Lorem  Ipsum  

ecoplan:net manuals

Technical  documents  to  support  your  transition  to  a  responsible  tourism  business    

 

  2  

Lorem  Ipsum   2  

Ecolodge  Design,  Construction  and  Operations  Manual  for  USAID  

1

Ecoplan:net was retained by Chemonics International and USAID to prepare a comprehensive Ecolodge Development and Operations Manual to be used to a] assist Egypt’s Tourism Development Authority (TDA) to assess the credibility of various ecolodge applications and b] to assist new developers in constructing facilities that responded to the highest environmental requirements. The document was subsequently distributed to existing resort and lodge operations in the Red Sea Region in order to promote more environmentally responsible lodging ad food services operations.

2

A Practical Manual for Investors The manual is divided into three sections.

Section 1 included an assessment of existing ecolodges particularly in arid and desert environments but also considered were responsible practices in coastal, marine, mountain and forest locations.

In Section 2, these ‘Best practices’ were used to identify and describe more than 150 development criteria, standards ad technologies that would be most applicable to the conditions within the Egyptian desert environment.

Section 3 provided a checklist to TDA that allowed them to rate the quality of the ecolodge application.  

Design  with  Nature  “the  MANUAL  demonstrates  how  developers  and  investors  can  integrates  the  local  environment    but  also  how  responsible  ‘green’  management  can  continue  to  protect  the  environment  for  years  to  come”  –  Emirates  resort  investor  

 

  3  

Lorem  Ipsum   3  

Sustainable  Tourism  Guide  Certification  and  Training  Manual  for  the  Bahamas  Ministry  of  Tourism;  Sustainable  Tourism  Unit    

1

ecoplan:net was hired by The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism to develop a certification program and associated training materials to assist those guides seeking to be identified and certified by the College of the Bahamas as practicing the highest standards of sustainable guiding. The manual was initially designed for the fly-fishing sector but is readily modified to meet the requirements of the sea-kayaking and bird watching guides. This is one of 4 manuals which also includes the a) Auditor training, b) the technical manual (for fly-fishing) and a Train-the-Trainer Manual.

2

The manual addresses all requirements to being a sustainable guide including preparation of an environmental policy, business plan and environmental scan.

Also practical guidelines were provided for energy and water conservation, the elimination of hazardous materials, ensuring local purchase, tourism responsible tourism awareness, contribution to community projects, offering interpretation programs, safety and security standards, responsible marketing techniques and identify guest satisfaction. The manual also formed the basis to the Auditors Training Manual.

Sustainable Guide Certification and Training Manual

“this  is  a  concerted  effort  to  building  a  local  industry,  particularly  on  the  Outer  Islands,  where  qualified  residents  have  the  chance  to  make    a  decent  salary  and  strengthen  the  local  island  economy”      

 

 

  4  

Lorem  Ipsum   4  

Sustainable  Fly-­‐fishing  Guide  Technical  Certification  and  Training  Manual  for  the  Bahamas  Ministry  of  Tourism;  Sustainable  Tourism  Unit    

1

A Sustainable Fly-fishing guide TECHNICAL Certification and Training Manual was produced to complement the basic sustainable guide manual. The fly-fishing guide certification requires a comprehensive knowledge of both sustainable tourism practices as well as the techniques of fly-fishing, fish ecology and marine ecosystems, boating safety and outboard motor maintenance.

Fly-fishing techniques; the manual contains both a written description as well as a DVD of fly-fishing techniques including: fly-fishing gear, casting under various

2

conditions, proper catch and release, knot types and tying, types of flies and use, etc. A description of tidal conditions and the impact on fishing is also presented.

Boating techniques and water safety; proper voting operations, boating and water safety, planning and preparation clients [briefings] demonstrating leadership skills, risk management and emergency response, etc.

Outboard motor maintenance; fuel system and cooling systems, mounting the Ford Motor, troubleshooting, regular maintenance requirements, spark plugs and propellers, pre-departure checklist, etc.

Sustainable Fly-fishing Guide Certification and

Training Manual

“Many  of  our  experience  guides  are  true  professionals.  This  training  program  provides  the  additional  skill  development  and  certification  necessary  to  prove  that  we  are  world-­‐class”      

 

 

  5  

Lorem  Ipsum   5  

Rural  Tourism  Gȋte  Planning,  Construction  and  Operations  Manual  for  the  USAID  and  Morocco  Ministry  of  Tourism  and  Handcraft  USAID/ Morocco Rural Tourism Development Program (2002 – 2004)  

As the Chief of Party for this multimillion dollar USAID rural tourism development program, James was responsible for the preparation of numerous documents and manuals designed to support the development of tourism throughout Morocco’s rural regions. This accommodation construction and operations manual was prepared to assist local entrepreneurs with the site location, planning, design and construction and operations of small rural Hotels, B&B, Gîtes and Maison d’Hôte. The manual and development guidelines provided the operators with site planning options and typical facility layouts including

Rural Tourism Accommodation Manual

“the  manual  will  receive  widespread  distribution  as  the  interest  of  local  investors  grows.  The  Manual  assures  a  common  understanding  of  the  need  for  QUALITY,  SERVICE  and  ENVIRONMENTALY  RESPONSIBLE  MANAGEMENT.  Abdullah  Hachimi,  Chief,  Rural  Tourism  Unit,  MOT  

 

kitchen, dining room, bedroom/bathroom and recreation room layout and design features. Guidelines also addressed the use local construction materials. Operations guidelines identify staff requirements and qualifications, Guest services and reception, management techniques, marketing requirements and budget. Emphasis was also placed on operating on strict responsible tourism principles including Energy and water conservation, waste management, etc.

 

  6  

Lorem  Ipsum   6  

Botswana  Ecotourism  Best  Practices  Guidelines  Manual  for  the  Commonwealth  Secretariat  (London)    

1

ecoplan:net was hired by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Botswana Tourism Board (BTB) to identify Ecotourism Best Practices in Africa and worldwide. Approximately 40 ecotourism destinations and facilities where assessed and a comprehensive description was provided for 20 facilities. Information extracted from the analysis of these operations then provided more than 180 planning, design, construction, operations, tour and marketing criteria that would ensure a sustainable tourism eco-operation.

Each criterion was then described so that it could assist any operator or enterprise that

2

wanted to be a responsible tourism business. For instance water saving devices, energy conservation practices, and waste management techniques that encouraged recycling and composting were described in technical detail. These criteria eventually were used as a basis to the standards identified in the Botswana Green and Ecotourism Certification program.

The manual won the 2010 Tourism for Tomorrow Award (Destination Category) which also included the Green and Ecotourism Certification program, prepared by ecoplan:net.

Practical Ecotourism Guidelines and Practices

“This  guidelines  manual  demonstrates    how  both  ecotourism  operators  and  all  tourism  suppliers  can  

offer  a  quality,  responsible  tourism  product”                                                        -­‐-­‐  Botswana  Quality  Tourism  Assurance  Officer  

 

  7  

Lorem  Ipsum   7  

Ecotourism  Itinerary  Planning  and  Package  Tour  Operations  Manual    for  the  Canadian  Museum  of  Nature  

James was retained as an in-house consultant by the Canadian Museum of Nature. His mandate was to identify business opportunities for the museum, with particular emphasis on ecotourism packages that could be sold to the museum membership. Some of these packages were developed with museum staff and others built on existing tour products offered by select international ecotourism operators.

In order to ensure that all tour products met the highest international ecotourism standards. James prepared a detailed manual including guidelines outlining all ecotourism criteria with respect to community involvement and guest/host relationships, energy and water conservation, waste management practices, interpretation program standards, use of environmentally responsible accommodation and transportation, and other attributes typically associated with a quality ecotourism experience.  

Low  impact  itineraries  for  the  ecotourism  market  

“these  itineraries  will  respond  to  the  growing  market  demand  for  ecotourism  and  generate  new  revenues  for    the  Museum”                                      -­‐-­‐  Robert  Leblanc,  Director  General,                            Canadian  Museum  of  Nature  ,  Ottawa,  Canada  

 

  8  

Lorem  Ipsum   8  

Canada’s Sustainable Tourism Policy and Action Plan, for Tourism Canada and GLOBE ‘90  

Canada’s first Sustainable Tourism Policy and Action Plan was prepared by ecoplan:nets’ James MacGregor as part of GLOBE ’90 (Global Opportunities for Business and the Environment). During that landmark event, James gathered tourism specialists, NGO’s and environmentalists from a dozen countries to collectively present their vision of a sustainable tourism policy. James worked with the team to craft 28 policies and a 5-year action plan that was designed to position Canada as a leading nation in sustainable tourism. The document was widely distributed and was used by several provincial governments and national to structure their own sustainable tourism policy. The Action Plan was subsequently integrated in Canada’s National Sustainable Development Strategy.  

A  new  vision  for  Canada’s  tourism  

“  these  are  the  first  sustainable  tourism  policies  in  North  America.  We  will  therefore  ensure  that  they  receive  wide  spread  distribution”                                                                                                                    –  Frank  Stock,  Manager,  Tourism  Canada  

 

  9  

Lorem  Ipsum   9  

Bahamas Sustainable Tourism Development Policies for the Organization of American States (OAS), Washington and Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

ecoplan:net was retained by the OAS to assess the environmental issues on the Island of the Bahamas and develop a set of Sustainable Tourism Policies and Implementation Strategy to both influence cabinet as well as establish a framework for long term sustainable development. Policies were prepared for each of the following catagories: 1. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT 1.1 Sustainable Planning 1.2 Assessing Economic Impact 1.3 Local Involvement and Benefits 1.4 Public Consultation 1.5 Intergenerational Equity 2. RESPONSIBLE MARKETING 3. RESORT/HOTEL GREEN MANAGEMENT 3.1 Green Management Policy + Audits 3.2 Purchasing Procedures 3.3 Energy Reduction Techniques + Technologies 3.4 Use of Pesticides and Herbicides 3.5 Product Lifecycle Analysis + Recycling 3.6 Staff Training + Green Team 3.7 Green Certification Programs + Standards 4. HERITAGE RESTORATION 4.1 Sustainable Architecture 4.2 Site Planning 4.3 Protection of Heritage Landscapes

“These  sustainable  tourism  policies  will  protect  our  islands  for  future  generations  of  

Bahamians”  -­‐-­‐  Patricia  Knowles,  Permanent  Secretary,  Bahamas  Ministry  of  

Tourism    

 

 

 

  10  

Lorem  Ipsum   10  

1

5. SITES/FACILITY DEVELOPMENT 5.1 Site Planning 5.2 Site Design 5.3 Building Construction and Materials

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 7. RESEARCH + MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS 8. NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE

PROTECTION

9. PROTECTION OF MARINE RESOURCES 10. MARINE DEBRIS REDUCTION 10. ENFORCEMENT

2

12. WASTE MANAGEMENT 12.1 Waste Reduction 12.2 Solid Waste Management + Audit 13. WATER CONSERVATION 14. TRAINING AND EDUCATION 14.1 Public/private Sector Staff Training 14.2 Public Environmental Education 14.3 Tourist Education 15. NATIONAL INITIATIVES 15.1 Sustainable Tourism Planning 15.2 Conservation Strategy 15.3 Strengthen Sustainable Resource Management Capacities 16. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT UNIT

WINNER:    Green  Globe  Achievement  Award  

 

 

Lorem  Ipsum  

 

For  information:    James  MacGregor  212  537  749  444  jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com