COUNTRY: Germany/ Bavaria

CLIENT:
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH

PROJECT TITLE:
„Seminar and study tour on ecotourism for Tunisian tourism businesses“

SHORT DESCRIPTION

In January 2013, the Bavarian State Government signed a cooperation agreement with Tunisia, in which an action plan with the topic ‘Green Hotels – Ecotourism’ was included. In order to ensure the sustainability of the initiative, it was integrated into the current BMZ programme on Tourism in Tunisia. In October 2013, the agreement was implemented and Tunisian professionals and managers of the tourism sector were invited to Bavaria to a practice-orientated technical seminar on green hotels and sustainability. Organisations and enterprises in the region (e.g. La Villa Hotel; Studiosus Reisen, Ulrichshof Bio Resort, Nationalpark Bayerischer Wald etc.) presented their philosophies, strategies and practical measures on the topic of sustainability.

The participants should get (1) an introduction into the basic requirements for eco-tourism in Bavaria, (2) the possibility to build a contact network and exchange opportunities and (3) be able to impart the strategy options, implementation processes, and opportunities for collaboration with industry leaders/suppliers and business partners in Tunisia.

The seminar is targeted towards Tunisian hoteliers and includes the following:

• Integrated tourism development as an indicator for sustainability
• Structure of hotel and restaurant associations
• Concepts of renewable energy for hotels and restaurants
• Energy, water and waste management for hotels and restaurants
• Equipment and management of eco-hotels
• Best practice examples
• Rural development through nature parks
• Sustainable tourism as a brand