Global Ecotourism Conference 2007

Lifelong Learning in Ecotourism

Aivar Ruukel

Estonian Ecotourism Association

Personal Profile● 1994-96

Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative● Since 1995

private tourism business in Soomaa national park

● Since 1996 Estonian Ecotourism Association, networking nationally and internationally

Personal Profile● Since 2000 lecturer and trainer at courses and

seminars nationally and internationally● Since 2001 consultant nationally and

internationally● Since 2006 Student at Estonian University of

Life Sciences

Issues

● Estonian Ecotourism● Experience from

Soomaa National Park● ECOLL Project

(Lifelong Learning for Ecotourism Development)

Estonia on the map

Estonian Ecotourism

● Kodukant Ecotourism Initiative● Ecotourism Association – ESTECAS● Our mission● Our activities

Seminars, Conferences, Fairs Plans, strategies at national, regional and local

levels Ecotourism labelling process

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label

● Established in 2000● Criterias:

Accept carrying capacity Support local economy Green business perfomance Support conservation of nature and culture Responsibility, education and respect Safety and quality

Estonian Ecotourism Quality Label

● Destination analysis● Environmental plan

www.ecotourism.ee

National Parks of Estonia

• Lahemaa

• Matsalu• Vilsandi• Karula • Soomaa

Soomaa National Park

• established in 1993 • 400 sq.km• RAMSAR area

since 1997

Soomaa National Park

- Bogs, forests, meadows, rivers

- Home for eagles, black storks,flying squirrels, wolves, bears, lynx ...

Soomaa.com

● Private company• Established in 1995• 8000 quests in 2005• Operating in Soomaa NP

Canoeing trips on the rivers

Walking on the bogs

Skiing on the bogs

Five seasons – more reasons

Regular floods – a fifth season

Five seasons – more reasons

Regular floods – a fifth season

www.soomaa.com

Our policy

The philosophy of SOOMAA.COM is ecotourism, which means to us:

- supporting preservation of cultural and natural heritage

- educating tourists and public- promoting local economic

development

Local People

The backbone of our activities is a network of farms along the rivers and people living there.

• involvement in planning• guide services• other services

– food, transport, riding, B&B

Conservation of alluvial meadows

Conserving the culture of haabjas

Haabjas- Estonian dugout canoe

Conserving the culture of haabjas

Haabjas-building workshops

1995 - 2000

Haabjas-building workshops

1995 - 2000

Haabjas and ecotourism

New product - exclusive trips on the rivers

Haabjas and tourism

Image building and promotion for Soomaa NP • lot of attention from media• in 2005-06 eight film-teams visiting Karuskose

Haabjas and tourism

Promotion of Soomaa on festivals in Tallinn and Tartu

Partnerships and networks

Partnerships

• Horizontally and vertically

• Within the business sector and across sectors

ECOLL

● Project period 2005 – 2007● EU Leonardo finance ● Vocational Schools from 4 Countries

Võru County Vocational Training Centre – Estonia University of Lapland – Finland Schools of Economics no1 Nicolaus Copernicus-

Poland Vocational Training Centre “Alfonso Motolese” -

Italy

ECOLL

● Partners from business sector Finnish Nature-based Entrepreneurship Association Tourism Agency Wedrowiec (Poland) Touriusm Agency "Terrae Maris" Estonian Ecotourism Association Estonian Rural Tourism Association Soomaa.com (OÜ Karuskose)

ECOLL ● Objective is to develop programme for

education and training in the area of ecotourism in accordance with the principles of lifelong learning.

ECOLL

● Target groups: Students who choose tourism as their vocational

training program People who already work in the tourism sector People who live in rural communities with

ecotourism potential

ECOLL

Activities of each partner country develop the requirements for professional

qualification adapt existing and develop new programs, teaching

materials, and curricula test the new programs, teaching materials and

teaching methods in the education environment and test their validity in the partner companies

ECOLL

Learning Modules: Tourism Impact on Environment Safety and Wilderness Skills Ecotourism Marketing Foreign Language Guiding and Tour Leading Cultural and Natural Heritage Ecotourism Management

ECOLL Modules

Tourism Impact on Environment

ECOLL Modules

Safety and Wilderness Skills

ECOLL Modules

Ecotourism Marketing

Foreign Language

ECOLL Modules

ECOLL Modules

Guiding and Tour Leading

ECOLL Modules

Cultural and Natural Heritage

ECOLL Modules

Ecotourism Management

www.ecoll.ee

ECOLL Summer Camp

03. – 07.of July 2007 in Soomaa, Estonia

Welcome!

Thank you! Questions please?Contacts: Aivar Ruukel

phone: +3725061896

aivar@soomaa.com

skype: sookoll3