On behalf of AHT Group in Essen/ Germany the preparatory work for a film about the nature areas of the southern Caucasus will start shortly. A concept for the film and the co-ordination of the film production are parts of this activity. Furthermore a booth at the International Tourism Fair in Berlin (ITB), a Caucasus-conference and trade fair events will be prepared.
The Caucasus Initiative is supported by BMZ and KfW and comprises the republics of Aserbaidschan, Armenia and Georgia.

Consultancy assignment to support an international consortium in the preparation of a technical proposal to the European Commission for the Crimean Tourism Diversification and Support Project

What are the tasks of tourism information offices? What should be considered in terms of interior design? And how can the daily challenges accomplishes in the best way?
The aim of a recently finished practical handbook is to help employees and management staff of tourism information centers in their daily work.

Over 100 participants attended at an international conference on sustainable tourism, which was recently conducted by USAID (United States government agency) and SIDA (Swedish International Development Agency) in co-operation with the UNWTO (World Tourism Association) in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Hercegovina.
I was asked to take part as speaker (introduction to the topic) and to facilitate the Sustainability and Energy Efficiency session.

Together with chambers od commerce and business organisations, key areas of economic development and unique selling points will be indentified for selected areas in Bosnia-Herzegowina. Among others, the exchange with appropriate partner organisatiions in Germany will be initiated, furthermore concepts and measures in the field of regional development are planned to be developed. The project is currently under preparation.

The Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations in co-operation with German International Corporation (GIZ) and the local ministries for tourism and for economy organised a conference on recent developments in health tourism. On this occasion, the new guidebook for health tourism development of the German Ministry for Economy was also presented and discussed.
More than 70 participants from the tourism business, politics and from the press joined the conference, which took place in the seaside town of Evpatoria.

The Ruhr Area in Germany with its numerous event locations and places of interest from the industrial past and the Unesco listed Ironworks, but also factory tours and theme worlds (e.g. of the automotive sector) are examples for the manifoldness of industrial tourism offers.
First steps to develop industrial tourism have been undertaken also in Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. For the assessment of the potential and activity fields, a fact finding study with several stakeholder workshops was recently conducted. Client: Icon-Institute/ GIZ

Within a spot survey at ITB 2001, the personnel at booths of the leading hotel groups were asked about information concerning environmental and social engagement of the respective companies. The result was deflating: information material was not provided at any of the booths and the personnel was generally not able to help with continuative information. Contact persons for sustainability themes of the respective hotel groups were nominated in three cases only.

The study was conducted on behalf of German International Co-operation (GIZ).

Tourism experts from Trat province in southern Thailand visited companies in Berlin and Brandenburg State in order to exchange experiences in the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency measures in tourism. The visit was conducted on behalf o GIZ (German International Co-operation) within the framework of a Thai-German project of the International Climate Protection Initiative (Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety/ BMU).

On time to the International Tourism Trade Fair (ITB) 2011 in Berlin, a new folder of the sectoral project Tourism and Sustainable Development of German International Cooperation (GIZ) was published. The Folder provides an overview on aims and activities in tourism within the German international development co-operation. It can be downloaded under the following link:
sv-tourismus-giz-e.pdf [1.177 KB]

"A day full of energy in Oberhavel" was the motto of a business and press trip within the EU co-financed SETCOM project, where 10 communities of 10 European countries are searching for new approaches in energy efficiency and renewable energy in tourism. Though it became clear: energy efficiency and renewable energy make sense, especially in the hotel- and gastronomy sector. Many of the visited entrepreneurs are willing to increase their investments in this issue in future.
Further product innovations in renewable energies were presented, such as a new technology, which enhances the efficiency of solar panels by cooling, or installations, which are able to either cool or heat by using geothermical energy.
More information about the SETCOM project is available under:
http://www.setcom-project.eu

Aim of the project is to support the two regions Crimea and Chernivtsi in Ukraine in tourism development. Tourism concepts, training measures, tourist web pages as well as tourism promotion films are some examples for activities, which are planned until March 2011. Client: ICON Institute, Germany

Workshop presentation: "Touism as Income Generator for National Parks" at the Nature Conservation Academy on the island of Vilm

How can tourism contribute as income generator for national parks? What do tourists expect today and which practices are most successful? These and other questions where raised and intensly discussed with national park authorities and environmental conservation specialists from the Ukraine and Germany during a workshop, which was conducted by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation at the island of Vilm in Germany.

Usbekistan, the country at the Silk Road and the country, where the novels of the Arabian Nights where written. How can the destination Usbekistan be positioned in future? Which steps have to be undertaken in terms of tourism development? Which target groups seem to be appropriate and which demands do they have? These and other questions where discussed in two workshops in July and in October 2010 with stakeholders from ministries, tourism organizations and tourism entrepreneurs. The workshops where arranged by the Chamber of Commerce in Tashkent in co-operation with Inwent - Capacity Building International and Applicatio Training and Management GmbH

After the event, which was highly recognized by local media, all participants came to the conclusion, that Usbekistan has much to offer, although it is rarely known as tourism destination. The unique and fascinating architectura. monuments and the rich history are already attracting tourists from all over the world. However, Usbekistan has much more to offer and new sessions are currently under preparation …

Tourism representatives of 26 countries along the Silk Road took the first steps towards adopting a new Silk Road Action Plan. The meeting under attendance of UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai took place in the impressive buildings of Registan square in Samarkand/ Usbekistan, which are listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. Eike Otto was invited to join a journalists trip and to held a presentation about options for the development of sustainable tourism products along the Silk Road.

The Silk Road countries, with a total of about 12,000 kilometres of ancient routes, include Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, DPR Korea, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Korea, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

The Skadar lake at the Montenegrin-Albanian border is an ideal destination for water trekking tourism. It’s impressive landscape with small villages along the shoreline and numerous islands with monasteries and small churches, but also the rich birdlife, are inviting for extensive discovery tours. After an analysis of the existing situation, options for the development of Kajak and Canoe tourism where discussed with the national park administration, the tourism organization and local entrepreneurs. Furthermore first steps for further activities where agreed.

The Crimea peninsula, often also called the "Russian Mallorca", is facing a substantial decrease in tourism due to the world economic crisis. However the peninsula has several opportunities for tourism development beyond just "sun and beach", which is not yet developed and marketed. The rich cultural heritage, a unique landscape and, last not least, the worldwide known Crimea Champagne, whis is growing in a unique landscape, are just some examples.

In April 2009 a kick off workshop with representatives of the public and the private sector was conducted in Simferopol. The aim was to discuss how tourism can be developed successfully, even in times of the world economic crisis.

The Prokletje mountain range at the border between Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo is one of the last not entirely discovered mountain landscapes of Europe. The aim of this mission was to compile a tourism development study for the area of Prokletije National Park under the perspective of a protected area in close co-operation with local stakeholders.

Forset shares and the Climate Cube (www.waldaktie.de) nowadays became a brand mark for climate friendly tourism in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Now they will be implemented in Bosnia-Herzegowina, a developing tourist destination in the early stages.

The kick off event was at March 12th in Berlin at the ITB (International Tourism Exchange) at the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern booth. The Minister for Environment and Tourism of the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegowina, Dr. Nevenko Herceg and Till Backhaus, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Consumer Protection in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern will launched the common project.

Areas for tourism-climate forests in Bosnia-Herzegowina have been allready selected. Within a project of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), natural forests with visitor interpretation facillities, nature trails as well as active and sport tourist products will be planted in order to support the development of sustainable tourist products.

In September 2009 a delegation, which was accompanied by the minister for economy and the minister for tourism of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, visited Berlin and the Federal States of Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The group met Mr. Seidel, Minister for Economy, Labor and Tourism of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Mr. Methling, city major of Rostock and other tourism professionals, such as from hotels, museums, tourism associations and scientific institutions.

Renewable energy and energy efficiency are becoming increasingly important for the gastronomy sector. But what counts, where can energy be saved best and how can one place such products successfully at the market?

These and other related questions were discussed in Berlin at a high ranking expert workshop at February 23rd.

The outcome was: despite increasing charges, electric-, gas- and watermeters are still not enough observed in the hotel and gastronomy sector. However the energy saving potential can be enormous: the amount of energy and water consumption in well managed enterprises is about 50% below the average. But new and expensive technology is not the only solution. Small measures, often without any investments, can help to save energy and water immediately and easily. And the guest will at least feel better, once the communication strategy includes measures for environmentally friendly management.

The workshop was conducted by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Potsdam and the WInTo (Organisation for the Development of Business, Innovation and Tourism in Oberhavel) in the Best Western Hotel in Berlin Steglitz.

"What comes spontaneously to your mind about Crimea?" This question was recently asked in an online survey at sustainable-tourism.com. Expectedly most participants named in particular the famous Crimean sparkling wine.

However, the Yalta conference, which took place 65 years ago in the Liwadjia Palace, was most frequently mentioned.

How does the world economic crisis bear on the behavior of tourists? Tourism will be characterised by shorter travel distances, as participants of the recent survey on sustainable-tourism.com believed.

Only one third had the opionion, that there will be no change at all in travel behaviour in future. And only one-fifth of the survey participants believed, that people will travel less because of the world economic crisis.

The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) in Sarajevo supports the communities Visoko and Travnik in the development of sustainable tourism in order to contribute to regional economic development. Currently the tourism development potential is analysed and measures in the fields of product, communication and management are in discussion with the project partners both from the public and private sector.

Key aspects are for example:

Masterplanning and mission development, visitor guiding and tourism infrastructure, urban design and open spaces, tourism service and -information, tourism marketing and -promotion, nature- and environmental conservation (including energy efficiency) as well as qualitfication and training measures.

The results of a fact finding mission in order to evaluate the actual tourism situation and development options of the German Clay Route in Brandenburg State, with special consideration of options for interpreting the theme "clay" by artists, was recently discussed iwith the municipal council of the city of Hohen-Neuendorf in Germany (near Berlin).

In March 2009 experts from Ko Chang region were invited by GTZ to join a delegation visit to Bavaria. The trip was organised within the framework of the international climate protection initiative of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment.

The representatives of the state agency for sustainable tourism development, national park authorities, a municipality and hotels discussed with tourism enterprises and organisations options for climate friendly tourism concepts and international cooperation. The program included a visit of the nature park Altmühltal, a visit of the eco house and visitor interpretation center of the nature park Bavarian Forest in Zwiesel and several meetings and inspections in the Bavarian Forest National Park. Beside a winterly-snowy guided tour through the forest with national park rangers the international wilderness camp and the interpretation center (House of the Wilderness) where visited as well.

Dialogue on the Practice of Sustainable Tourism and International Cooperation
Reisepavillon, Leisure and Travel Fair f.re.e,
New Munich Trade Fair Centre Thur., Feb. 26th - Sun., Mar. 1st 2009

Program [66 KB]

Information gathering, networking an the support during conferences and congresses are the main topics of a new assignment on behalf of the sectoral project Tourism and Sustainable Development of GTZ.

The main themes thereby are: tourism in the context with economic development and poverty alleviation, sustainability standards, nature protection, energy efficiency, destination management and climate change.

The new flyer of the sectoral project:

tourismgtz.pdf [893 KB]

Cruises are becomimng more and more popular and today even affordable for average incomes.

Dreamliners and their crew are gleaming in white splendidness. But how about the clean record of these swimming hotels?

Should carbonate dioxide compensation programmes be offered for cruise ships, as allready common in the airline business?

A survey on sustainable-tourism.com showed a very clear result: the tourism industry should, beside air tickets, also offer climate compensation programmes for cruises.

Eco cruises, with environmentally friendly technology, an energy efficient management and meals from organic farming, just a future dream?

Presumably not, the early bird catches the worm, even on the ocean...

At the example of the tourism masterplan for the islands Ko Maak/ Ko Chang in Thailand on behalf of GTZ climate protection measures will be developed in close cooperation with local stakeholders.
If you are intere3sted to recieve more details about the workshop "Destination Management and Climate Change" in Bangkok please do not hesitate to contact me!

The sectoral project "Tourism and Sustainable Development" of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) aims to support partner countries to use the potential of tourism for sustainable development and to mitigate ecological and social risks of tourism.

A new flyer, which has been designed recently provides an overview on the sectoral project.

More information under: http://www.gtz.de/tourism

As a matter of course this question may not be seriously raised for new hotel buildings or holiday centers. Energy is expensive, tourists are becoming increasingly environmentally sensitive and due to impending climate change sustainable energy technologies will become self-evident very soon.

But how about the use of solar energy in tourism destinations, which are unique because of their idyllic landscapes and historic buildings?

Do we have to fear, after the "asparagusation" of the landscape by wind generators, the "mirrorisation" by solar panels?

Would the authenticity of those unique destinations, which consider an increasing tourist demand, be abandoned?


A recent survey on sustainable-tourism.com showed apparently different opinions regarding this question.

Admittetly it has to be pointed out, that nearly everybody was appealed by this question. The answer-box "I don't care" of the survey remained nearly empty.

Nearly half of the answers indicated, that solar panels are basically not interfering with tourist destinations. The other half participants of this survey claimed not to install such technology on historic buildings, while solar panels in idyllic rural regions would be acceptable, however it was mentioned that the particular case should be carefully taken into consideration.

Conclusion: environmentally friendly tourism is up to date. The solar industry now is requested to come out with appropriate and aesthetically designed
products, from solar boats to the "designer solar panel". The blue and glittery patchwork on some rooftops might be than possibly a thing of the past quite soon.

And how about a solar interpretation trail for tourists? Possibly even a solar edutainment center? Or Germanys first solar-Hotel?

Manyfold options, but somebody has to take the challenge!

Systaic AG, one of Germanys leading solar companies, conducted a workshop at July 10th on sustainaibility in tourism in the Energydesign-Center in Berlin.

Approximately 30 people both from Germany and other countries, such as architects, climate experts and tourism companies attended.

After the presentation discussions about climate change and sustainable tourism continued while Germany's first "Solar Beer" was served.

Internet:

http://www.energiedesigncenter.com

In April 2008 the President of Madagascar inaugurated the Madagascar exhibition at the Art-Center Berlin in Friedrichstraße on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the German-Malagassy friendship contract.

Thanks to the helpfulness of the German Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, original documents from the German Kaiser Wilhelm and his chancellor Otto von Bismarck, which have never been published before, where shown in order to introduce the background history of the contract.

Beside information panels and exhibits, Malagassy banknotes which are rated by experts to be the probaply most beautiful banknotes of the world where shown as well. Furthermore paintings of contemporary Malagassy artists and monochrome photos of the star photographer Pierrot Men from Madagascar where exhibited.

Finally, a wooden model of the currently reconstructed Rova Palace in the capital Antananarivo was presented the first time in Germany.

It started with CFC-free refrigerators, today climate protection affects nearly all products, from the beer crate to energy production. But: well-meant is not always well done and well done unfortunately is not always well-meant ...

How does the tourism industry do?

Are German travel agents enough dedicated to climate protection?

An online survey on sustainable-tourism.com recently showed, that german tour operators should do much more in for protecting the climate.

After all, almost a quarter of the answers acknowledged that german tour operators are engaged in this field. However, the question about examples or known best practices remained almost unanswered.

Fees and environmental taxes where considered by the majority as most acceptable to ensure financing of activities in climate protection.

More than 75% of the participants in the survey stressed, that they would agree to pay a higher price for environmentally friendly tourist products.

Taxes for the financing of conservation projects or for more environmentally friendly infrastructure, however, met less approval.


Result: tour operators should handle climate protection efforts much more offensively. "Do best and talk about", this well-known idiom seems to match again. The question about climate impact of a hotel swimming pool might influence the buying decision in future, as it allready does in the automotive sector, where the Co2 expulsion of cars has become meanwhile an important purchase criterion.

Who would have suspected that some years ago?

The state owned tourism organisation OMRAN organized ia workshop in February 2008 on coastal zone management and sustainabillity in tourism in co-operation with Berlin-Consult. Representatives of the Ministry for Tourism and from tourism enterprises and organizations attended the event.

Topics such as environmentally friendly design of hotels and watersport infrastructure or environmental management and their suitability for the Sultanate of Oman were presented and discussed with the workshop participants.

The former so called "Russian Riviera" today is a sun and beach destination for tourists from Georgia and surrounding countries, such as Turkey and Armenia.

However, Adjara has much more to offer: remote valleys with ancient stone bridges or, for example, the fascinating history of Batumi, the harbour city, where the Nobel company produced the first oil tankers of the world. A theme Museum shows impressively the history of the town, from the Rothschild clan, Chinese tea farmers who brought the tea to this part of the world to the various nations, which established consulates and embassies during the times of the oil boom in Batumi.

Today, the Adjaran coast with its numerous bird sanctuaries faces a never experienced building boom, which requires immediate and target aimed development plans.

On the occasion of a meeting between the German Federal President and the President of the Rebuplik Madagascar a German Malagassy co-operation project between the foundation of Prussian castles and gardens and the Malagassy National Heritage Comittee was launched in order to exchange experiences, to establish networks and to develop cultural tourism projects within the Rova Palace area in the Malagassy capital Antananarivo.

At present, a journalist journey is in preparation.

The Sayaboury province in north Laos is not yet much frequented by the tourism industry. The area is located along the Mekong river and counts with its four northern districts today among the last regions with remaining areas of nearly untouched nature in Laos.

In Khorp district still original rain forests with a unique flora and fauna, among this also remaining stocks of tigers and bears, can be found. However, the existence of these areas is endangered, most by logging, road construction and poaching.

Nature based and sustainable tourism could generate an alternative income in order to protect the valuable landscape. Therefore a tourism development concept with pilot measures in the four selected districts along the Mekong River in North Laos was presented and discussed with local stakeholders in Luang Prabang recently. Nearly 45 guests attended at the workshop and discussed opportunities for further development.