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Written by Catherine Rountree
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Tuesday, 30 November 2004 |
A Pilot Project in Responsible Tourism
Seán Conlan is a very lucky man. Why? Because he gets to think about holidays
all day. The downside is that he’s thinking about other peoples’ holidays
and how to make them extra special, long-lasting only in memory, not on the environment.
Seán Conlan is the new CEO of ‘The Green Box,’ a new organisation
looking at encouraging and developing responsible tourism in the Leitrim and Fermanagh
area.
His job is to work with providers, communities, and others to identify the unique
facets that are core to the eco identity of the area and product. The challenge
is to find a way to deliver this without compromising the original product which
is seen as the clean green beauty and heritage of these border counties. A balance
between standards, certification, and community ethics whilst avoiding homogenisation
is necessary. They must also work to build their vision of a model of responsible
eco tourism – to make Ireland’s first, world-class eco tourism destination
– a template for others to follow.
The concept of eco tourism is relatively new here but has been happening in many
parts of the world for some years. It has been said that eco tourism offers a
potential block for Africa as a means of rebuilding her ravaged economies and
communities.
There are various models to explore and this is the work that now faces The Green
Box. Seán stresses, ‘It’s about thinking how to ensure that
there is the maximum spreading of assets in the visited area with the minimum
negative impact on the local environment and communities.’
Eco tourism should be a community based initiative. ‘You need a vibrant
community to have tourists coming. You need happy, healthy, sustainable communities.
Practically, it’s about linking what you have - in Leitrim perhaps an organic
food trail for visitors to follow. Or perhaps a craft workers’ trail linking
from Fermanagh through Manorhamilton and her sculpture centre and on to the excellent
Leitrim Design Centre in Carrick-on-Shannon. Or a healthy living trail linking
some of the excellent centres such as Ard Nahoo in Dromahaire. It is also building
on the Kingfisher Cycle Trail – the largest of its kind in Ireland –
and growing it into an eco-network.
Then you must look at transport and innovative means of transporting visitors
with the minimum environmental impact, that allows visitors to move comfortably
from their interest area to quality food and accommodation. The transport should
not compromise on comforts and the human interest that makes it a real holiday
full of stand-out memories.
The Green Box promises to be unique, and knowing the wily border counties,
innovative. As the luckiest man in the west said, ‘It’s about
appreciating what is there, and sharing it wisely.’
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