The Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Project in the Kent Downs AONB, Natural East Kent and the Parc Naturel Regional Caps et Marais in the Nord Pas de Calais

 May 2007 – June 2008, funded by Interreg IIIa

The Kent Downs and Caps et Marais d’Opale’s joint commitment

The Kent Downs AONB and Caps et Marais PNR are both nationally important areas of countryside, protected for their landscape and conservation importance and separated by the English Channel. They share many common features of geology, landscape and land-use, and come under similar pressures due to their shared strategic location in the Transfrontier region.

A primary concern of the Transmanche Sustainable Tourism Project is to protect and enhance two nationally protected landscapes. Through pursuing joint co-operation and co-ordination of efforts in developing and supporting sustainable tourism, the project will:

• support and enable tourism businesses to contribute to rural regeneration
• develop sustainable business practices within the AONB and PNR
• develop quality tourism linked to the conservation of the high quality environment
• develop a stronger identity for the AONB and PNR

Activities and exchanges will focus on the following environmental, social and economic priorities:

• minimise negative impacts of tourism and develop activities that contribute towards landscape conservation;
• support strong cultural identities by supporting and working with rural communities and businesses, promoting partnerships and encouraging active stakeholder engagement ;
• strengthen tourism multipliers; identify and develop linkages throughout the tourism and tourism related supply chain;
• provide business support and advice to tourism businesses; support employment growth in the rural tourism industry.

Natural East Kent

Natural East Kent (NEK) is a rural tourism development and marketing area including the rural areas of Canterbury, Thanet and Dover Districts. This area contains a variety of landscapes ranging from the semi-ancient woodlands of The Blean to the marshes of Minster, Chislet and the Ash Levels. The White Cliffs of Dover makes up much of its Heritage Coast along with the Ramsar site of Pegwell Bay. Inland the farmed areas of the lower slopes of the North Downs contain many ancient villages, churches and historic windmills, as well as the former sites of the East Kent Coalfields.

Developed by the East Kent Partnership, the NEK Initiative includes existing and potential local projects such as the Blean, Reculver, Stour Valley, Sandwich & Pegwell Bay, Lydden Valley, Wantsum Channel, the Seasalter reserve and the White Cliffs. A large section of NEK falls within the eastern end of the Kent Downs AONB.

The development of sustainable tourism is an important element of the NEK Initiative:

• to engage visitors in heritage, traditions, cultural activities, local products and produce, gastronomy, and crafts
• to encourage and support active local community participation
• to provide support to tourism businesses in developing sustainable business practices.

While nature conservation and biodiversity are important aspects of NEK, economic and social developments are equally important, making an important contribution to improved economic performance and the regeneration of rural and coastal areas.

For more information on NEK and the Green Tourism Project, go to www.nek.org.uk

Kent Downs AONB Unit project initiatives

Subscribing to Europarc Sustainable Tourism Charter Status
The Europarc Federation’s Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas has been developed by a European group representing protected landscapes and stakeholders. To place both project partners firmly on the map of responsible tourism destinations, the AONB and PNR aim to achieve Charter status.

This project will form the basis of the strategy and action plan required to gain Charter status, and stimulate the sharing of best practice and joint promotional opportunities. Achieving Charter status requires a commitment to drawing up a sustainable tourism development strategy aimed at:

• improving the quality of the tourism offering;
• developing a tourism experience specific to the area;
• raising public awareness;
• gaining a commitment from local tourism businesses to participate in training opportunities to improve knowledge within the local tourism industry;
• the protection and improvement of the quality of life for local residents;
• the protection and enhancement of local heritage and natural resources;
• social and economic development.
  
  Building on the networks successfully established as part of the Sustainable Tourism Project in the Mid Kent Downs, the Kent Downs AONB Unit will establish an online interactive communication and discussion forum for tourism businesses in the AONB and NEK, providing links to related services and organisations. The forum will consist of the following:
  
• Email discussion forum: a facility for members to post and ask for advice and information, share ideas and best practice.
• Green Directory: an information page providing details of and links to local sustainable products and services.
• Thematic advice pages: e.g. on walking/cycling/riding/equestrian opportunities, local food & drink producers, arts & crafts, energy saving technologies, water efficiency equipment, waste management and recycling.
• Kent Downs’ and NEK culture pages: provide information on and links to examples of traditions, stories and legends specific to the Kent Downs and NEK. Forum members will be invited to provide such information.
• Events & Announcements page: for communities and rural tourism businesses to highlight events and activities.
• Facts & figures page: did you know – links to research, feasibility studies, case studies and examples of best practice.
• Members’ directory: information on members of the network.

Advisory directory for tourism businesses
Drawing on identified sources and the Kent Downs Rural Advisory Service, the Kent Downs AONB Unit will establish an advisory directory for rural tourism businesses, with referral and tracking system. This will entail establishing a directory of consultants, services and information providers that will be made available on the online networking forum, covering:

• New business start ups and farm/business diversification
• Developing a business strategy/business plan/marketing plan
• Renewable energy development and installation
• Regulations applicable to tourism businesses – quality grading schemes, DDA, food regulations, health & safety
• IT information and advice – web creation and promotion, e-marketing, e-business
• Local produce – business training on sourcing and using local produce

Training seminars and workshops

A series of courses and workshops for AONB and NEK tourism businesses will be delivered throughout the duration of the project:

• Rural tourism focused courses – deliver Tourism South East’s suite of Rural Welcome courses, including Welcome Walkers & Cyclists, Green Advantage and Local Produce.
• ICT related training – work with local colleges to deliver ICT training courses devised specifically for rural tourism providers.

Full details of the training schedule will be announced here in due course.

Green Tourism Business Scheme

The Kent Downs AONB Unit will extend GTBS membership throughout the AONB and launch the scheme in NEK. Developing membership in the AONB and NEK will involve holding introductory GTBS workshops, co-ordinating and promoting local GTBS activities and providing ongoing maintenance of the scheme. For further information on the GTBS, go to our Green Tourism page and to www.green-business.co.uk

Promotional Programme

 Visitor publications Two new visitor guides will be produced for the AONB and NEK published in English and French.

Local rail network promotional campaign The AONB Unit will collaborate with Southeastern on a poster campaign and distribution of the new AONB and NEK visitor guides. Preliminary research will be conducted into the feasibility of establishing a bike hire operation at railway stations (along the lines of that operated at London tube stations).

Itineraries With the support of TSE and the Rural Ways initiative, the Kent Downs AONB Unit will assist local communities to establish itineraries (Country Breaks) that include all elements of a stay in the Kent Downs and NEK. These itineraries will be featured on the Rural Ways website, but are intended to form the basis of future collaboration between tourism businesses and other stakeholders within communities.

Promoting local food & drink The Kent Downs AONB Unit will support Produced in Kent in developing a business directory featuring Kent Downs and NEK distinctive food & drink producers and retailers. The aim of the directory will be to develop links between producers and tourism providers – but is also intended as a useful source of information to the consumer. The directory will be featured on the online networking forum and AONB website.

Postcards Postcards provide an opportunity to promote a simple effective message. A series of cards will be produced to promote the beauty of the AONB and NEK landscapes, carrying a message to support and conserve the landscape through practising sustainable tourism.

Familiarisation trip of NEK The Kent Downs AONB Unit will organise and host a familiarisation trip of NEK for tourism information centres. This will also involve giving presentations to TICs on the AONB and NEK covering the opportunities available to the visitor as well as the key features of the landscape.

For further details of the Caps et Marais d’Opale’s project activities go to www.parc-opale.fr