11/05/2005– WWF and the
Tour Operators' Initiative (TOI) for Sustainable
Development launched a partnership to develop
sustainable tourism in the Mediterranean.
The partnership between WWF and TOI will be
first tested on the Croatian island of Lastovo,
one of the last "jewels" in the
Mediterranean that is almost untouched by
tourism development.
WWF and its Croatian partner Sunce identified
Lastovo as an area of high natural importance
in the Mediterranean in need of urgent protection.
WWF and TOI priorities are to assist national
authorities and the local community in the
establishment of Lastovo as a nature park
and to provide inputs for its sustainable
management plan. The two organizations will
also explore opportunities for economic development
through sustainable tourism.
“This is the first time ever in the Mediterranean
that local people, conservationists and the
tourism industry have agreed to work together
for tourism that supports both the local economy
and nature conservation," said Paolo
Guglielmi, Head of WWF's Marine Unit in the
Mediterranean.
"With the 350 million tourists expected
to visit the Mediterranean by 2020, tourism
and nature must find a way to coexist in harmony.
If not, there wil be irreversible destruction
to the region.”
Both WWF and TOI share concerns over the
environmental effects of tourism in the Mediterranean
and will focus their efforts and activities
on supporting governments and authorities
to improve conservation and the sustainable
use of marine and coastal habitats. They will
also work together to raise tourists’ awareness
on marine issues.
”For development to be sustainable, there
needs to be a balance between economy, ecology
and society," said Tom Selanniemi, TOI
Chairman and Director of Research and Development
at Aurinkomatkat-Suntours.
"To protect people and places, we need
a sound economic base, and sustainable tourism
can provide that.”
NOTES:
• The Tour Operators’ Initiative (TOI), formed
in March 2000, brings together outbound and
inbound tour operators from different markets
and of different sizes that have in common
a firm commitment to integrate sustainability
concerns into their business operations. The
TOI is supported by the UN Environment Programme,
UNESCO, and the World Tourism Organization.
Members of the TOI include LTU Touristik,
World of TUI, Aurinkomatkat, First Choice
and others.
• The Island of Lastovo ranked very high
in all scientific biological and socio-economic
assessments and was proposed for protection
as the first of a series of core marine protected
areas to be established between the National
Park of Mljet and the Kornati Islands to form
what has been defined the “Dalmatian Blue
Corridor”.
• The Mediterranean is one of the world's
leading tourist destination, with tourism
mainly concentrated in the coastal areas of
Greece, Turkey, and Croatia. By 2020, some
350 million tourists are expected to visit
the Mediterranean, representing about 22 per
cent of the international tourism market.
