Work on the Implementation of the EU Ecolabel Scheme in the Areas of Marketing Lot 8

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1 Annex 6 Work on the Implementation of the EU Ecolabel Scheme in the Areas of Marketing Lot 8 Info-report Presentation of the EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation services, Riga, Latvia Date: May 8 9, 2007 Ernst Leitner, Stefan Tauchhammer, G&L Rainer Stifter, Energon May 2007 On behalf of the European Commission

2 Result Type of activity: Presentations on the EU Ecolabel for tourist accommodation services in close cooperation with the Latvian CB Mrs. Rasa Atauga. Location and date: The EU Ecolabel workshop and on site visits took place in Latvia from May 8 to 9. On May 9, the Latvia acquisiton tour started with a seminar on the Flower carried out by G&L and Energon (Ernst Leitner, Rainer Stifter, Stefan Tauchhammer) in cooperation with Mrs. Rasa Atauga, Manager of the EU Ecolabel award scheme in Latvia. It took place on the premises of the Latvian Environment, Geology &Meteorology Agency in the city of Riga. More than 25 visitors from tourist accommodations and campsites attended this seminar. The next day, 3 on site visits and 1 face to face consultation were performed at interested accommodations allover Latvia. These checks were done by Mr. Rainer Stifter and Mr. Ernst Leitner. It turned out that one of these accommodations called Ginas in the rural area of Latvia and the campsite Gailas on the Baltic Sea have a strong application interest. The follow-up will show the final results of this tour. Objectives: The main objectives of these two days were: Active presentation to relevant stakeholders in local and regional tourism Awareness raising among decision makers in tourism Find and consult interested tourist companies to apply for the EU Eco-label The following information material was distributed: EU Ecolabel project folder in Latvian Ecolabel brochures in Latvian Business fact sheet in English (Camping & Tourist Accommodation Services) 1 application pack Commission decisions Give aways

3 Program: Tuesday, May 8 Program 9:00 9:15 Introduction by Minister of Environment 9:15 9:30 Competent Body The EU Ecolabel in Latvia and ways to apply, Rasa Atauga 9:30 10:45 The EU Ecolabel for tourism accommodation criteria and LdV project Train to Ecolabel to implement criteria, Rainer Stifter 11:00 11:30 Representative Spa Hotel Usma / Farm Jaun levinas. Best practice from an EU Ecolabelled accommodation 11:30 12:00 Marketing for the EU Ecolabel, Ernst Leitner, Stefan Tauchhammer 12:00 12:30 Discussion Wednesday, May 9 On site visits. The following tourist accommodations were consulted: Gina, 2 apartments (4 beds), Pilsétnieki, small pension Eglieni and the face-to-face consultation with the campsite Gaila Supported accommodations Name Date Result Ginas May 10 Interested in certifying, follow up Rasa Atauga Pilsétnieki May 10 Informed on the Flower, will contact us upon interest Eglieni May 10 Informed on the Flower, will contact us upon interest Camp Site Gaila May 10 Interested in certifying, follow up Rasa, Rainer Stifter Situation in Latvia The tourism sector on the countryside is mainly dominated by smaller rural accommodations with less than 10 beds. There also exists a national eco-label called Lauka Celotajs (Green Certificate) which strongly competes with the EU Ecolabel as it is popular in this Baltic state. A stronger co-operation with this label could be helpful for the Flower. In general, Latvia is the ideal country for sustainable tourism due to its large number of national parks, moors and long beaches at the Baltic Sea. The proximity to other natural areas in adjacent countries like Estonia and Lithuania makes it an ideal place to make sustainable tourism bundles throughout the borders. Next steps The most important step is for Rasa Atauga, the national CB, to follow up the contacts established with the interested accommodations and camp sites.

4 Photogallery seminar May 8, 2007: Mrs. Atauga, the Latvian CB, introduces the Flower. The audience listening attentively. Mr. Stifter explains the criteria of the EU Ecolabel. The owner of the first Latvian EU Ecolabelled accommodation Spa Hotel Usma / Farm Jaun levinas proudly presents his service. Mr. Leitner at his presentation on the EU Ecolabel scheme. Mr. Tauchhammer presenting the marketing benefits of the Flower.

5 Photogallery on site visits May 9, 2007: During the first on site visit. The owner of Ginas with Mr. Rainer Stifter and Mrs.Rasa Atauga. In front of Pilsetnieki. The owner of Eglieni. Overview over Eglieni.

6 Overview over the campsite Gaili.