University of Aarhus ECOTOURISM AS A WAY TO PROTECT ...

Ecotourism as a sustainable way to protect nature
Ecotel - launched in the year 1994 by the private promoter concerned mostly
about accommodation (water use etc.).
On the regional level the Blue Flag promoted by NGO since 1985 is the
most visible scheme. They focus on sustainable use of marinas (localities) and
beaches. Currently, over 1,800 beaches and over 600 marinas are accredited.
Accreditation must be re-earned every year (Buckley, 2001). (See the criteria on
the Blue flag web sites - http://www.blueflag.org).
In the Asian/pacific region Green Leaf is another regional example,
which was started by the Pacific Asia Travel Association in 1997. Buckley
wrote in 2001 that they are now to be integrated with the Green Globe 21. But
according to their web site they are apparently still independent
(www.greenleafthai.org).
On the national level there are many schemes which are mostly concerned
with accommodation. For example Green Key in Denmark - They are checking
for water use in washing and bathing.
In Germany there is Environmental Squirrel concerned about the
catering and accommodation.
In France the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected
Areas was found out by the NGO to regulate the tourism in the protected areas
within France.
On the sub-national level there are some schemes which only work in part
of the country, for example - Ecotour (Balearic Islands) or Green Tourism
Business Scheme (Scotland) (UNEP, 1998).
In the appendix 1 there is a calendar of events relevant to ecolabels in
ecotourism.
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