Case Study: Green Tourism Business Scheme

Amount awarded: £12,000

Northumberland National Park Authority continues to steer a campaign to introduce the Green Tourism Business Scheme to the north east region. The Green Tourism project recruited 12 businesses located in and around the National Park and supported them through the process of securing a Green Tourism Business accreditation. These businesses have then been encouraged to act as champions of best practice to other businesses in the region. The project generated case studies, identified detailed costs and paybacks and highlighted the issues, challenges and opportunities that businesses may encounter as they subscribe the scheme.

The businesses were mentored and taken through the process of audit (i.e. to identify a baseline of their current position in terms of energy consumption, waste, promotion of local food and transport, etc.) and the adoption of an action plan (i.e. identify ways forward, the use of the technology, etc.) to acquire the accreditation needed for the award. The lessons learnt from the project will be passed on to new businesses that have expressed a desire to achieve the award. The project also raised the awareness of the tourism product to the region, helping visitors to become more aware of and supportive of the protected landscapes they visit on holiday.

Duncan Wise, project manager, said that the "Green Tourism Business Scheme was very worthwhile. The whole pilot was very successful throughout the North East, with 40 business taking part. For Northumberland National Park Authority, it stimulated an interest internally to drive through the sustainable development aspirations."