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ecoplan:net
manuals
Technical
documents
to
support
your
transition
to
a
responsible
tourism
business

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Ecolodge
Design,
Construction
and
Operations
Manual
for
USAID
1
Ecoplan:net was retained by Chemonics
International and USAID to prepare a
comprehensive Ecolodge Development and
Operations Manual to be used to
a] assist Egypt’s Tourism Development
Authority (TDA) to assess the credibility of
various ecolodge applications and b] to
assist new developers in constructing
facilities that responded to the highest
environmental requirements. The document
was subsequently distributed to existing
resort and lodge operations in the Red Sea
Region in order to promote more
environmentally responsible lodging ad
food services operations.
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A Practical Manual for Investors
The manual is divided into three sections.
Section 1 included an assessment of existing
ecolodges particularly in arid and desert
environments but also considered were responsible
practices in coastal, marine, mountain and forest
locations.
In Section 2, these ‘Best practices’ were used to
identify and describe more than 150 development
criteria, standards ad technologies that would be
most applicable to the conditions within the Egyptian
desert environment.
Section 3 provided a checklist to TDA that allowed
them to rate the quality of the ecolodge application.
Design
with
Nature
“the
MANUAL
demonstrates
how
developers
and
investors
can
integrates
the
local
environment
but
also
how
responsible
‘green’
management
can
continue
to
protect
the
environment
for
years
to
come”
–
Emirates
resort
investor

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Sustainable
Tourism
Guide
Certification
and
Training
Manual
for
the
Bahamas
Ministry
of
Tourism;
Sustainable
Tourism
Unit
1
ecoplan:net was hired by The Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism to develop a certification
program and associated training materials
to assist those guides seeking to be
identified and certified by the College of the
Bahamas as practicing the highest standards
of sustainable guiding. The manual was
initially designed for the fly-fishing sector
but is readily modified to meet the
requirements of the sea-kayaking and bird
watching guides. This is one of 4 manuals
which also includes the a) Auditor training,
b) the technical manual (for fly-fishing) and
a Train-the-Trainer Manual.
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The manual addresses all requirements to
being a sustainable guide including
preparation of an environmental policy,
business plan and environmental scan.
Also practical guidelines were provided for
energy and water conservation, the
elimination of hazardous materials, ensuring
local purchase, tourism responsible tourism
awareness, contribution to community
projects, offering interpretation programs,
safety and security standards, responsible
marketing techniques and identify guest
satisfaction. The manual also formed the
basis to the Auditors Training Manual.
Sustainable Guide Certification
and Training Manual
“this
is
a
concerted
effort
to
building
a
local
industry,
particularly
on
the
Outer
Islands,
where
qualified
residents
have
the
chance
to
make
a
decent
salary
and
strengthen
the
local
island
economy”

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Sustainable
Fly-­‐fishing
Guide
Technical
Certification
and
Training
Manual
for
the
Bahamas
Ministry
of
Tourism;
Sustainable
Tourism
Unit
1
A Sustainable Fly-fishing guide TECHNICAL
Certification and Training Manual was
produced to complement the basic
sustainable guide manual. The fly-fishing
guide certification requires a comprehensive
knowledge of both sustainable tourism
practices as well as the techniques of fly-
fishing, fish ecology and marine ecosystems,
boating safety and outboard motor
maintenance.
Fly-fishing techniques; the manual
contains both a written description as well
as a DVD of fly-fishing techniques including:
fly-fishing gear, casting under various
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conditions, proper catch and release, knot
types and tying, types of flies and use, etc. A
description of tidal conditions and the impact
on fishing is also presented.
Boating techniques and water safety;
proper voting operations, boating and water
safety, planning and preparation clients
[briefings] demonstrating leadership skills, risk
management and emergency response, etc.
Outboard motor maintenance; fuel
system and cooling systems, mounting the Ford
Motor, troubleshooting, regular maintenance
requirements, spark plugs and propellers, pre-
departure checklist, etc.
Sustainable Fly-fishing
Guide Certification and
Training Manual
“Many
of
our
experience
guides
are
true
professionals.
This
training
program
provides
the
additional
skill
development
and
certification
necessary
to
prove
that
we
are
world-­‐class”

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Rural
Tourism
Gȋte
Planning,
Construction
and
Operations
Manual
for
the
USAID
and
Morocco
Ministry
of
Tourism
and
Handcraft
USAID/ Morocco Rural Tourism Development Program (2002 – 2004)
As the Chief of Party for this multimillion
dollar USAID rural tourism development
program, James was responsible for the
preparation of numerous documents and
manuals designed to support the
development of tourism throughout
Morocco’s rural regions. This accommodation
construction and operations manual was
prepared to assist local entrepreneurs with
the site location, planning, design and
construction and operations of small rural
Hotels, B&B, Gîtes and Maison d’Hôte. The
manual and development guidelines
provided the operators with site planning
options and typical facility layouts including
Rural Tourism
Accommodation Manual
“the
manual
will
receive
widespread
distribution
as
the
interest
of
local
investors
grows.
The
Manual
assures
a
common
understanding
of
the
need
for
QUALITY,
SERVICE
and
ENVIRONMENTALY
RESPONSIBLE
MANAGEMENT.
Abdullah
Hachimi,
Chief,
Rural
Tourism
Unit,
MOT
kitchen, dining room,
bedroom/bathroom
and recreation room
layout and design
features. Guidelines
also addressed the
use local construction
materials. Operations guidelines identify
staff requirements and qualifications, Guest
services and reception, management
techniques, marketing requirements and
budget. Emphasis was also placed on
operating on strict responsible tourism
principles including Energy and water
conservation, waste management, etc.

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Botswana
Ecotourism
Best
Practices
Guidelines
Manual
for
the
Commonwealth
Secretariat
(London)
1
ecoplan:net was hired by the
Commonwealth Secretariat and the
Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) to identify
Ecotourism Best Practices in Africa and
worldwide. Approximately 40 ecotourism
destinations and facilities where assessed
and a comprehensive description was
provided for 20 facilities. Information
extracted from the analysis of these
operations then provided more than 180
planning, design, construction, operations,
tour and marketing criteria that would
ensure a sustainable tourism eco-operation.
Each criterion was then described so that it
could assist any operator or enterprise that
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wanted to be a responsible tourism
business. For instance water saving devices,
energy conservation practices, and waste
management techniques that encouraged
recycling and composting were described in
technical detail. These criteria eventually
were used as a basis to the standards
identified in the Botswana Green and
Ecotourism Certification program.
The manual won the 2010 Tourism for
Tomorrow Award (Destination Category)
which also included the Green and
Ecotourism Certification program, prepared
by ecoplan:net.
Practical Ecotourism
Guidelines and Practices
“This
guidelines
manual
demonstrates
how
both
ecotourism
operators
and
all
tourism
suppliers
can
offer
a
quality,
responsible
tourism
product”
-­‐-­‐
Botswana
Quality
Tourism
Assurance
Officer

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Ecotourism
Itinerary
Planning
and
Package
Tour
Operations
Manual
for
the
Canadian
Museum
of
Nature
James was retained as an in-house
consultant by the Canadian
Museum of Nature. His mandate
was to identify business
opportunities for the museum, with
particular emphasis on ecotourism
packages that could be sold to the
museum membership. Some of
these packages were developed
with museum staff and others built
on existing tour products offered
by select international ecotourism
operators.
In order to ensure that all tour products
met the highest international ecotourism
standards. James prepared a detailed
manual including guidelines outlining all
ecotourism criteria with respect to
community involvement and guest/host
relationships, energy and water
conservation, waste management
practices, interpretation program
standards, use of environmentally
responsible accommodation and
transportation, and other attributes
typically associated with a quality
ecotourism experience.
Low
impact
itineraries
for
the
ecotourism
market
“these
itineraries
will
respond
to
the
growing
market
demand
for
ecotourism
and
generate
new
revenues
for
the
Museum”
-­‐-­‐
Robert
Leblanc,
Director
General,
Canadian
Museum
of
Nature
,
Ottawa,
Canada

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Canada’s
Sustainable
Tourism Policy
and Action Plan, for
Tourism Canada and
GLOBE ‘90
Canada’s first Sustainable
Tourism Policy and Action Plan
was prepared by ecoplan:nets’
James MacGregor as part of
GLOBE ’90 (Global Opportunities
for Business and the Environment).
During that landmark event, James
gathered tourism specialists, NGO’s
and environmentalists from a dozen
countries to collectively present their
vision of a sustainable tourism policy.
James worked with the team to craft
28 policies and a 5-year action plan
that was designed to position Canada
as a leading nation in sustainable
tourism.
The document was widely distributed
and was used by several provincial
governments and national to structure
their own sustainable tourism policy.
The Action Plan was subsequently
integrated in Canada’s National
Sustainable Development Strategy.
A
new
vision
for
Canada’s
tourism
“
these
are
the
first
sustainable
tourism
policies
in
North
America.
We
will
therefore
ensure
that
they
receive
wide
spread
distribution”
–
Frank
Stock,
Manager,
Tourism
Canada

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Bahamas Sustainable
Tourism Development
Policiesfor the Organization of
American States (OAS), Washington and
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
ecoplan:net was retained by the OAS to assess the
environmental issues on the Island of the Bahamas
and develop a set of Sustainable Tourism Policies
and Implementation Strategy to both influence
cabinet as well as establish a framework for long
term sustainable development. Policies were
prepared for each of the following catagories:
1.SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT
1.1 Sustainable Planning
1.2 Assessing Economic Impact
1.3 Local Involvement and Benefits
1.4 Public Consultation
1.5 Intergenerational Equity
2. RESPONSIBLE MARKETING
3. RESORT/HOTEL GREEN MANAGEMENT
3.1 Green Management Policy + Audits
3.2 Purchasing Procedures
3.3 Energy Reduction Techniques + Technologies
3.4 Use of Pesticides and Herbicides
3.5 Product Lifecycle Analysis + Recycling
3.6 Staff Training + Green Team
3.7 Green Certification Programs + Standards
4. HERITAGE RESTORATION
4.1 Sustainable Architecture
4.2 Site Planning
4.3 Protection of Heritage Landscapes
“These
sustainable
tourism
policies
will
protect
our
islands
for
future
generations
of
Bahamians”
-­‐-­‐
Patricia
Knowles,
Permanent
Secretary,
Bahamas
Ministry
of
Tourism

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1
5. SITES/FACILITY DEVELOPMENT
5.1 Site Planning
5.2 Site Design
5.3 Building Construction and Materials
6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENTS
7. RESEARCH + MONITORING
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
8. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE
PROTECTION
9. PROTECTION OF MARINE RESOURCES
10. MARINE DEBRIS REDUCTION
10. ENFORCEMENT
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12. WASTE MANAGEMENT
12.1 Waste Reduction
12.2 Solid Waste Management + Audit
13. WATER CONSERVATION
14. TRAINING AND EDUCATION
14.1 Public/private Sector Staff Training
14.2 Public Environmental Education
14.3 Tourist Education
15. NATIONAL INITIATIVES
15.1 Sustainable Tourism Planning
15.2 Conservation Strategy
15.3 Strengthen Sustainable Resource
Management Capacities
16. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
WINNER:
Green
Globe
Achievement
Award

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For
information:
James
MacGregor
212
537
749
444
jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com