21 key requirementsQuick Check Tourbench  

About this Publication
Foreword
Europe
The European Union
Destinations
Table: core set of indicators
Eco-labelling tourism
The tourism market
The VISIT approach
The VISIT Standard
The VISIT eco-labels
The VISIT message
Easy access to eco-labelled products
The VISIT Association
Outlook 2010
Word of thanks

 

The VISIT Standard

Assessment of the compliance of 12 eco-labels with the VISIT Standard

The following documents from each eco-label were checked by ECOTRANS as independent project partner in 2002 and 2003:

  • A signed declaration on the compliance with each of the 21 requirements together with a list of documents to show evidence.
  • The complete list of environmental performance and management criteria for each label.
  • A detailed description of the application, verification and certification procedure.
  • The full up-to-date list of certified tourism products in Europe.
  • Additional print material and information on the eco-labels’ websites.

At the end of 2003 this pre-assessment of the compliance with the 21 key requirements of the VISIT Standard had led to a positive result with 12 eco-labels.

Quick check:
Does your eco-label comply with the VISIT Standard?

  • Does the eco-label aim to contribute to sustainability and service quality?
  • Do the criteria include performance and limit consumption requirements in most relevant environmental fields and along the “life cycle” (purchase - service – waste)?
  • Do the criteria go beyond legislation?
  • Must the licensees monitor their consumption of energy, water and production of waste?
  • Does the verification procedure include independent on-site audits?
  • Is the period to use the licence limited to a mximum of 3 years?
  • Are the criteria and the list of certified tourism services available to the public?

If “yes” – congratulations! You should benefit from the VISIT initiative.
If “no” – no problem! You may wish to exchange with VISIT eco-labels and to improve your scheme. info@ecotrans.org

 

Requirement # 12:“Monitoring regularly energy, water,
waste consumption / overnight”

TOURBENCH:
The on-line benchmarking system for the measurement of environmental consumption.

There is no doubt: less water and energy consumption, decreasing use of detergents and less waste production, mean a decrease in costs. A typical medium-sized hotel or camping site can annually easily save up to € 20,000 with the above mentioned measures. However, stressful everyday life at work does not allow 95% of all small and medium-sized enterprises to systematically undertake the steps needed. In order to minimise this problem, from 2005 onwards a new international monitoring and benchmarking system TOURBENCH will be ready to use, on-line and in 9 languages. After a basic set of data input the system will outline the main priority measures the business should focus on. It will outline which areas they can improve their business and which is the most effective way to decrease expenditure and improve efficiency.
Moreover, non-certified accommodation businesses can gain basic help in identifying and meeting the standards to obtain a relevant eco-label. Already certified accommodation businesses can also measure their environmental consumption with TOURBENCH; in doing so they fulfil one of the most important requirements within the framework of the certification system.

Registration and use of the website is free of charge (launch in September 2004):
www.tourbench.info