28.04.06
Awards signal 'green revolution' for Cornish tourism
While Sir Menzies Campbell, David Cameron and Tony Blair
make competing claims over their green credentials, four tourism
businesses in Cornwall can now prove their commitment in the
form of an internationally recognised award, the Green Tourism
Business Scheme (GTBS).
Pollaughan Farm Cottages on the Roseland, Venus Beach Café
and Shop, Tolcarne, Primrose Valley Hotel, St Ives and Penwarren
Guest House, Falmouth have all been accredited in the Green
Tourism Business Scheme, Europe's largest scheme for tourism
businesses that care for their local area and the wider environment.
The award is just the latest step for these tourism businesses
who have been key participants in the Cornwall Sustainable
Tourism Project (CoaST), and have been spreading the 'green'
message to fellow businesses as 'Ambassadors' as part of a
support programme through CoaST.
Manda Bookman, Manager of the CoaST Project, comments: "The
CoaST Ambassadors have been a critical part of CoaST's efforts
to drive up interest in sustainable practice across the industry,
and to now have their efforts rewarded by becoming the first
four Green Tourism Business Scheme accredited businesses in
Cornwall is simply fantastic. They have set the bar high!"
Pollaughan Farm Cottages on the Roseland have achieved a
Gold Award from GTBS. The ethos at Pollaughan has always been
to care both for the visitors and community, by working hard
to raise awareness about how simple measures can help minimise
the impacts on Cornwall and its beautiful environment.
Valerie and Tim Penny from Pollaughan, said: "We
are delighted to be the first GTBS Gold standard accommodation
provider in Cornwall. It is all about the little things, which
added together, have a bigger impact. It doesn't have to be
about making major changes or investment. Many will find they
are already doing a lot of the things required to achieve
an award. We hope that other businesses will be inspired."
Venus Beach Café and Shop, Tolcarne are also Gold
Award winners, the latest achievement for the Venus Company,
which picked up a string of awards in 2005 from, The Queen's
Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development and Cornwall
Sustainable Business of the Year to the International First
Choice Responsible Tourism Award.
Mike Smith, Managing Director of the Venus Company, said:
"We are very pleased to have received a gold award
at Tolcarne, which supports our business mission to be the
greenest beach café and shop operator. We are confident
that this recognition will have a positive impact on our business
at Tolcarne in a similar way as we have experienced at our
three beach sites in Devon."
Primrose Valley Hotel, a contemporary style hotel in St Ives,
has achieved a Silver Award from GTBS. They have focused their
efforts on reducing the impact that they and their guests
make on the environment, particularly by sourcing high quality
local produce and supporting the Marine Conservation Society
with a 'visitor donation scheme'.
Sue Biss, of Primrose Valley Hotel, said of the awards: "We're
very excited to be the first hotel in Cornwall to receive
a GTBS award, and we have to thank our guests and staff for
their support and ideas. This will only spur us on to do more
and to help influence others of the long term economic and
environmental benefits of going green!"
Penwarren Guest House in Falmouth has been run by Ann and
Alex Holmes for just over two years and has achieved a Silver
Award from GTBS. During the two years, Ann and Alex have taken
small steady steps with the help of CoaST, Cornwall College,
guests and staff alike.
Ann, from Penwarren Guest House, said: "We are
over the moon to be Cornwall's first GTBS Guest House. Our
guests say they like to know they are supporting a business
that in turn is supporting Cornwall. It's surprising what
a big difference a little effort will make and you can save
money too; it's all good news!"
Teresa Timms, Public Relations Manager for Visit Cornwall,
believes that these achievements are part of a wider shift
within tourism: "We would like to believe that Cornwall
could, and should, lead the way in sustainable tourism. Our
visitors are increasingly concerned about the impact they
have on the environment so it's really encouraging to see
the way in which many of our tourism businesses are embracing
sustainable tourism practices, and are being recognised for
doing so."
The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS), which was recently
rolled out across the South West and has members in Scotland
and several other English regions, examines a wide range of
issues before awarding gold, silver or bronze. As well as
energy, water and waste, GTBS looks for visitor involvement,
support for local products and businesses and of course, the
local wildlife.
Neil Warren, Sustainable Tourism Manager of South West Tourism,
concluded: "This is only the starting point in Cornwall
and we invite more businesses to seize this opportunity. Interest
has been particularly strong and before the summer is through
we should start to see a good choice of places to stay and
visit with the extra 'feel good' appeal that this award offers."
Tourism Businesses wanting to receive a GTBS information pack
regarding the accreditation scheme should contact Green Business
on 01738 632162, or email: andrea@green-business.co.uk.
CoaST can offer local support to businesses wanting to develop
their sustainable practice, call 01872 562057 or email: info@coastproject.co.uk
for more information.
For further information please contact Liz Dale at South
West Tourism on 01392 353218 or email pressoffice@swtourism.co.uk.
The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the
Isles of Scilly has invested in the CoaST project through
the European Social Fund (ESF) and Coast Sustainable Tourism
Building on Distinction project through the European Regional
Development Fund (ERDF).
Editor's notes:
Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439
cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk
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