Green (or sustainable or resposible) tourism is a growing concern for consumers and businesses alike. Sustainable management of your tourism business can make have a positive effect not just on your business, but also on customers and staff alike.
North Norfolk Coast Earth Day
On Earth Day 2010, Thursday 22nd April, Deepdale Backpackers & Camping and Deepdale Farm will be hosting a whole range of eco friendly organisations for an Earth Day exhibition about the environment, including environmental technology installers, advisors, pressure groups and other related organisations. Deepdale Backpackers and Camping at Deepdale Farm on the beautiful north Norfolk coast is an eco friendly backpackers hostel and campsite.
Whether you are looking for solar panels, wood chip boiler, LED lights, ground source heat pump, wind turbine, need some advice about how to green up your home or business, want to know more about organics or just fancy a look around Deepdale's eco-friendly facilities, you are more than welcome. It doesn't matter if you are already interested in the environment, want to become more eco friendly or you're a sceptic.
Who should visit this exhibition:
- Businesses looking to green up their organisation
- Companies wanting to save money on services
- Architects and builders wanting to learn about more eco friendly building materials and techniques
- Farmers looking to diversify and needing some inspiration
and of course
- Individuals who would like to make their homes and lives more energy efficient
Plans are still being confirmed, so check back soon for more information.
Programme for the day:
8am to 10am - Shaping Norfolk's Future Sustainability Breakfast Meeting
10am to 4pm - Exhibition and talks
9am to 4pm - Scrap heap art challenge
This programme will be added to and edited. For the latest information please visit www.deepdalefarm.co.uk/earthday.
Green Tourism Business Scheme
The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the national sustainable tourism certificate for the UK, and is validated by Visit Britain.
Businesses opting to join Green Tourism are assessed by a qualified grading advisor against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more. Those businesses that meet the required standard, receive a Bronze, Silver, or Gold award based on their level of achievement. The current network of members is comprised of a wide range of business types, including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, corporate offices and others.
For more information and to view case studies from across the tourism sector, please see http://www.green-business.co.uk. Alternatively email gtbs@green-business.co.uk or call 01738 632162.
Nine Reasons to be Green
VisitEngland recently launched its first sustainable tourism case studies publication. This booklet celebrates nine sustainable tourism champions, each of them a winner of a regional heat of the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence, and who have gone on to the national competition.
The brochure, available online aims to showcase best practice amongst the industry and to inspire others to make changes that can positively affect their environmental, social and economic impacts, and includes case studies. To be inspired click here (PDF) or visit www.enjoyengland.com/green
Shaping Norfolk's Future - Sustainable Prosperity
The Shaping Norfolk’s Future’ website has been updated with a new Sustainable Prosperity page has been developed, which can be accessed either via the Shaping Norfolk's Future website or through a separate web address www.sustainablenorfolk.co.uk.
The new website has been designed to provide a central hub of information and an interactive platform from which the sustainable prosperity group will communicate its activities and share information on the environment, sustainability and the low carbon agenda. The page includes local and national news, events diary, useful links, funding opportunities and downloads. There are also further information pages categorised into Environmental Legislation, Energy, Water, Waste, Travel, Environmental Management Systems, Procurement and Construction. Each of these pages provides businesses with clear and concise signposting to national, regional and Norfolk based organisations that can provide businesses with information and guidance on each of the above topics.