„ Elukestev õpe ökoturismi arenduses – ECOLL “ Ecotourism labelling and management Väimela : Võrumaa Kutsehariduskeskus Aivar Ruukel Soomaa.com (Karuskose OÜ)

Personal Profile 1994-96 Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative Since 1995 private tourism business in Soomaa national park Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of Life Sciences

1994-96 Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative

Since 1995 private tourism business in Soomaa national park

Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of Life Sciences

Soomaa.com Programme services: Activities Guiding Saunas Accommodation 90% in Soomaa national park Canoe trips since 1995 Bog walking since 1996 Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing...

Programme services:

Activities

Guiding

Saunas

Accommodation

90% in Soomaa national park

Canoe trips since 1995

Bog walking since 1996

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing...

Summer Autumn Spring Winter

Fifth season

Fifth season

Estonian Ecotourism Association Non-governmental, non-profit, membership organization Our mission – promote development of ecotourism Our activities Seminars, Conferences, Fairs Plans, strategies, action plans at national, regional and local levels Ecotourism labelling process

Non-governmental, non-profit, membership organization

Our mission – promote development of ecotourism

Our activities

Seminars, Conferences, Fairs

Plans, strategies, action plans at national, regional and local levels

Ecotourism labelling process

www.ecotourism.ee

Ecotourism management Resources Nature culture People Local community Partnerships Staff vistors Business Product development marketing

Resources

Nature

culture

People

Local community

Partnerships

Staff

vistors

Business

Product development

marketing

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Established in 2000 Renewed in 2006 „ Sister-label“ for Natures Best label of Swedish Ecotourism

Established in 2000

Renewed in 2006

„ Sister-label“ for Natures Best label of Swedish Ecotourism

Quality Labels Criterias Criterias: 1. Respect carrying capacity 2. Support local economy 3. Environmental business practice 4. Support conservation of nature and culture 5. Responsibility, education and respect 6. Safety and quality

Criterias:

1. Respect carrying capacity

2. Support local economy

3. Environmental business practice

4. Support conservation of nature and culture

5. Responsibility, education and respect

6. Safety and quality

Why labelling? makes it easier for customer to find you makes it easier for you to reach your customers answers important questions about your way of operating becomes an image and marketing tool creates a network of ecotourism operators

makes it easier for customer to find you

makes it easier for you to reach your customers

answers important questions about your way of operating

becomes an image and marketing tool

creates a network of ecotourism operators

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Toolbox: Checklist of criterias for operator Checklist of criterias for product Destination analysis Environmental plan

Toolbox:

Checklist of criterias for operator

Checklist of criterias for product

Destination analysis

Environmental plan

What can be labelled? EHE is a product label for nature and culture tourism Operators/providers are not labeled Both products and operators should meet criterias Labeled product allways belong to approved ecotourism operator There is no need for operator to label all his/her products

EHE is a product label for nature and culture tourism

Operators/providers are not labeled

Both products and operators should meet criterias

Labeled product allways belong to approved ecotourism operator

There is no need for operator to label all his/her products

Who is labelling? EHE-label certification board consist of : Estonaina Ecotourism Association Estonian Rural Tourism Tourist Board Estonian Fund for Nature Village Association Kodukant

EHE-label certification board consist of :

Estonaina Ecotourism Association

Estonian Rural Tourism

Tourist Board

Estonian Fund for Nature

Village Association Kodukant

1. Respect the limitations of the destination – minimize negative impact on nature and culture

Destination Analysis www.ecotourism.ee

Destination Analysis 1. Decide about your area and get a map 2. Transports 3. Activities 4. Land owners 5. Natural heritage 6. Cultural heritage 7. Other land use and stakeholders 8. My network 9. Possible and known disturbance Action needed? What, why, when, who?

2. Support the local economy

Local people – local experts Algis Indrek Arno

3. Make all operations environmentally sustainable

1. Customers travel to destination 2. Transport on the destination 3. Accommodation 4. Cooking and eating 5. Consumer goods and eqipment 6. Chemicals and fuel 7. Inform and commit customers 8. Marketing ja administration Action plan: Problem – Action – Cost – When? Who is responsible? Environmental plan

4. Active contribution to conservation

Haabjas building cources 2000-2005

Haabjas and ecotourism Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP lot of attention from media in 2005-07 eight film-teams visitied Karuskose (Germany(2), Estonia, Latvia, Holland Australia, Latvia, UK)

Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP

lot of attention from media

in 2005-07 eight film-teams visitied Karuskose (Germany(2), Estonia, Latvia, Holland Australia, Latvia, UK)

Haabjas and ecotourism Promotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and Tartu

Promotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and Tartu

Haabjas and ecotourism New product - trips on the rivers

New product - trips on the rivers

5. Promote the joy of discovery, knowledge and respect

Conservation holidays

6. Quality and safety all the way throug h

Thank you! Contacts: Aivar Ruukel phone: +3725061896 [email_address] skype: sookoll3

Thank you!

Contacts: Aivar Ruukel

phone: +3725061896

[email_address]

skype: sookoll3