Pictured at the Green Tourism Business Scheme awards ceremony were (l-r), Jenny De Saulles, Fáilte Ireland, John Pierse, CEO, South Kerry Development Partnership, Duncan Stewart, Environmentalist and Guest Speaker, Nathan Kingerley, Outdoor Adventure, Andrea Nicholas, Green Tourism Awards. Photo:Valerie O'Sullivan.
A group of 55 South Kerry tourism businesses have become the first in Ireland to be certified under the Green Tourism Business Scheme. This is the first eco-certification scheme of its kind in Ireland and is designed to help all types of tourism enterprises manage their operations in a more environmentally friendly way.
Why Go Green?
Research shows that initiatives such as the Green Tourism Business Scheme are vital for both the development and the sustainability of tourism in Ireland:
- 90% of overseas visitors cite the beauty of our landscape as the reason they visit Ireland
- International research also shows that environmental considerations are increasingly becoming a factor for tourists
- Research carried out by Fáilte Ireland has identified a strong need from the consumer for an eco-certification scheme for all sectors of the tourism industry
- Over 80% of businesses currently participating in the Green Tourism Business Initiative in the UK are already achieving cost savings. It is anticipated that businesses in South Kerry will benefit in the same way over the coming year.
John Pierse, South Kerry Development Partnership, highlights the benefits to businesses participating in the scheme - “Feedback from tourism businesses participating in this pilot has been overwhelmingly positive, with many businesses already reporting cost savings in their businesses. As we all know, you can’t manage what you can’t measure, and businesses in this scheme have now been provided with the know-how is to determine where they are spending money on utilities such as energy, water and waste and how they can achieve cost savings in these areas.”
Fiona Buckley, Head of Operations for Fáilte Ireland in the South West congratulated the award recipients stating “These businesses have taken steps from reducing their energy and water consumption, to improving their waste management and sourcing fresh seasonal produce from local suppliers. All of these measures help ensure that they carefully manage our natural environment, without compromising on the high quality experience that is delivered to visitors.”
Interested?
Businesses interested in becoming involved in the Green Tourism Business Scheme will have the opportunity to partake in this training this autumn and can contact Mary Stack, Environment Unit, Fáilte Ireland at 01 8847 201 or mary.stack@failteireland.ie to express interest or get further information. The scheme, which was piloted in South Kerry, included accommodation providers, activity providers, restaurants, bars and outdoor visitor attractions is run by Fáilte Ireland and South Kerry Development Partnership through the INTERREG IVB NWE COLLABOR8 project. A full list of winners can be found on http://www.greentourism.ie/.
