Green Tourism Business Scheme kicks off in the Broads
Nine businesses are the first in the Broads to win Green Tourism Business Scheme Awards.
The scheme, which rewards businesses for being environmentally friendly and encourages them to champion their cause, is the largest of its kind in the world.
The Broads Authority invited local businesses to take part in this initiative and work towards a set of criteria to give them eco-friendly status.
The Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) programme was carried out in the Broads by Perth-based Green Business UK as part of a £23,000 ‘Greening the Park’ project. It received a grant of £13,000 from the Broads Authority’s Sustainable Development Fund to pay for the auditing and assessment of 15 businesses, produce the first National Park Green Guidance handbook and stage two seminars for Broads tourism businesses later this year. The Broads Authority itself provided £5,000 and Green Business UK £4,000.
As a result the following businesses were awarded Green Tourism status.
Pinetrees eco-friendly bed and breakfast accommodation at Beccles, purpose built of wood, won a gold award.
Silver awards went to Broadland Cycle Hire based at Hoveton; Clippesby Hall Holiday Park which provides a campsite for tents, caravans and holiday lodges; Fairhaven Woodland and Water Garden at South Walsham; Ivy House Country Hotel at Oulton Broad; Spixworth Hall Cottages, providing self-catering accommodation; The Old Rectory, a hotel at Thorpe St Andrew, Norwich; and British Wild Flower Plants, growers of native wild flowers at Burlingham Gardens, Norwich.
The Nancy Oldfield Trust, which provides water activity holidays for people with disabilities at Neatishead, won a bronze award.
GTBS founder Andrea Nicholas said: “These businesses are now a springboard for getting the Green Tourism Business Scheme kicked off in the Broads area. The award is a unique selling point. Not only does meeting the standards reduce environmental impact and improve cost savings but it improves public image.
“Businesses can achieve the standards by undertaking simple little practices like using low energy light bulbs, turning appliances off rather than leaving them on standby, using bin bags from recycled plastic and eco friendly cleaning products.”
Members of the scheme are visited by environmental auditors once every two years and graded against a set of 120 social, environmental and economic criteria including energy, waste, water, transport and wildlife.
“All members are making a contribution to reducing their environmental footprint and many have achieved significant reductions in energy, waste and water costs, improved staff awareness and increased business through the promotion of their green commitment,” said Andrea. “Some certified businesses have used their GTBS award as a stepping stone to win other awards.”
The GTBS, a non-profit-making company, is based in Perth, Scotland, and is an accredited VisitScotland Quality Assurance scheme. Now internationally recognised it has been rolled out across Europe and is giving advice on the scheme in New Zealand.
01/08/2007
