Potential local partner view on the Opportunities and Challenges of PAN Parks Network

Slide 1: PAN Parks as a tool to improve management effctiveness in protected areas Potential local partner view on the Opportunities and Challenges of PAN Parks Network 25th October 2007 Tõramaa, Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre Aivar Ruukel - Soomaa.com (Karuskose OÜ)

Slide 2: Who am I ? Since 1995 ● private tourism business in Soomaa national park Since 1996 Estonian ● Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally Since 2006 nature tourism ● student in Estonian University of Life Sciences

Slide 3: 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...

Slide 4: Spring Summer Autumn Winter

Slide 5: Fifth season

Slide 6: Haabjas building cources 2000-2005

Slide 7: Paddling trips on traditional dugout canoes - haabjas

Slide 8: Arno Algis Local people – Indrek local experts

Slide 9: My experience about PAN Parks May 2005 – ecotourism ● labelling seminar in Malmö, meeting Mylene May 2007 – Global ● ecotourism conference in Oslo, meeting Mylene and Zoltan October 2007 – PAN Parks ● conference in Rila, Bulgaria

Slide 10: Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label Established in 2000 ● Renewed in 2006 ● „Sister-label“ for ● Natures Best label of Swedish Ecotourism

Slide 11: October 2007 – PAN Parks conference in  Rila, Bulgaria

Slide 12: PAN Park officer visiting Soomaa

Slide 13: WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES?

Slide 14: PUTTING SOOMAA ON THE MAP !

Slide 15: OPPORTUNITIES International Marketing

Slide 16: What do you think Vlado, where are our weakest points here in Estonia?

Slide 17: How to create a certification scheme for local business partners?

Slide 18: USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES Professional Standards Industry standards Quality Labels

Slide 19: USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES Professional Standards - Guide services (Associations of Guides) - Activities (Ramblers Association/ Matkaliit Industry standards - Accommodation

Slide 20: USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES Tourism Quality Labels in Estonia - EHE – for ecotourism products (experiences) - Green Key for accommodations

Slide 21: Soomaa – Estonian Wilderness Capital?

Slide 22: PAN PARKS MEANS MORE QUALITY quality wilderness quality services quality visitors quality experiences

Slide 23: I BELIEVE IN PAN PARKS ! DO YOU?

Slide 24: Thank you! Questions please? Contacts: Aivar Ruukel phone: +3725061896 aivar@soomaa.com skype: sookoll3