • Guaranteeing the appeal of tourist sites for the population with improvements to working conditions relating to remuneration, social protection and work hours as well as ongoing training
  • Enhancing the local culture and identity of the people living in the tourist regions
  • Avoiding or minimising social and cultural damage caused by tourism in the tourist regions
  • Opening up new avenues for co-operation between the outside tourist industry and the local population
  • Creating conditions favourable to socially responsible tourist development in the tourist regions

  The projects / measures entered for the competition must comply with the principles relating to the respect of the environment.

  4. Projects / measures relating to industrialised countries or,developing countries may be entered by :

  • public institutions or organisations
  • private tourist companies or bodies
  • other individuals

  5. The projects/measures participating in the competition must have been put into use beforehand. Participants must provide detailed ,proof that the criteria mentioned in section 2 have been followed. Appropriate appendices must be provided (for example, project,files, press files, expert appraisals and where necessary, photographic documents).

  6. To be accepted submitted projects must be written in German or English.

  7. The person entering a project gives the competition organiser the right to publish all or part of the project documentation and will not hold the organisation responsible for any claim coming from a third party. The person will allow as much as possible the organiser to monitor the project/measure in house.

  8. The awards given out by the TO DO competition reward the objectives and the suc-cess of a project/measure at prize giving. The prizes are a TO DO!99 trophy and an honorary certificate. Official prize giving takes place during the international tourist conference in Berlin. If no projects have merited a prize, prize giving will be can-celled.

  9. A jury of specialists, the composition of which will be made public during prize giving, awards the prizes.

  10. Entries must be received before 30 September 1999 using the official form attached to the competition rules; supporting documents mentioned in section 5 must also be attached. Entries must be sent to the following address: Studienkreis für Touris-mus und Entwicklung e.V., "Kennwort TO DO!99", Kapellenweg 3, D-82541 Ammerland/ Starnberger See. Entries will be kept by the competition organiser and will not be returned.

  11. The competition organiser informs the winners and notifies them before the 31 Janu-ary 2000 (cf. article 8). Unsuccessful candidates will also be informed at the same time.

  12. Competition entries include acceptance of the rules against which there is no appeal.

TO DO! Competition organisers :

Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung (tourism and development society)

With the co-operation of

• Federal Ministry for economic co-operation and development, Bonn
• Ecumenical Coalition on Third World Tourism, Geneva
• Catholic secretaryship for foreign affairs for the German bishops conference, Bonn
• Messe Berlin GmbH
• Austrian co-operation to the ministry for foreign affairs, Vienna
• Tourism Watch. Specialist unit assisting the help for development of the German Protestant Church

Official competition address :

Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung e. V. Kapellenweg 3
D-82541 Ammerland/Starnberger See
Tel. : 08177/1783 Fax : 08177/1349
e-mail : studienkreitourismus@compuserve.com

ECO-Tip - Network of ecological tourism (www.eco-tip.org)

Ecological activities must be grouped, positive examples broadcast, ideas circulated and peo-ple informed. Modern technology makes it easier than ever to create information networks. ECO-TIP has set up a data bank network, where all that needs to be known about the envi-ronment and sustainable development can be quickly found.

Tourism and environment - positive examples that have been put into practice

ECO-TIP is the training and information department of ECOTRANS!

ECO-TIP is a database for all those concerned with tourism and the environment. ECO-TIP provides current European examples and initiatives aiming for tourist development which respect the environment. The database is continually updated.

ECO-TIP is backed by the German foundation for the environment and by a large network of partners comprised of specialists and associations in both Germany and Europe.

Extract from the ecology prize list given in Eco-Tip :

1. ADAC-squirrel : ecological rest area
2. ADAC : Öko-Pikto - Camp site
3. Biosphere Hotels - Quality for Life
4. Blue flag of Europe
5. British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award
6. "Tourist Ecological Sites in Germany" competition (DRV)
7. The ecological hotel-restaurant, Hesse
8. The ecological hotel-restaurant, Schleswig-Holstein
9. DRV : Tourism and environment
10. Ecolabel - ecological label for tourist establish-ments of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
11. Green fingers - we are doing something for the environment
12. The green key
13. IH & RA Environmental Award
14. Landscape of the year
15. Agricultural farmers from Liechtenstein
16. Lungau naturally
17. Natural product - Nationalpark Hohe Tauern
18. Ecological Grischun
19. Prize for ecological tourism, Upper Austria
20. Austrian label for ecological tourist trades
21. Quality label of Swiss tourism
22. Quality Mountain (Westalpen)
23. Raiffeisen Prize of encouragement
24. TAT-Orte - Communes and ecological competi-tions
25. Thuringian hospitality, Thuringia
26. Top Team NaTour - 1er federal competition for holidays for young people 1999
27. Ecological hotels and restaurants - Bavaria
28. Ecological camp sites/Lever
29. Ecological hotels
30. Operation snail, Borkum Island, North Sea
31. Ecological label Tyrol-South Tyrol
32. Ecological label of Kleinwalsertal
33. Ecological label of Lungau
34. Ecological label of Uckermark
35. Our trade is ecological, Germany