Estonian Ecotourism Association
Mr.
Aivar
Ruukel
Chairman
Estonian Ecotourism Association
Organization Type
Annual Budget/Currency
Mailing Address
Telephone Number
http:// estonia.ecotourism.ee/
Alternative email address
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Keskuse
Quality of tourist experience and educational benefit to tourists .
Tourism-related business
1993
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Unite local small tour operators, introduce ecotourism ideas to them, develop tours and promote these ecotours to the global travel audience.
Ecotourism Estonia - a network of small local operators offering natural and cultural experiences at their destinations.
Quality Labels criteria are: 1. Respect carrying capacity 2. Support local economy 3. Environmental business practice 4. Support conservation of nature and culture 5. Responsibility, education and respect 6. Safety and quality Based on these common criterias, the local operators applying for the label, are taking into account their own local conditions, natural surroundings, social and cultural uniqueness.
Our success can be measured by: 1. Local operators involved in our Ecotourism scheme 2. Travelers buying and experiencing Estonian Ecotourism.
Ecotourism operators in our network are local residents and they use as much other local suppliers in their tour production.
All Ecotourism labelled tour-products are guided by local guides.
Ecolabelled trips that are promoted through or network are based on the unique features of the places what are experienced.
In 2006 and 2007 we have received from Estonian Tourist Board a grant of ca 700 EUR for educational materials and seminar for training local tourism businesses.
We have received small grants from our government bodies for training materials and workshops. We have not been supported for marketing Estonian Ecotourism abroad.
Lack of human resource for co-coordinating work, lack of skill for Internet Marketing.
Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label was established in 2000and was renewed in 2006. We would like to collaborate with similar networks in neighboring countries.
Aivar Ruukel has been project manager for 2-years Project "Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative " in 1993-1995 and chairman for Estonian Ecotourism Association since 1996.
I have bee 15 years working as private nature tourism operator in Soomaa National Park, Estonia where I live. See my company site http://www.soomaa.com I have also 15 years been one of the leaders for Ecotourism movement in Estonia. See my interview for ECOCLUB, International Ecotourism Magazine at their site: http://www.ecoclub.com/news/095/interview.html.
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Networks of similar kinds in other countries could benefit from our experience.