Author: Fouli Papageorgiou (PRISMA Centre for Development Studies) Plenary session presentation 2nd European Ecotourism Conference 23-25 October 2013, Romania

1. NETWORKING ECOTOURISM BUSINESSES FOR QUALITY
The European Ecotourism Labelling Standard and
ECOLNET
Fouli Papageorgiou
PRISMA – Centre for Development Studies
The 2nd European Ecotourism Conference
23-25 October 2013, Romania
LLP Transversal Programmes – Key Activity 3 ICT –NETWORKS

2. ECOLNET IDENTITY
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Supported by the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European
Commission, Multilateral Networks KA3-ICT
A network of rural/eco/sustainable tourism associations, education
institutions and experts:
PRISMA Centre for Development Studies, Greece, project leader
ECOTRANS e.V , Germany
Estonian Ecotourism Association, Estonia
Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia
ECOTONO - Equipo consultor en turismo y desarrollo, Spain
Silvacultura ltd, Finland
Centro Turistico Studentesco e Giovanile – CTS , Italy
Imaginary srl, Italy
Pan Parks Foundation – the Netherlands
ECEAT – Projects, the Netherlands
Association of Ecotourism in Romania, Romania
Edinburgh Napier University, U.K

3. PR
OJECT AIMS
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ECOLNET remit: to set up a European Network with a focus on
ecotourism quality and the European Ecotourism Labelling
Standard (EETLS)
ECOLNET builds on the results of the LdV ECO-DESTINET
project which initially developed EETLS
ECOLNET aims:
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Refine EETLS and make it workable as a harmonisation
instrument among European quality labels
Establish an online evaluation methodology and tools for certifying
EETLS
Support the evaluation tools with learning material for EETLS
evaluators and ecotourism businesses
Disseminate the tools and learning packages through an online
community of interest which is based on the membership of EEN

4. EETLS
The need:
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Harmonise existing European labelling systems that refer to
ecotourism
Strengthen the position of labelled ecotourism businesses in the
European tourism market.
Development principles:
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EETLS assures comparable standards of service in relation to a
core group of baseline quality criteria
EETLS aims to become a platform of communication for
European ecotourism initiatives
EETLS “should not reinvent the wheel” – it is built along the lines
of the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria, adapted to ecotourism
particularities

5. DEVELOPMENT OF EETLS
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EETLS was initially developed by the ECO-DESTINET project
Responded to the need for a universal set of standards for
ecotourism services
EETLS approached ecotourism as an integrated tourism
product
The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria were adopted as a
framework
Sub-criteria and indicators were developed to reflect the needs
and quality requirements of the ecotourism field, following a
two-stage consultation campaign amongst ecotourism and
sustainable tourism certification agencies to receive feedback
The current version of EETLS has been officially recognised by
GSTC

6. EETLS
4 Pillars of sustainable tourism - groups of criteria
A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management.
B. Maximise social and economic benefits to local communities
and minimise negative impacts.
C. Maximise benefits to cultural heritage and minimise negative
impacts.
D. Maximise benefits to the environment and minimise negative
impacts.
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38 criteria
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94 Sub-criteria
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94 indicators for certificates
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94 indicators for businesses
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130 implementation indicators

7. EETLS
A complete quality assessment product
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Can be used to evaluate the compliance of certification and
labelling agencies with the EETLS criteria
Addresses ecotourism businesses and evaluates the quality of
their services
Approaches the assessment process as a learning process for
businesses and helps to build up consciousness of sustainable
operation
The learning process is complemented and enhanced by
learning material specially developed by ECOLNET
Online assessment tools have been developed to cut down the
cost of certification

8. EETLS
Innovations of the latest version of EETLS
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A ladder, leading from the criteria, which represent issues of
principle, down to very tangible practical matters
Specifies a solid list of indicators, which are used in the
evaluation tools as items to be scored along a scale
Specifies a list of implementation indicators, with a direct
correspondence between indicator and implementation indicator,
showing the evidence that is necessary for the business to prove
their compliance with the sub criterion concerned
Is linked to a database of best practice examples with the criteria
of EETLS – so that the user can get a more grounded
understanding of the criteria

9. PILOTING EETLS
EETLS was piloted with 48 businesses and 10 certification
agencies in 10 countries
Opinions of businesses
Online assessment tools
The EETLS criteria and indicators were just right: 75%
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The EETLS helps businesses to build up their sustainability:
91%
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Learning package
Fulfils the needs of the businesses in understanding EETLS
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Sufficient, very interesting, providing useful information for the
business
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10. FLEXIILITY ISSUES
Introduce flexibility according to size, type and location of
business – a possibility for EETLS
Adapt the criteria for small and very small businesses
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Re-draft certain criteria to meet the needs of nonaccommodation service providers, such as tour operators and
outdoor activity companies
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Country-based and location-based ramifications may be
introduced without loosing the European identity of EETLS
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Mandatory and optional sub-criteria need to be defined
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Detailed instructions for evaluators are necessary to ensure the
same quality of evaluation across Europe
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11. NETW
ORKING
The network
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European Ecotourism Network (EEN) and online community
built around the EETLS quality standard
The networking tools
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multilingual website www.ecotourism-network.eu
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EEN / online community platform http://ecolnet.ning.com
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Destinet portal
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The social media, LinkedIn and Facebook
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EEN newsletters
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national workshops
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international conference

12. NETW
ORKING
EETLS as a networking focus
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EETLS proved to be a good networking focus, even during
its pilot implementation
The social media tools proved the most effective
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online community platform http://ecolnet.ning.com (250
members)
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LinkedIn (180 members)
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Facebook (over 600 followers)
Face-to- face meetings in national workshops
9 national workshops, over 300 participants

13. TARGET GR
OUPS
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ecotourism & sustainable tourism businesses
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ecotourism certification agencies
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ecotourism-related or nature-related NGOs
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protected area authorities
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regional and national authorities
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European and international organisations related to
ecotourism and sustainable tourism
education institutions
experts in the fields of tourism, tourism-related education and
ICT

14. Open access to EETLS and related tools
www.ecotourism-network.eu
Provides all necessary links to
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EETLS blueprint
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Library of best practice
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EETLS evaluation tools
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E-Learning platform

15. www.ecotourism-network.eu
Thank you for your attention