O Cuiv to initiate first eco-tourism region today

The country's first eco-tourism region will be launched in Leitrim today by the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív.The new "Green Box" is a region which includes most of Leitrim and Fermanagh, as well as parts of north Sligo, west Cavan, south Donegal and north Roscommon.

Tourism operators who sign up to the Green Box programme must comply with certain environmental standards in areas such as waste management, energy efficiency and the use of locally sourced produce.

They will receive accreditation for these achievements and will be included in an annual "green guide". The standards will be monitored by an independent agency and will be recognised internationally.

Similar models for eco-tourism exist in Australia, New Zealand and South America.

More than 80 food and accommodation providers, visitor attractions and festivals in the north west have already said they will take part in such a programme.

The initiative was drawn up by the multi-agency Western Development Tourism Programme, in conjunction with the Western Development Commission and the Organic Centre in Rossinver, Co Leitrim.

Funding will come from various EU and rural tourism programmes. The certification programme is expected to be finalised in the autumn and training programmes will then be held. The new scheme will be in place for the 2004 season.

It is the most exciting thing to happen in tourism in years, said Mr Alan Hill, manager of the Western Development Tourism Programme.

"This is the start of a very, very exciting, new process for us all," he said. The Green Box plan would attract about 4,800 new visitors in the first year, with a 20 per cent increase by the third year of operation.

"This is not displacement. These people will be coming specifically for an eco-tourism holiday," Mr Hill said.

Eco-tourists were interested in holidays that had the lowest possible impact on the environment while improving the welfare of local people.

"I have to stress that this is not a marketing exercise. This will be driven by standards. The product has to be authentic."

Mr Hill said he hoped there would be four Green Box regions in the west of Ireland within five years. He also expected other parts of the country to take up the initiative. Eco-tourists take longer holidays, spend more and see more parts of the country, according to research.

An Australian tourism research study found that the average spent by inbound tourists visiting national parks or undertaking nature-based activities ranged from $2,000 to more than $3,000, while the average spend for general visitors was under $1,800.

The Western Development Tourism Programme believes an extra €5 million will be directly invested in new tourism products and infrastructure in the north- west as a result of the plan.