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East Wales launches Green Tourism Business Scheme - 6th October 2009

Helping visitors to Wales find green accommodation and supporting local businesses to become more sustainable

PRESS RELEASE (for full press release click here)
Embargoed until 6th October 2009
 
East Wales launches Green Tourism Business Scheme

Tourism business from across the Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park gathered together to give the green thumbs up at the launch of the Green Tourism Business Scheme at Penpont House, near Brecon earlier today.
 
The event celebrated the launch of the new Green Tourism Business Scheme in East Wales - an eco-certification scheme acknowledging and promoting the green credentials of tourism businesses, such as B & B’s and self-catering accommodation. Officially launched by Richard Hammond, the renowned green travel journalist, the new scheme for Powys and the Brecon Beacons region is being supported by Glasu, the local regeneration partnership, funded through the R.D.P., along with Brecon Beacons National Park Authority through its COLLABOR8 programme funded by Interreg IVB NWE.
 
The project will offer important opportunities for businesses to achieve cost-savings, differentiation and a marketing edge over less sustainable competitors. The launch was attended by Julian Atkins, the NPA’s new Head of Countryside, , Andrea Nicholas from the Green Tourism Business Scheme, Mrs Punch Maughan from Brecon Beacons Tourism, and Councillor David Price, Chair of Powys County Council together with 60 other partnership members and tourism businesses across Wales.  
 
 
The Green Tourism Business Scheme is a recognised and respected international green tourism standard; so graded businesses can benefit from enhanced exposure in the rapidly growing eco-tourism market, increasing the number of visitors who stay and the amount of money they spend. 
 
The project, developed by Glasu and Brecon Beacons National Parks Authority, provides specialist local business advisors to recruit around 50 businesses interested in becoming more sustainable and then to help them along the most appropriate path. If you are interested in becoming green, achieving Green Tourism Business Scheme grading and in finding out how to attract eco-tourists to the area contact:
Cliff Webb, Wild & Green Tourism Officer at Glasu on 01982-553305. cliffw@powys.gov.uk
Or
Nick Stewart, Sustainable Tourism Officer at the National Park Authority on 01874-620490, nick.stewart@breconbeacons.org
 
Richard Hammond took the opportunity to find out more about the local work on sustainability, chatting with some of the guests at the event, including representatives from local tourism businesses, Local Authorities and members of the communities from across Powys and the National Park. Mr Hammond congratulated them on the success of the launch and their commitment to green tourism, saying: “I am proud to launch the Green Tourism Business Scheme in East Wales and wish it every success for the future. I have travelled all over the world and have seen how tourism can work to protect the local environment but also how damaging it can be if badly managed. I commend the work of the Brecon Beacons and Glasu in promoting and developing sustainability in tourism.”
 
Jane Davidson, Minister for Environment, Sustainability and Housing, who could not make it to the event due to her diary commitments commented: “I am very pleased that the Brecon Beacons National Park Authority and Glasu are promoting the concept of sustainable tourism. It is essential that Wales finds new ways of developing its economy in a way that protects and enhances its environment. I am sure that this new certification scheme as well as the Glasu and COLLABOR8 programmes as a whole will do just that.
 
 
“Tourism has to meet the challenge of sustainability. Programmes like the Green Tourism Business Scheme will help us demonstrate just how green Wales is and attract more and better custom to our tourism industry. Particularly in rural Wales the environment is increasingly what visitors come to experience and what therefore drives the local economy. I would encourage all local businesses to consider becoming involved.”
 
Chief Executive for Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, John Cook said: “The launch of this scheme is an important milestone in the implementation of our COLLABOR8 project. The National Park Authority has been actively been supporting sustainable tourism since 2002. COLLABOR8 takes us to a new level and we very much look forward to working with GTBS and Glasu to make a major success of the scheme in the Brecon Beacons area.and beyond”
 
-ENDS-
 
Pictures: Copyright of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority / Glasu
 
NOTES TO EDITORS
 
For more information contact:
Cliff Webb,                                                     
Wild and Green Tourism Officer,      
Glasu,                                                 
Antur Gwy,                             
Park Road,                             
Builth Wells,                           
Powys        LD2 3BA.             
01982 553305 / 07814 099837

or

Andrea Nicholas,                                            
Managing Director,
Green Tourism Business Scheme,
 4 Atholl Place,
Perth,
Scotland,
PH1 5ND.
01738 632162 / 07803 667664

or

Nick Stewart
Sustainable Tourism Officer
BBNPA
Plas y Ffynnon
Cambrian Way
Brecon              LD3 7HP
01874 620490

Project Officer


Cliff Webb

tel.01982 55 3305
email project officer