New hope for independent Eden

European communities pledge to make tourism heaven on earth happen in Europe

EDEN destinations (European Destination of Excellence Network) came together in Mellieha, Malta to discuss the way forward for the organization.

During a week of networking and discussions in the Maltese EDEN destination of Mellieha, stark choices, as well as delicious Maltese specialities, were on the menu.

The story is that EU funding will shortly be reduced and withdrawn and the 100+ community tourism destinations will be on their own – so the choice is to either become self-sustaining or die.
The options were outlined bluntly by the organisation’s voluntary chairwoman – Anya Niewierra of South Limburg Tourism, after the EU representatives had made the situation clear.

EDEN destinations were faced with either paying a fee to belong to the organization, to make it fully professional, and to commit to contribute in real participation, or to let the organization quietly die.

As if to emphasize what they may lose, around 150 participants from Europe’s ‘Best of the Best’ sustainable community destinations – watched presentations in a stunningly beautiful open air setting between a 2,000-year old church and the sparkling blue Med whilst they mulled the choices.

They learnt about sustainable certification from Xavier Font by video link from the ICRT, about the role of the online travel agent from Justin Francis of Responsible Travel and about EU funding opportunities from the head of the Maltese funding unit. They learnt about how successful tourism networks work from the award-winning Alpine Pearls network and the Cruise Baltic network.

The meeting shared examples of best practice from Aivar Ruukel of Estonia’s Soomaa National Park: Tuomo Tahvanainen of Finland’s Wild Taiga;  Xavier Lechien from Durbuy in Belgium; from the coast of Sardinia; Izabella Engel in the Warta River Mouth; Tahir Askoy from Turkey, Lucio d’Amore from Italy; Sigurdour Atlason from Westfjord, and Yann Helary from France’s Green Venice.

In the end, after brainstorming and more in depth discussions the participants voted en masse to commit to preserve and enhance their organization.

Finally, to celebrate the beauty and hospitality of their destinations, the mayor of Mellieha took all the participants for an open top bus ride to see the Maltese sunset and to enjoy a musical entertainment, yet more networking, and local specialities in the fabulous ancient EDEN port destination of Isla.

The agreement will be ratified in September in Brussels.

As Robert Cutajar, the Mellieha mayor, and host of the conference, repeated in his closing speech – “We may not be able to do big things but at least we can do small things with all our Hearts”.
Maybe that’s what makes excellence in community tourism.

There will be a call for proposals to fund in May from the EU; the European Travel Commission is to give the EDEN destinations more visibility on VisitEurope.com; a relationship is to be forged with EUTO (European Union Tourism Officers association); Aivar Ruukel from Soomaa in Estonia is to lead the organization’s drive towards social networking and Vision on Sustainable Tourism is to showcase all the EDEN destination.

It’s sure that many other initiatives will shortly be seen in the revitalized organization.
SEE VIDEO: www.visitmalta.com/eden-mellieha
 

Valere Tjolle
Valere Tjolle is editor of the Sustainable Tourism Report Suite

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