A recent adventurous group of tourism business managers completed their final two days of the Special Award in Ecotourism on the high roads and by roads of counties Leitrim and Fermanagh. This award has been developed by IT Sligo and Responsible Tourism Skillnet to assist tourism businesses to develop a more sustainable approach towards their tourism business and to develop their own ecotourism product.Attending the course were a range of businesses from the Burren region of Clare including the Cliffs of Moher centre, the Boghill centre, the Burren Connect project, the Burren Ecotourism Farmer Co-op, the Burren Smokehouse and Roadside Tavern, Gregans Castle, Doolin Activity Centre and Corrofin Hostel & Camping.
The overall motivating factor for completing the course was according to Carol Gleeson from Burren Connect was to, “differentiate our own tourism product within the market place by developing a sustainable ecotourism product”.
The two day field trip was lead by Greenbox and the Responsible Tourism Skillnet from their base in Manorhamilton. The trip consisted of showcasing the award winning ecotourism products and services within the Greenbox region. This included Ard naHoo, the award winning eco-lodge outside Dromahaire in Co. Leitrim which holds both the EU Flower award and the Greenbox Ecolabel award for environmental excellence in a tourism business. Further visits to a range of ecotourism businesses who are members of the Greenbox network included the Lough Allen adventure centre, Derrygonnelly Field Study centre, the Marble Arch caves and the Leitrim Sculpture centre. Not content to simply showcase their business product, the participants were treated to the full package with a guided farm education walk, luxurious organic, local food and tips on using sustainable principles to reduce a tourism businesses daily energy and waste costs from a shrewd, seasoned hotelier.
The Special Award in Ecotourism delivered by Responsible Tourism Skillnet and IT Sligo is a five day HETAC accredited course aimed at entrepreneurs in the tourism sector who wish to develop the sustainability of their business towards an ecotourism product. The course explains what ecotourism is and the potential of the future ‘green tourism and travel market’ for existing tourism business. It will help a business use sustainable principles to reduce their costs associated with waste, water and energy usage. Participants learn the meaning of the term ‘greenwashing’ and the particular challenges it presents to entrepreneurs venturing into the market. The course focuses on the importance of offering authentic ecolabelled packages to the discerning buyer in this market, highlighting the role certification provides as an assurance of a quality product. By the end of the course each participating business has a project proposal completed outlining how their business will become more environmentally sustainable toeards the development of an ecotourism product or service.
The Responsible Tourism Skillnet is interested in hearing from tourism businesses who would like to complete this exciting programme in Ecotourism. The programme can be delivered in a variety of locations and benefits from a significant subsidy from the Responsible Tourism skillnet. The Responsible Tourism skillnet is a training and support network for enterprises within the ecotourism sector and those interested in developing their business in a more environmentally friendly way. The skillnet is funded by the national skillnets fund under the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and is promoted by Greenbox, Ireland first ecotourism destination.
