http://www.box.net/shared/static/r1iknoyzh5

Traveling with Climate in Mind Christina T. Cavaliere Director of Training & Education 202.347.9203, ext. 423 ccavaliere@ecotourism.org

What Is Ecotourism?

“Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people." ¶ Minimize impact, ¶ Environmental & cultural awareness and respect, ¶ Positive experiences for both visitors and hosts, ¶ Direct financial benefits for conservation, ¶ Financial benefits and empowerment for local people, ¶ Sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

TIES Main Projects • Research & Consulting – – – –

Consultancies Carbon offsets and sustainable transportation Environmental and social footprints of tourism enterprises Indigenous and community-based ecotourism

• Training & Education – – – – – –

Conferences and forums International on-site training programs & workshops Classroom and distance learning courses Publishing research, books and outreach materials UCFC program Outreach

• Membership – Network of professionals, institutions and businesses – Newsletters – Experts Bureau (speakers, consultants, lecturers)

TIES’ Offsetting Commitments Ecotourism Gala and Auction, Washington DC April 19, 2007: NativeEnergy and Myclimate • •

venue offset by NativeEnergy (electricity, lights and general operations) auctioned eco-trips (winners are encouraged to offset their flights using Myclimate)

Global Ecotourism Conference in Oslo, Norway May 14-16, 2007: Atmosfair •

Calculated total emissions including estimated travel of participants and speakers, venue and tours. Average amount of the offset is $57.00 USD. (24 people have engaged thus far/305)

North American Ecotourism Conference Madison, Wisconsin September 26-28, 2007: NativeEnergy • • •

venue offset by NativeEnergy staff flights will be offset negotiations are underway for the process of offsetting participant and speaker travel All TIES staff Flights are being offset for travel. All local staff in Norway are taking local transportation!

Sustainable Tourism Management

Global Warming, Ecotourism and Sustainable Transportation

Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 5

Sustainable Tourism Management

Why focus on transportation? ¾ Domestic tourism: 63% (DE) or 78% (NZ) of tourism‘s GH effect is transportation-related ¾ Long-haul tourism: > 90% transport-related (DE); Seychelles: 97% ¾ Modal shift from rail/buses to cars to airplanes ¾ Air travel one of the fastest growing GHG sources (now 1.6% to 9%) and growing ¾ Individual energy balances: frequent flying is part of an extremely unsustainable lifestyle Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 6

Sustainable Tourism Management

Options to achieve sustainable transport 1. Technological improvements (energy efficiency, renewable energies) 2. Operational optimization (aerial traffic management, occupancy rates, fleet maintenance, logistics) 3. Modal shift (to railway, buses) 4. Change of travel patterns (time-distance ratio, single destination) ĂŽ reduce energy intensity per day of travel 5. Regulatory instruments (energy tax, fees, cap-andtrade scheme, personal energy accounts) 6. Voluntary GHG emissions compensation (carbon offsetting) Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 7

Sustainable Tourism Management

Whose responsibility ? ¾

Aircraft manufacturers, automobile industry: technology, fuel efficiency, renewable fuels

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Airlines, airports & other transport companies: operational optimization, sustainable suppliers

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Destination managers (tourism as export product): domestic markets, increase length of stay, carbon offset

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Hotels & other local service providers: buildings and operations, local transport Î rel. small share

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Tour operators (outbound > inbound > local) design trips and market them

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The traveling consumer: buys trips or travels individually Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 8

Sustainable Tourism Management

Ecotourism Survey results ¾ Website analysis: 10% mention sustainable transport activities ¾ High awareness of climate change among respondents, but often lack of specific knowledge ¾ Outbound TOs: carbon-offsetting (no modal shift, no modified travel patterns)

ATTA

¾ Inbound TOs focus on local transportation: technological improvements; minimization of travel ¾ Barriers: lack of knowledge, higher costs, customer acceptance questionnable, supply constraints Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 9

Sustainable Tourism Management

Case study: Intrepid Travel (AUS) ¾ “Carbon-audited“ office operations headed by a full-time Carbon Offset Manager (!) ¾ All flights of staff and customers (if purchased through Intrepid) are being compensated for ¾ Compensation through methane destruction, renewable energies, forestry (Origin Energy, AUS) ¾ Modal shift as part of trip design (public transit, bike trips in Europe) ¾ Model trip “To the End of the Earth and Back“ (ground transportation only!) ¾ Total carbon neutrality planned by 2010 www.intrepidtravel.com Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 10

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines I - Passenger transport -

Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 11

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines II - Local produce -

Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 12

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines - Framework Product development

Supply Chain Management

Customer relations

Int‘l transport

FAR

TF

FAR

Intrepid

National transport

EUR

EUR

Studiosus

Local transport

NB EA

NB EA

TF STI

EA NB

Cooperation with destination

Internal management

The following criteria may be “basic“ or “advanced“ Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 13

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines - Key criteria Product development ¾

Offer a minimum number of long-haul trips with extended length of stay at destination (to be defined)

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Offer a minimum number of multiple-destination trips spending more quality time at a reduced number of sites (to be defined)

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Exclude short trips by plane (to be defined) Shift to rail or bus transport (incl. to airport) where feasible and convenient

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Minimize local transport, make non-motorized mobility part of the experience

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Exclude energy-intensive leisure activities (except for transfer)

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Offset GHG emissions through high-quality compensation Integrate carbon-offset costs into trip price Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 14

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines - Key criteria Supply Chain Management ¾

Preferably work with airlines striving for fuel-efficiency, having an environmental management system and/or offsetting GHG emissions (“Sustainable Aviation“)

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Use airlines offering direct flights to a destination

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Preferably work with transport companies and local operators striving for fuel efficiency, using renewable energies, having an envi-ronmental management system

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Work with local providers offering non-motorized forms of traditional transport (pack animals, canoes, rickshaws, porters)

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Preferably work with hotels/attractions offering courtesy shuttles and/or mass transit systems and buy locally Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 15

Sustainable Tourism Management

Sustainable Transportation Guidelines - Key criteria Customer relations ¾

Inform/educate customers about climate change, how they contribute to it by traveling and how they can mitigate their impact

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Calculate climate footprint of trips & include it in trip information

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Specially promote climate-friendly travel products (time-distance ratio, in-depth quality-time experiences)

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Specially promote the use of public transportation and nonmotorized leisure activities

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Inform customers about carbon-offsetting and, if not included in trip price, integrate voluntary payment into booking and/or match customers‘ payments

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Offer price incentives to boost booking of climate-friendly trips Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 16

Sustainable Tourism Management

Quality Standards for Carbon-offsets 1. A solid data base to calculate emissions

- Greenhouse effect of air travel emissions (RFI > 1.9) - Adequate aviation data (real distances, occupancy rates) (ie E-CLat)

2. Adequate compensation projects - The principle of additionality

- Effective, permanent emission compensation Î mixed portfolio or renewables preferable 3. External, independent verification/certification Î CDM, Gold Standard preferable 4. Customer education Î energy reduction before offsetting ! (TIES) Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 17

Sustainable Tourism Management

Conclusions for voluntary compensation 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Voluntary carbon offsetting is the prime climate protection measure for aviation and long-haul tourism creating a significant market for offset providers in the near future.

However, the current focus on carbon-offsetting in the travel industry is too narrow. Compensation must be complemented by other measures, such as adapted trip design and energy efficiency wherever possible.

While most carbon-offset providers comply with basic sustainability criteria, there is a lack of transparency which may hamper the credibility of the voluntary offset market.

There is strong competition among providers (prices, corporate clients) possibly entailing decreased sustainability (no RFI, simplified verification procedures, inappropriate marketing).

The development of sustainability standards is a priority for voluntary carbon-offsetting (currently pursued by Center for Resource Solutions in the US, and the UK government).

Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 18

Sustainable Tourism Management

Thank you for your attention !

Dr. Wolfgang Strasdas

April 18, 2007 / 19