SUSTAINABLE & VOCATIONAL TOURISM
Tourism development and sustainability can be conflicting goals. The success of a destination usually considers the overall number of nights spent by tourists but does not take into account environmental impacts such as traffic, noise, waste or power and water consumption. This lack of sustainability applies to mass tourist destinations as well as to areas with an emerging tourism industry areas. Overall objective / Objectif général Building on the existing "Network of Cities for Sustainable Tourism" and on the results of an earlier project, SUVOT aims at finding effective ways to integrate sustainability into tourism development policies. The operation also aims to develop strategies for tapping into new tourism opportunities such as vocational tourism, which targets individuals with specific personal values and interests. Expected results / Résultats attendus The operation results in increased awareness and know-how among local public administrations on good practices in tourism development with a particular focus on integrating sustainability aspects. Activities include workshops on sustainability issues such as techniques to assess the carrying capacity of tourist destinations and approaches to achieve a more environmentally-friendly behaviour by tourists and tour operators. Further activities include an analysis of environmental features of the areas involved, identification of niche markets, initiation of regeneration plans in heavily exploited tourist areas, and the design and testing of new tourist concepts. Partners publish lesions learned, including benefits of the eco-label and Environmental Management Systems and techniques for assessing the carrying capacity of tourist destinations in a "Knowledge Resources Guide."