1. The Knowledge Resources Guide The SUVOT Project Sustainable and Vocational Tourism Rimini, 20 October 2005

2. SUVOT’s objective and output Objective: to reinforce the action lines of the Network of Cities for Sustainable Tourism transferring the outputs as best practices on sustainable tourism in developed destinations. Output: workshop combined with a study-visit to disseminate existing tools and best practices and to present a Knowledge Resource Guide (KRG)

3. Objectives The Knowledge Resources Guide will focus on the role played by Local Authorities in the implementation of sustainable tourism activities in coastal areas, and their consequent viability. Local Authorities should be able to provide to the tourism industry and to the investors a clear framework containing more sustainable practices within this sector, from the choice of the location to the building and management of the tourism facility. The recommendations that will result in the KRG are meant as a contribution towards the desired sustainability of the tourism industry. It is hoped that the Guide will provide a base for approaches and which will promote tourism investments equally respectful of the environment, the culture and the economy.

4. Output The Guide analyses the existing tools in order to drive tourism to a more sustainable development The Guide presents a range of suggestions for Local Authorities (for private sector, national governments, and other stakeholders, as well) to manage tourism development in an ecological, economic and socially sustainable approach.

5. What is the KRG ? a tool to:  Define devices available for sustainable tourism development;  Present the best practices on sustainable tourism carried out by the Network’s partners;  Reinforce the Network’s initiative;  Spread its scientific contribute abroad.

6. How does the KRG work? Developing broader projects which can be transferred to other local governments with similar conditions; Joining efforts to negotiate with multinational companies, international founders, national governments; Benefiting from joint dissemination strategies which are more likely to reach the tourists and the tour operators; Improving the co-operation and exchange of information with big European Tour Operators.

7. Methodology Background research focused on existing guidelines and best practices reports Check-list survey between partners through specific questionnaires 1. Reporting on existing experiences on sustainable tourism within the Network, including other relevant external experiences; 2. Evaluating results achieved to define Best Practices of sustainable tourism; 3. Definition of the “Guide” structure as an “easy to use” communication tool. Working phases

8. The guide is for: Local Authorities Tourists Operators and Investors

9. Working steps 1. Selection of criteria of the sustainable tourism experiences and identification of project areas; 2. Definition of a specific questionnaire to collect data on sustainable tourism management policies; 3. Data collection; 4. Analysis and evaluation of cases to appraise “best practices”; 5. Drawing up conclusions and recommendations; 6. Presentation of the Guide and open discussion (during the International Workshop of October 2005 in Rimini) 7. Final update and publication.

10. How to use the KRG: two sections 1. Tools for a Sustainable Tourism are presented according to the field of application: 2. How to implement an integrated sustainable tourism strategy International European Local

11. Tools valid at international level Environmental Management System (ISO 14001) for destination and services; Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment (TCCA) according to the Guide-lines of PAP/RAC - MAP (UNEP). Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) according to the Draft Protocol of PAP/RAC - MAP (UNEP) The Local Agenda 21

12. The ISO 14001 for private companies The International Organization for Standardization is the world’s leading developer of International Standards for transferring know-how, avoiding wasting resources, safeguarding public health and safety, and providing criteria for evaluating imports and for producing exports to compete on markets worldwide.

13. The Tourism Carrying Capacity Assessment according to the Guide-lines of PAP/RAC – MAP (UNEP) Methodology formulated by the Priority Actions Programme in the Regional Activity Centre of the Mediterranean Action Plan of UNEP, within the priority action entitled "Development of Mediterranean Tourism Harmonized with the Environment. The TCCA aims to determine the upper desirable limits of development, that means identify the optimal use of tourism resources by analyzing all the components of the local tourism development and defining potential scenarios of development.

14. The Integrated Coastal Area Management ICAM is a process of achieving goals and objectives of sustainable development in coastal areas, within the constraints of physical, social and economic conditions, and within the constraints of legal, financial and administrative systems and institutions. The TCCA, as evaluation and assessment technique, must be considered as a compulsory component of ICAM.

15. The Local Agenda 21 A way for municipalities to ensure that businesses, including tourism, address their constituents’ needs and operate in ways that enhance sustainable development. For tourism destinations, Local Agenda 21 planning processes addressing sustainable tourism are the most efficient mechanisms to ensure governance of tourism and its impacts in the long run.

16. The Environmental Management System for destination (EMAS II) The environmental tools for services: – Ecolabel for tourism services – Green Procurement Tools valid at European level

17. The Environmental Management System EMAS II The Eco Management and Audit Scheme is a voluntary scheme that allows voluntary participation in an environmental management scheme for organizations operating in the European Union and the European Economic Area. It requires a verified initial environmental review and that the policy, programme, environmental management system and details of the organizations performance are made publicly available as part of the environmental statement

18. Environmental Public Procurement A way to promote public procurement policies that encourage development and diffusion of environmentally sound goods and services. Public authorities by purchasing wisely, can save materials and energy, reduce waste and pollution, and encourage sustainable patterns of behaviour.

19. Tools applied at local level Voluntary labels for tourism Any relevant and successful experience in the field of sustainability This step is still working in progress in order to complete the data collection and the evaluation of experiences.

20. How to implement an integrated sustainable tourism strategy Best practices and voluntary instruments of sustainable tourism must be integrated in a single strategy for sustainable tourism Local authorities can play a key role in defining this Integrated Sustainable Tourism Strategy The Guide will analyse also the existing experiences of integrated strategies That will be the added value provided by the KRG