Global Ecotourism Conference 2007 Lifelong Learning in Ecotourism Aivar Ruukel Estonian Ecotourism Association

Personal Profile 1994-96 Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative Since 1995 private tourism business in Soomaa national park Since 1996 Estonian Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally

1994-96 Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative

Since 1995 private tourism business in Soomaa national park

Since 1996 Estonian Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally

Personal Profile Since 2000 lecturer and trainer at courses and seminars nationally and internationally Since 2001 consultant nationally and internationally Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of Life Sciences

Since 2000 lecturer and trainer at courses and seminars nationally and internationally

Since 2001 consultant nationally and internationally

Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of Life Sciences

Issues Estonian Ecotourism Experience from Soomaa National Park ECOLL Project (Lifelong Learning for Ecotourism Development)

Estonian Ecotourism

Experience from Soomaa National Park

ECOLL Project (Lifelong Learning for Ecotourism Development)

Estonia on the map

Estonian Ecotourism Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative Ecotourism Association – ESTECAS Our mission Our activities Seminars, Conferences, Fairs Plans, strategies at national, regional and local levels Ecotourism labelling process

Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative

Ecotourism Association – ESTECAS

Our mission

Our activities

Seminars, Conferences, Fairs

Plans, strategies at national, regional and local levels

Ecotourism labelling process

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Established in 2000 Criterias: Accept carrying capacity Support local economy Green business perfomance Support conservation of nature and culture Responsibility, education and respect Safety and quality

Established in 2000

Criterias:

Accept carrying capacity

Support local economy

Green business perfomance

Support conservation of nature and culture

Responsibility, education and respect

Safety and quality

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Destination analysis Environmental plan

Destination analysis

Environmental plan

www.ecotourism.ee

National Parks of Estonia Lahemaa Matsalu Vilsandi Karula Soomaa

Lahemaa

Matsalu

Vilsandi

Karula

Soomaa

Soomaa National Park established in 1993 400 sq.km RAMSAR area since 1997

established in 1993

400 sq.km

RAMSAR area since 1997

Soomaa National Park - Bogs, forests, meadows, rivers - Home for eagles, black storks, flying squirrels, wolves, bears, lynx ...

- Bogs, forests, meadows, rivers

- Home for eagles, black storks, flying squirrels, wolves, bears, lynx ...

Soomaa.com Private company Established in 1995 8000 quests in 2005 Operating in Soomaa NP

Private company

Established in 1995

8000 quests in 2005

Operating in Soomaa NP

Canoeing trips on the rivers

Walking on the bogs

Skiing on the bogs

Five seasons – more reasons Regular floods – a fifth season

Regular floods – a fifth season

Five seasons – more reasons Regular floods – a fifth season

Regular floods – a fifth season

www.soomaa.com

Our policy The philosophy of SOOMAA.COM is ecotourism, which means to us : supporting preservation of cultural and natural heritage educating t ourists and public promoting local economic development

The philosophy of SOOMAA.COM is ecotourism, which means to us :

supporting preservation of cultural and natural heritage

educating t ourists and public

promoting local economic development

Local People The backbone of our activities is a network of farms along the rivers and people living there. involvement in planning guide services other services – food, transport, riding, B&B

The backbone of our activities is a network of farms along the rivers and people living there.

involvement in planning

guide services

other services – food, transport, riding, B&B

Conservation of alluvial meadows

Conserving the culture of haabjas Haabjas- Estonian dugout canoe

Conserving the culture of haabjas

Haabjas-building workshops 1995 - 2000

1995 - 2000

Haabjas-building workshops 1995 - 2000

1995 - 2000

Haabjas and ecotourism New product - exclusive trips on the rivers

New product - exclusive trips on the rivers

Haabjas and tourism Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP lot of attention from media in 2005-06 eight film-teams visiting Karuskose

Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP

lot of attention from media

in 2005-06 eight film-teams visiting Karuskose

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

Promotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and Tartu

Partnerships and networks Partnerships Horizontally and vertically Within the business sector and across sectors

Partnerships

Horizontally and vertically

Within the business sector and across sectors

ECOLL Project period 2005 – 2007 EU Leonardo finance Vocational Schools from 4 Countries Võru County Vocational Training Centre – Estonia University of Lapland – Finland Schools of Economics no1 Nicolaus Copernicus- Poland Vocational Training Centre “Alfonso Motolese” - Italy

Project period 2005 – 2007

EU Leonardo finance

Vocational Schools from 4 Countries

Võru County Vocational Training Centre – Estonia

University of Lapland – Finland

Schools of Economics no1 Nicolaus Copernicus- Poland

Vocational Training Centre “Alfonso Motolese” - Italy

ECOLL Partners from business sector Finnish Nature-based Entrepreneurship Association Tourism Agency Wedrowiec (Poland) Touriusm Agency "Terrae Maris" Estonian Ecotourism Association Estonian Rural Tourism Association Soomaa.com (OÜ Karuskose)

Partners from business sector

Finnish Nature-based Entrepreneurship Association

Tourism Agency Wedrowiec (Poland)

Touriusm Agency "Terrae Maris"

Estonian Ecotourism Association

Estonian Rural Tourism Association

Soomaa.com (OÜ Karuskose)

ECOLL Objective is to develop programme for education and training in the area of ecotourism in accordance with the principles of lifelong learning.

Objective is to develop programme for education and training in the area of ecotourism in accordance with the principles of lifelong learning.

ECOLL Target groups: Students who choose tourism as their vocational training program People who already work in the tourism sector People who live in rural communities with ecotourism potential

Target groups:

Students who choose tourism as their vocational training program

People who already work in the tourism sector

People who live in rural communities with ecotourism potential

ECOLL Activities of each partner country develop the requirements for professional qualification adapt existing and develop new programs, teaching materials, and curricula test the new programs, teaching materials and teaching methods in the education environment and test their validity in the partner companies

Activities of each partner country

develop the requirements for professional qualification

adapt existing and develop new programs, teaching materials, and curricula

test the new programs, teaching materials and teaching methods in the education environment and test their validity in the partner companies

ECOLL Learning Modules: Tourism Impact on Environment Safety and Wilderness Skills Ecotourism Marketing Foreign Language Guiding and Tour Leading Cultural and Natural Heritage Ecotourism Management

Learning Modules:

Tourism Impact on Environment

Safety and Wilderness Skills

Ecotourism Marketing

Foreign Language

Guiding and Tour Leading

Cultural and Natural Heritage

Ecotourism Management

ECOLL Modules Tourism Impact on Environment

Tourism Impact on Environment

ECOLL Modules Safety and Wilderness Skills

ECOLL Modules Ecotourism Marketing

Ecotourism Marketing

Foreign Language ECOLL Modules

Foreign Language

ECOLL Modules Guiding and Tour Leading

ECOLL Modules Cultural and Natural Heritage

Cultural and Natural Heritage

ECOLL Modules Ecotourism Management

www.ecoll.ee

ECOLL Summer Camp 03. – 07.of July 2007 in Soomaa, Estonia Welcome!

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

Thank you! Questions please?

Contacts: Aivar Ruukel

phone: +3725061896

[email_address]

skype: sookoll3