Launch of Ireland's first Ecotourism Handbook

The national tourism development authority, Fáilte Ireland and leading ecotourism organisation, Greenbox, published Ireland’s first Ecotourism Handbook in Sligo today.

Written by noted green-travel writer, Catherine Mack, and supported by Fáilte Ireland with additional support from the Border Action agency, the ‘Ecotourism Handbook for Ireland’ is aimed at people working in tourism and is a concise guide to help tourism businesses operate in a green environment.
 
The Ecotourism Handbook will be distributed to over 3,000 tourism businesses by Fáilte Ireland as well as at ecotourism awareness seminars, as a part of the tourism development authority’s commitment to promoting environmentally sustainable tourism.
 
Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, welcomed the launch of the Ecotourism Handbook, and said:
 
"The physical environment is a vital part of the unique and distinctive character which Ireland offers the visitor and, as such, a key source of our competitive advantage.  This handbook shows in a clear, practical manner, the great opportunities ecotourism offers to develop and enhance business, making the most of that character while safeguarding the green, clean image for which Ireland is renowned.  Not only that, but the sustainable approach to, for example, managing energy costs and waste can also make a real difference to the competitiveness of individual operators - which is so critical at this time."
 
Speaking at the launch, Paul Keeley, Director of Business Development and Investment at Fáilte Ireland emphasised:
 
“Sound management of our core tourism asset, our environment, is not only an ethical choice but also a business necessity. As a nation, we sell ourselves as a “green” country. Visitor expectations of unspoilt landscapes and a green environment are part of the attraction that lures many to our shores. However, it is not just a matter of image. An environmental approach has the potential to yield cost-savings for tourism businesses – an important consideration given the challenges we face in the year ahead.”
 
Amongst other things, the ‘Ecotourism Handbook for Ireland’ provides a wealth of detail including:
 
·         information on the ecotourism market;
 
·         how to certify a green business;
 
·         how to find ‘green’ funding;
 
·         and how to market your ecotourism business.
 
Mary Mulvey, CEO of Greenbox, today stressed:
 
“I truly believe to create a strong ecotourism product will only come about through education and training at all levels of the industry from government, trade and industry partners in tourism to host communities, media and the consumers of tourism. Ireland has the potential to develop a quality ecotourism experience and this book will be a big help for any business where to get started.”
 
The usefulness of an Ecotourism Handbook for Ireland arose out of the success of Greenbox which was Ireland’s first ecotourism destination. As Martina Bromley, General Manager for Fáilte Ireland in the North West, pointed out -
 
“The success of the Greenbox Ecotourism Destination in the North-West has demonstrated to other tourism destinations the potential that exists within the ecotourism market for rest of the country.
 
The handbook draws heavily on the experience of ecotourism providers in the North-West and will provide practical assistance to interested tourism businesses throughout Ireland who are thinking of making the transition to ecotourism so that they too can tap into this emerging and growing market”.
 
According to the International Ecotourism Society, the ecotourism market has been growing since the 1990’s at a rate of between 20-34% every year. Although this varies from destination to destination, the average figure is still three times the growth rate of the industry as a whole.
 
The author of today’s handbook, Catherine Mack expressed her hopes that the publication would demystify the whole area of eco-tourism and encourage more operators to look at the benefits to be reaped –
 
“Sometimes I think that people working in tourism are afraid of the ‘eco’ word. There is a lot of confusion out there about what it means to be ethical, green, sustainable, eco, or responsible, call it what you will. People think it’s going to cost more, alienate their clientele, or put them in some sort of ‘green’ box. In writing this book, I hope to take away some of this fear, and show that it is the only way to move forward in tourism.”
 
The Ecotourism Handbook for Ireland is available online and can be accessed at www.failteireland.ie/Research---Policy/Policy-Analysis/Environment  
 
 
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Fáilte Ireland
 Louise Tolerton - 086 6086578/01 8847135
Greenbox
Mary Mulvey - 087 6841531 / mary@greenbox.ie

Notes for editor

Ecotourism

The terms ‘sustainable tourism’, ‘green tourism’, ‘responsible tourism’ and ‘ecotourism’ have risen in popularity in recent years, largely in response to an increasing environmental awareness among the general public. Likewise, within the business community, rising utility costs, together with the recent emergence of corporate social responsibility policies, and the realisation that the industry needs to reduce its own environmental impact, have brought the environment to centre stage.
 
Our tourism industry has long traded on Ireland’s clean green image. Protecting the credibility of this image is important to ensure the sustainable development of the sector. In recent years, individual businesses have also found that improving their environmental performance can result in a reduction in operating costs.
 
Ecotourism is becoming increasingly important because:
 

    * Our environment is the raw material of the tourism industry;
    * Utility costs (energy, water, waste) have risen in recent years;
    * Green tourism is an emerging market;
    * Consumers expect higher environmental standards (e.g. green accreditation; litter; water quality, etc.) than ever before;
    * The tourism industry, like any other sector, is bound by the increasing body of environmental protection legislation;
    * Climate change and carbon issues have significant implications for tourism.

Fáilte Ireland

 
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, was established in 2003 to guide and promote tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.
 
The tourism and hospitality industry employs an estimated 320,000 people and generates more than €6 billion in revenue a year.
 
The promotion of ecotourism is a key part of Fáilte Ireland's remit and the authority is currently working through the third year of its Environmental Action Plan 2007-09.
 

Greenbox

 
The Greenbox is Ireland's first integrated ecotourism destination. The area of the Greenbox includes Counties Fermanagh, Leitrim, West Cavan, North Sligo, South Donegal and North West Monaghan.
 
The Greenbox is emerging as Irelands' first genuine ecotourism destination with a set of standards based on sound environmental practices highlighting all that the region and its people has to offer.
 
 

Border Action

 
Border Action is a recognised implementing agent for the border region and cross-border development, and is involved in the implementation of measures of the INTEREG IIIA Programme as well as the Peace Programme.
 
Border Action adopts developmental, inclusive and partnership approaches to addressing social, cultural and economic disadvantage and has been a catalyst for transformation working towards an inclusive, peaceful and equitable society in the border region as well as on a cross-border basis.

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