• 1. To Promote the Eco Tourism Awards and Ecotourism principles.

• 2. To offer easy-to-followtips that ensure we not only save energy and resources, but also create a cleaner, greener planet for our children.

• 3. To provide a forum among the members for the exchange of environmental ideas from across the globe. Ideas both from Northern and Southern Hemispheres, tips for businesses in cold, warm and tropical climates, deserts, snow fields, mountains, seaside resorts, convention centres and small and large tourism providers.

Skål International, following the United Nations declaration of 2002 as the Year of Ecotourism and the Mountains, launched the Ecotourism Awards in the same year, to highlight and acknowledge best practices around the globe.

Skål, as an international organisation of industry leaders, is a powerful force in the travel and tourism industry to initiate change and encourage the conservation of the environment in order to promote tourism and travel.

The awards presented on these grounds, while highlighting best practices in tourism around the world, also serve the purpose of acquainting the world with this new concept that puts emphasis on the importance of the interaction of the physical, cultural and social environments, the traveller’s responsibility and the need for active community participation in Ecotourism.

Declaration for Sustainable Tourism Development

Skål values sustainable development as the key to the industry’s future success and considers Ecotourism but one area of the various components of sustainable development. We are a tourism organisation which cares about the possible implications of its activities. We recognise our responsibility in developing and operating in such a manner as to contribute positively in the protection and preservation of our natural, social and cultural environments.
We recognise and accept our responsibility to operate in such a way as to continuously decrease the impact of our activities on the environment, to provide benefits to the communities which host these activities, and to ensure the well-being of local societies and the sustainability of destinations so that they can be
enjoyed by future generations.

For this reason we bind ourselves to:

• Protect the natural environment and cultural heritage.
• Cooperate with local communities, ensuring that they benefit from the visits of our customers, and encourage our customers to respect the local particularities and way of life in the areas they visit.
• Respect wildlife, protected areas and the landscape.
• Respect the integrity of each local culture and its social institutions.
• Comply with the provisions of national and international legislation.
• Reject and discourage touristic practices which are illegal and exploit people and the environment beyond any limit.
• Cooperate with enterprises, local, regional and national authorities, international organisations and non-governmental organisations in order to achieve stainable development of tourism.
• Provide information on our activities in order to encourage sustainable tourism development.
• Publicise the progress we make in achieving the goals mentioned above.

We recognise that we cannot achieve our goal of sustainable development without the help of our associates and customers, and we hope that together we will succeed in a better touristic experience for all. 

Four PillaRs of Sustainable Tourism

1. REDUCE...

By far the biggest impact we can have on global warming is to reduce our consumption. There are dozens of ways which have significant impact without really affecting our lifestyles. These include everything from switching off unneeded lights to car-pooling.

2. REUSE...

We can cut down considerably on waste if we use things more than once.
Especially packaging and containers – we must do away with single-servings and introduce reusable containers.
Additionally, many items we throw away could be given away or resold, to reduce the reliance of others on new goods.

3. RECYCLE...

Most of the waste products we pay others to take away could be turned into energy or money. Even rotting garbage gives off methane which could be used to power our cars.
In addition, separating your rubbish provides the means for others to recycle (one man’s trash is another man’s treasure).

4. REPLACE...

At present, we’re stripping resources from the world.
Everything from the fish in the seas to the grain on the farms is being seriously depleted. As the human population grows, it’s imperative that we are able to sustain ourselves at a ‘micro-’ level. That means each and every one of us needs to put back what we take out.

WATER CONSERVATION

•  Use or install water savers in the taps, especially showers and baths.

• Use or install water cisterns with full and half flush options.

• Use the shower instead of the bath.

• Use washing machines and dishwashers with low water consumption.

• Use water sprinklers in gardens.

• Separate waste water for recycling use. Only use recycled water in gardens.

• Repair all leaks promptly.

• Regulate water use so as to prevent waste.

• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.

• Carry out periodic maintenance of swimming pools to prevent unnecessary costs. Avoid using chemicals.

Energy Conservation

• Switch off televisions, computers and other electrical appliances. Do not leave them on standby.

• Use microwaves instead of ovens.

• Use energy saving bulbs (CFL’s) instead of regular bulbs.

• Set air conditioners to 25 deg. C in the summer.

• Switch off the lights when leaving a room.

• Use cold water in washing machines.

• Always choose to stay in environmentally friendly accommodation when travelling.

• Check the condition of electrical appliances periodically.

• Use solar energy to heat your water or pool.

• Employ systems that are able to reuse the heat emitted from air conditioners to heat water or the pool.

• Install insulation to prevent heat loss, and use double glazing.

• Turn off car engines when stationary for long periods of time - - for example, at traffic lights.

• Use public transport whenever you can.

• Install master switches to turn off electricity when rooms are not in use.

Waste Reduction

• Use glass containers.

• Buy re-usable shopping bags.

• Separate rubbish according to its type.

• Buy unpackaged products where possible.

• Use unbleached recycled paper without chlorine.

• Use paper on both sides.

• Insist your providers use recyclable containers.

Emission Control

• Do not pour paint or used oil in drains.

• Avoid any products, such as aerosols and fridges that contain CFC’s.

• Have your cars checked annually.

• Use eco-friendly products (biodegradable or natural)

• Use natural fibres such as cotton, silk, linen or wool.

• Avoid oil burning boilers. Use heat pumps or natural gas.

Social Responsibility

• Do not buy products made from endangered animal species or protected hard woods.

• Maximize the number of your local employees.

• Give priority to local providers.

• Publicise and participate in local cultural activities.

• Promote local gastronomy.

• Publish materials on environmental issues and responsibilities.

• Do not tolerate sexual tourism.

• Avoid selling products that infringe on copyright protection.

• Promote racial, religious and cultural harmony. Respect people as individuals.

• Combine working life and family life, and maintain a healthy balance.

• As a manager, help spread the word and promote social responsibility in the work place.

• Put care for the environment on the agenda at every opportunity.

• Encourage individuals in your company to contribute to society and educate others on the protection of the environment.

Eco Top Tips