Potential local partner view on the Opportunities and Challenges of PAN Parks Network

PAN Parks as a tool to improve management effctiveness in protected areas

Potential local partner view on the Opportunities and Challenges of PAN Parks Network

25th October 2007Tõramaa, Soomaa National Park Visitor Centre

Aivar Ruukel - Soomaa.com (Karuskose OÜ)

Who am I ?● Since 1995

private tourism business in Soomaa national park

● Since 1996 Estonian Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally

● Since 2006 nature tourism student in Estonian University of Life Sciences

Soomaa.com

● Programme services: Activities Guiding Saunas Accommodation

● 90% in Soomaa national park● Canoe trips since 1995

● Bog walking since 1996

● Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing...

Summer

Autumn

Spring

Winter

Fifth season

Haabjas building cources 2000-2005

Paddling trips on traditional dugout canoes - haabjas

Local people – local experts

Algis

Indrek

Arno

My experience about PAN Parks

● May 2005 – ecotourism labelling seminar in Malmö, meeting Mylene

● May 2007 – Global ecotourism conference in Oslo, meeting Mylene and Zoltan

● October 2007 – PAN Parks conference in Rila, Bulgaria

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label

● Established in 2000● Renewed in 2006● „Sister-label“ for

Natures Best label of Swedish Ecotourism

October 2007 – PAN Parks conference in Rila, Bulgaria

PAN Park officer visiting Soomaa

WHAT ARE

OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES

FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES?

PUTTING SOOMAA ON THE MAP !

OPPORTUNITIES

International Marketing

What do you think Vlado, where are our weakest points here in Estonia?

How to create a certification scheme for local business partners?

Professional Standards

Industry standards

Quality Labels

USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES

Professional Standards

- Guide services (Associations of Guides)

- Activities (Ramblers Association/ Matkaliit

Industry standards

- Accommodation

USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES

USE OF EXISTING QUALITY SCHEMES

Tourism Quality Labels in Estonia

- EHE – for ecotourism products (experiences)

- Green Key for accommodations

Soomaa – Estonian Wilderness Capital?

PAN PARKS MEANS MORE QUALITY

quality wildernessquality servicesquality visitorsquality experiences

I BELIEVE IN

PAN PARKS !

DO YOU?

Thank you! Questions please?Contacts: Aivar Ruukel

phone: +3725061896

aivar@soomaa.com

skype: sookoll3