Eco-label in rural tourism – a sign for environmental and service quality! Agnese Jakovica Latvian Country Tourism Association.

Eco-label in rural tourism – a sign for environmental and

service quality!

Agnese Jakovica

Latvian Country Tourism Association

Latvian Country Tourism Association

Project “Development of the criteria for the “Green Certificate”, implementation and control in

rural areas and small towns in Latvia

The project is co-financed by: EC LIFE programme

Latvian Environment Protection Fund

Project partner: Ministry of Environmental Protection and

Regional Development of Latvia

Implementing authority: Latvian Country Tourism Association

Project duration: 01.10.2001 - 30.09.2004

What is the

“Green Certificate”?

Environment

Quality+

Tourism

Service Quality

“Green Certificate”=

Eco-label assigned to: Country houses

Vacation cottages

Guest houses

Camping

in the countryside and small towns of Latvia.

Special project web site http://eco.traveller.lv

Information for:

Tourists

Tourism providers

Press

Why do we need the “Green Certificate”?

Improvement of tourism provider awareness

Tourist education

Marketing

“Green Certificate” advantages for rural tourism providers

Brand name recognition

More tourists?

Education

Reduction of costs?

MarketingPublications

Publication series“Green Holidays”

Catalogue

Marketing in Internet

Web site of the Association

www.traveller.lv

“Green Certificate” advantages for tourists

Recognition of specific services

Guarantee of high quality

Contribution to sustainable

tourism development

Project activities

Implementation of the “Green Certificate” Development of environmental control system Demonstration vacation properties Promotion of the “green” idea

Project activitiesTraining materials for tourism providers

“Biological diversity and its preservation” “Nature friendly tourist activities” “Environment friendly building and furnishing materials in

rural tourism” “Sustainable use of natural resources – hints for rural tourism

providers” “Latvian festivities and traditions in rural tourism offer”

Expected results Environmental results - awareness, reduction and

control Economical results -reduction of costs, preservation

and local development Recognition - by tourists and providers

Problems in eco-labelling process

Co-operation between tourism providers and tourists

Co-operation between tourism and environmental specialists

Balance between environmental and tourism service quality

International co-operation – internationaly comparable criteria