ecoplannet Policy and certification programs and standards brochure

s e r v i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y a n d s o c i a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e t o u r i s m s e c t o r
e c o p l a n : n e t • T e m a r a M o r o c c o • B r a s o v R o m a n i a • w w w . e c o p l a n n e t . c o m
ecoplan:net has more
than 22 years of
experience providing
sustainable tourism
planning, development,
certification and
training services to
governments, donors,
the travel industry,
indigenous communities
and NGO’s. Our efforts
will hopefully lead to a
more sustainable world
for future generations of
travelers and travel
suppliers
GRADING PROGRAMS
CERTIFICATION & POLICIES
P l a n n i n g t o p r o t e c t o u r p l a n e t
Quality Assurance and
Green Certification
Setting new standards and
grading programs for the
tourism industry......
Page 2
Responsible Policies
National sustainable tourism
policies provide a framework
for government to shape a
responsible travel industry.....
Page 4
Construction and
Operations Guidelines
Technical manuals are
powerful tools that can assist
an operator to be responsible....
Page 9
Sustainable Tourism
Destination Planning
Positioning a nation or region
as a responsible destination is
based on ‘blueprint’ for action
Page 12
DEVELOPING TOURISM POLICIES, GRADING +
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS + STANDARDS FOR
Q U A L I T Y A S S U R A N C E , S U S T A I N A B L E
DEVELOPMENT AND ACCESSIBLE TOURISM
Driven by increased market awareness of social and environmental
responsibility, universal accessibility and concern for climate change
including CO2 emissions, tourism administrations, stakeholders and
providers are emerging as serious stewards of our planet.
Responsible and sustainable tourism policies and guidelines and certification and
grading programs, are extremely effective mechanisms in advancing product quality and
environmentally and socially responsible tourism. Furthermore the travel trade is eager
embrace sustainable tourism policies and practices that both protect the environment
and improve the bottom-line through a reduction in energy and water consumption.
Governments are particularly eager to develop and implement policies that improve
product quality, meet the needs those with limited abilities
and protect the environment on which their industry is built
thus generating and securing jobs, improving tourism
revenues revenues and managing the destinations fragile
resources.
However the major force behind improved product quality
and the greening of the industry is the marketplace. Over
the past 5 years, travel consumer surveys have consistently
demonstrated support for ‘responsible’ tourism suppliers, a
preference for those with a certified ecolabel and an
increased interest in designated responsible tourism destination. This tendency further
expands as more operators seek to differentiate themselves in the marketplace, attract
new clients as well as reduce operating costs by ‘Going Green’. A national credible
certification program and stakeholder supported quality and sustainable tourism policies
are powerful and practical tools to ensure that destinations advance their quality
assurance, universal accessibility and responsible initiatives in the most effective and cost
efficient manner.
!

STAR GRADING + ASSESSOR TRAINING PROGRAM
Assessor and Master Assessor
Intensive Training Program
The assessor and master assessor training program was designed
facilitated by James and Ms Tori Anderson and involved involved;
• Selection of assessor trainees based on academic
qualifications, hospitality experience and interviews
• Design of both an assessor and master assessor training
manual including; tourism industry facts, international
grading programs, grading procedures and descriptions of
all standards for a) quality assurance, b) responsible
tourism, c) universal accessibility
• Facilitation of 12-days classroom theory and 6 practical
on-site training for various accommodation categories
• Regional and international tourism trends and issues
• Current and proposed minimum requirements
• 5-star Grading process, techniques and standards
• Organization of diverse invited guests (those with disabilities, architects and interior designers,
• Multiple evaluation techniques including exams, interviews, class participation and presentation, on-
site observations, etc.
• Identification of top candidates for master assessor training, interviews and selection
Participant’s included both those aspiring to be independent assessors as well as regional Ministry of
Tourism inspection staff. 29 participants were trained, 14 ministry officials returned to their region and 10
qualified as certified independent assessors.
LESOTHO
Accommodation
Quality Star Grading
Program for the
Lesotho Tourism Development Corporation
and the World Bank (PSC) with IESC.
James served as Team
leader on the most
c o m p r e h e n s i v e
accommodation star
grading programs ever
developed. The program
was developed in 5
months and ended with
the certification of 12
properties and the
endorsement from the Government of Lesotho
Cabinet. The grading standards also reflected
those developed by James for RETROSA
[Regional Tourism Organization of Southern
Africa].
Highlights of the program included;
• Six Regional Sensitization Workshops for
all stakeholders
• Assessor and master assessor training,
• Revision of 200+ minimum requirements
• Structure for the Lesotho Grading Council
• Design and launch of a website for graded
facilities [www.stargradinglesotho.travel]
• Communication strategy addressing key
audiences [tour operators, consumers,
accommodation suppliers, etc.]
• Graphic design of all materials including
logo, newsletter, and electronic brochures, etc.
• 2014-2018 Action Plan
QUALstar fully integrates
Responsible Tourism and Universal
Accessibility standards with 200+
Quality Assurance standards in each
of the 6 accommodation categories.

Harmonized Accommodation Grading Program
ACTION PLAN for Southern Africa, for RETOSA
Regional Tourism Association of Southern Africa
The Harmonized grading program was supported by a detailed
3-year ( month-by-month) Action Plan identifying all activities
required to ensure a launch by early 2014. Activities included:
• Scripting of all new standards for accommodation categories
• Design and delivery of train-the-trainer workshops and
training manual for national grading officers
• Design and delivery of Auditor Training Programs
• Communication Plan for RETOSA and 15 member states
• International Marketing Strategy and Promotional activities
• Launch customer feedback mechanism
Southern Africa Harmonized
Accommodation Grading Scheme
for the Commonwealth Secretariat and RETOSA (RegionalTourism
Organization of Southern Africa)
ecoplan:net was hired to develop a framework for what is
considered the first major regional harmonized accommodation
grading scheme in the world including 15 countries such as
Angola, South Africa, Tanzania, Swaziland, Namibia, Mauritius,
Zimbabwe, etc. Most countries were either updating their program
or developing a new accommodation grading scheme. Therefore
the timing was excellent to gain consensus on both the need for a
harmonized scheme as well as the overall structure for its
development and management. James began the assignment by
visiting a cross-section of the various countries to understand the
opportunities and obstacles to developing a harmonized scheme.
A Framework for a Harmonized Scheme
The framework addressed the following components;
(A) a review of current international accommodation grading
schemes, (B) overall management structure for the development
and ongoing administration of the scheme, (C) marketing strategy
to promote the harmonized grading program,(D) activities and
techniques to ensure buy-in and continued member nation support
for the program, (E) integration of responsible tourism and
universal accessibility standards with the quality assurance
standards, (F) benchmarked accommodation rating programs from
southern Africa's current markets, competitive markets and future
markets [e.g. China and India], and (G) availability of trained
auditors and the need for auditor training,(H) consumer feedback
mechanism and (I) an assessment of mandatory vs voluntary
systems.
Management Workshop: These topics where presented, to
representatives from the member states, during a 2-day workshop
for discussion, feedback and validation.
Preparation of 300+ Harmonized
Grading Standards and Programs for RETOSA
(Regional Tourism Association of Southern Africa)
ecoplan:net was hired to prepare approximately 300 standards for each of the six categories of
accommodation including; (1) Urban hotels, (2) Resorts and vacation hotels, (3) Guesthouses,
(4) Nature [safari] lodges, (5) self-service apartments and villas, and (6) campgrounds.
The mandate was clear; despite the great variation in the quality of accommodation across the
Southern Africa region (e.g. from Angola to Mauritius), the member states insisted that the new
standards to be of an international caliber.
ecoplan:net also ensured that standards reflected those existing national standards (e.g.,
Zimbabwe, South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania, etc). Each provided a particular quality to the final
standards. Tanzania was considered important because of its adopted standards from the East Africa
Community. Therefore there is a relationship between East Africa and southern Africa standards.
These standards might well be the most comprehensive in the world. Not only do they embrace
200 quality assurance standards, for each accommodation category, but there is also an additional 70+
responsible (sustainable) tourism standards and 40+ universal accessibility (UA) standards that have
been integrated into the harmonized program.Mart
The UA standards have been particularly well appreciated and were presented at a workshop on
accessible tourism at World Travel Marketplace in 2011.
HARMONIZED GRADING SYSTEMS
!
!

Marine
Ecotourism
Certi0ication
Program;

Lower
St.
Lawrence
River
Region,
Canada
ecoplan:net was retained to prepared the first
ecotourism certification program in Canada. The
program was developed within a federal environmental
protection program for the lower St. Lawrence River
region as it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.
Consequently the scheme focused on responsible
standards marine ecotourism including whale
watching, sea kayaking, pleasure boating and
launches, bird watching and catch and
release fishing, and the operation of coastal
resorts and lodges.
The program has been operational for the
past eight years and has approximately
100 certified members.
Morocco
Rural
Tourism
Accommodation

Quality
Assurance
Standards
and

Eco-certi8ication
Program

WINNER: Tourism for
Tomorrow Award (2009)
ecoplan:net
was
hired
by
the
Zakoura
Microcredit
Foundation,
with

funding
from
the
Grand
Duchess
of
Luxemburg
Fund,
to
undertake

three
activities;
a)
an
assessment
of
current
international
certiAication

programs
to
determine
if
the
foundation
should
import
a
program
or

develop
its
own
scheme,
b]
develop
a
certiAication
program
for
its

microcredit
clients
throughout
Morocco,
c]
design
and
facilitate
a

training
program
or
auditors.
Zakoura
Foundation,
the
largest
microcredit
organisations
in
Morocco

is
responsible
for
supporting
several
hundred
small
to
medium-‐size

guesthouses
and
lodges.
The
purpose
of
the
certiAication
program
was

to
both
protect
their
investment
as
well
as
insure
operators
offered
a

quality
product
and
were
more
environmentally
and
socially

responsible.
Furthermore
the
promotion
of
those
facilities
that
have

become
certiAied
enhances
the
viability
of
these
operations
as
well
as

provides
leadership
or
other
small
businesses
in
rural
areas.
Training
the
auditors;
the
auditors
were
selected
from
foundation

agents
located
throughout
Morocco.
The
training
program
provided

the
technical
knowledge
for
auditors
to
assess
each
operation
and

make
a
recommendation
to
the
certiAication
program
co-‐ordinator.
The
Botswana
Green,
Green
+
and
Ecotourism

Certi8ication
Program
for
the
Botswana
Tourism
Organisation
WINNER: The 2010 TOURISM for TOMORROW AWARD
ecoplan:net
was
retained
to
develop
the
Airst
national
green
certiAication
scheme
in

Africa.
It
is
considered
one
of
the
most
comprehensive
in
the
world
with
more
than
150

standards.
The
assignment
described
the
certiAication
process,
a
management
structure,

marketing
program,
and
auditor
training
program
and

cost
estimates.

The
design
and
wording
of
the
various
certiAication
standards
included
the
input
of
more

than
300
travel
industry
stakeholders
from
all
regions
of
Botswana.
ecoplan:net
held

workshops
for
tourism
operators,
government
ofAicials
and
NGOs
resulting
in
the

unanimous
approval
of
the
standards,
including
the
mandatory
requirements
for

certiAication.
The
program
was
then
tested
on
12
businesses
representing
a
cross-‐section

of
hotels,
lodges,
guesthouses
and
tour
operators.
The
program
is
unique
in
that
it

applies
to
both
two
levels
of
green
certiAication
as
well
as
ecotourism
operations.

NOTE: In 2012 the Green and Green + Standards will be integrated
into the Quality Assurance Standards
Training
the
Auditors:
ecoplan:net
was
also
hired
to
train
the
BTB
auditors.
ECOTOURISM CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

SUSTAINABLE GUIDE CERTIFICATION
Auditor Training Program
ecoplan:net was retained to design
the program and deliver a 4-day
training program for proposed
auditors for the guide certification.
Those interested in serving as auditors
came from a variety of professions
including travel industry trainers, ISO
auditors and government officers.
A comprehensive training manual was
prepared that presented detailed
descriptions of the requirements for
quality assurance and hospitality,
sustainability and technical
competence standards.
BAHAMAS Sustainable
Guide Certification
Program
ecoplan:net was hired by the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with
UNEP, to prepare the first-
e v e r c o m p r e h e n s i v e
sustainable tourism guide
certification program. The
original prog ram was
developed to respond to the
needs of fly-fishing guides
however it is also a model for
s e a k a y a k i n g a n d
birdwatching guides.
T h e c e r t i fi c a t i o n
program is based on more
than 250 standards that
address:
(a) Quality assurance,
(b) Sustainable tourism
(c) Universal accessibility
(d) Technical Competence
Sustainability Standards reflect basic
environmentally responsible practices including:
• energy and water conservation,
• waste management,
• reduction of hazardous wastes,
• local purchasing and hiring practices,
• preference for organic foods,
• contribution to local community
development and environmental protection.
Technical Standards focus on casting
techniques, knot tying, knowledge of tides and
marine ecology, proper boat handling and water
safety and emergency response, etc.
A 3-Tier Program
A 3-tier classification system was
developed for the various
levels of guide competence.
The levels include:
(1) Sustainable Guide,
(2) Premier Guide
(3) Master Guide.
A Sustainable guide is
typically for those just entering
the guiding business. The
Premier guide classification
applies to those with several
years experience and an
excellent technical knowledge
of the fly fishing guiding
activity. The master guide are
those who have a long history
as a guide, and are extremely
c o m p e t e n t w i t h t h e i r
knowledge of fly-fishing
techniques, market demand and Marine
ecology. Each category had basic mandatory
requirements to achieve certification.
Cer tification Program
Management + Training
A certification program management
system was set up within the Sustainable
Tourism Division of the Bahamas Ministry of
Tourism.
Training is required for all guides. The
program is managed by the Ministry of
tourism and the College of the Bahamas.
Sustainable Guide Train the-Trainer
Program for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and
the Inter-American Development Bank
In order to be certified, all guides must embark on a three
stages process including (a) attain a captain B license, (b)
attend a five day training program and (c) successfully
complete an audit by a Ministry of Tourism certified auditor.

Training all guides represents a major commitment
by both the Ministry of Tourism as well as the guides
themselves. In order to make training as accessible as
possible, the Ministry of tourism hired ecoplan:net to
design and deliver a train-the-trainer program. Two qualified
existing guides were selected from each of 11 islands and
were required to embark on a 10-day train-the-trainer
program.

The program had three modules: Quality Assurance and Sustainability
Standards, Technical competence standards and Outboard motor
maintenance standards.
The training program was supported by 2, 150+ page manuals as well
as the training materials that would assist the newly trained guides to
deliver the guide training in their respective island.
The manuals included:
Volume 1: Sustainable and Quality Assurance Standards
including environmental management systems, water safety and
emergency response
Volume 2: Technical Competence Standards: boat handling,
casting techniques, boat and motor maintenance

TOURISM CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS
Island of Exuma and Exuma
National Marine Park
(Bahamas) Ecotourism Criteria
for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
and the Commonwealth Secretariat
WINNER: Caribbean Tourism
Organization ‘Environment Award’.
James was hired to prepare a
Sustainable Marine Tourism Development Plan
for this major island and
National Marine Park, within the
Bahamas archipelago.
The strategy was based on
achieving a rigorous level of
biodiversity protection through
environmentally responsible
planning, development and
operations criteria. Specific
emphasis was placed on marine
debris reduction, water
management, coral reef
protection, pesticide and
hazardous elimination, sound
land use planing and sustainable
architectural practices in the
coastal zone. The criteria
received unanimous approval
from residents and stakeholders.
Zambia Tourism Quality
Assurance Star Grading
Standards Review
for IESC on contract to USAID and the
Ministry of Tourism and Environment
Zambia prepared its first set of
To u r i s m Q u a l i t y A s s u r a n c e
Standards, based on the 5 star
system, in 2008. ecoplan:net was
hired, by International Executive
Services Corporation, to evaluate
and review both of the individual
standards as well as the certification
process and overall program. The
mandate included i]a review of 20
tourism quality assurance grading
programs in Europe and North
A m e r i c a , i i ] i n t e r v i ew s w i t h
stakeholders, particularly those in
the accommodation sector, iii]
i d e n t i fi c a t i o n o f t r e n d s a n d
refinements to international grading
minimum requirements and standards
Several significant changes, in both
the structure and implementation of
the standards were proposed. A
renewed effort was made to include
the various travel suppliers in
assessing and understanding the
grading program. The standards also
lacked environmentally responsible
criteria. Therefore the Ministry was
asked to make a decision between
a ] integrating green standards into
the overall system or b) establishing
a separate certification program for
environmentally responsible tourism.
Since James was currently working in
Botswana to develop their green and
eco-certification program at the time,
he was aware of the competitive
positioning that this program could
create for Zambia.
As a consequence several eco-
friendly standards were applied to
the star grading system, including
energy conservation and water
management.
Queen Charlotte Islands
Lodge Site Location
Criteria and Assessment
for the British Columbia Ministry of
Crown Lands, Canada
The QCI are unquestionably the
most beautiful island chain in
Canada. The have been the home
of the Haida Gwaïi for thousands
of years. The combination of
dramatic cultural and natural
heritage dramatically increased
demand to lodge sites.
The local indigenous people had
placed a moratorium on all lodge
a n d r e s o r t d e v e l o p m e n t .
Consequently James was hired to
work with the Haida tribe and
prepare a comprehensive set of
appropriate site selection criteria
that met their environmental and
cultural requirements.
Using the agreed upon criteria 12
sites were located throughout the
archipelago and then presented to
all residents of the islands. The
preferred sites were then presented
t o l o c a l a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l
investors..

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICIES
International
Awards
The Bahamas was the first country
to be recognized for the
Green Globe Achievement Award
for the preparation of the
Caribbean's first policies for
sustainable tourism.
The policies were prepared by
ecoplan:net with funding from
the Organization of American
States. The policies also won the
European Travel Writers Award
and were described as “a model
for small island states’ by the
influential Economist Magazine
(Jan. 1997)
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Bahamas Sustainable
Tourism Development
Policies, for the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism
ecoplan:net was
retained with finding
from the OAS
(Organization of
American States) to
assess the
environmental issues
and develop a set of
Sustainable Tourism
Policies to both
influence cabinet as
well as establish a
framework for long
term sustainable
development.
Policies were prepared for each of
the following topics:
1. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT
1.1 Sustainable Planning
1.2 Assessing Economic Impact
1.3 Local Involvement and Benefits
1.4 Public Consultation
1.5 Intergenerational Equity
2. RESPONSIBLE MARKETING
3. RESORT GREEN
MANAGEMENT
3.1 Green Management Policy
3.2 Purchasing Procedures
3.3 Energy and Water
Conservation
3.4 Use of Pesticides and Herbicides
4. HERITAGE RESTORATION
4.1 Architecture
4.2 Site Planning and
Protection of Heritage
Landscapes
5. SITES/FACILITY
DEVELOPMENT
5.1 Site Planning
5.2 Site Design
5.3 Building Construction/Design
6.ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENTS
7. RESEARCH + MONITORING OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
8. NATURAL AND
CULTURAL
RESOURCE
PROTECTION
9.PROTECTION OF
MARINE RESOURCES
10. MARINE DEBRIS
REDUCTION
11.ENFORCEMENT
12. WASTE
MANAGEMENT
12.1 Waste Reduction
12.2 Solid Waste Management
13. WATER CONSERVATION
14. TRAINING AND
EDUCATION
14.1 Staff Training
14.2 Public Environmental
Education
14.3 Tourist Education
15. NATIONAL INITIATIVES
15.1 Sustainable Tourism Planning
15.2 Bahamas Conservation
Strategy
15.3 Strengthen Sustainable
Resource Management
Capacities
16. SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
DEVELOPMENT UNIT
The project resulted
in the creation of a
Sustainable Tourism
Unit within the
Ministry of Tourism.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM POLICIES
Canada’s Sustainable Tourism Policy and
Action Plan, for Tourism Canada
Canada’ first Sustainable Tourism Policy
and Action Plan was prepared by
ecoplan:nets’ James MacGregor as part of
GLOBE ’90 (Global Opportunities for
Business and the Environment) Conference.
During that landmark event, James
gathered tourism specialists, NGO’s and
environmentalists from a 8 countries to
collectively present their vision of a
sustainable tourism policy.
James worked with the team to craft 28
policies and a 5 year action plan that was
designed to position Canada as a leading
nation in sustainable tourism planning and development.
The document was widely distributed and was used by several
provincial government to structure their own sustainable tourism policy.
The action plan was subsequently integrated in Canadas’ National
Sustainable Development Plan.
Palau Sustainable
Tourism
Development
Policies
for the Office of the President of the Republic of
Palau (Micronesia)
I n t h e l a t e
1990’s, charter
flights started
a r r i v i n g i n
P a l a u . T h e
President of the
Republic was
concerned that
the introduction
of mass tourism would have a negative
impact on the precious marine resources of
the islands. Consequently ecoplan:net was
commissioned to prepare Sustainable
Tourism Development Policies and
associated workshops.
A two phase process was proposed.
PHASE 1 included an assessment of the
nations environmental issues followed by a
5-day intensive workshop with members of
the Council of Chiefs, senators, the travel
industry and NGO’s. Working in groups
and using a structure developed by
ecoplan:net, t hey
collectively prepared
an initial set of 37
s u s t a i n a b l e
policies.
In PHASE 2,
the policies
were edited and
with the collaboration of
several senators and NGO’s a final
document was prepared for a presentation
at a National Conference. With the support
of the president the 37 policies were
endorsed by the Republic of Palau
Congress in a record 6 month.

Ecotourism
Itinerary
and
Tour
Operations

Criteria
for
the
Canadian
Museum
of
Nature
James was retained as an in-house consultant by the
Canadian Museum of Nature. Part of his mandate was
to identify business opportunities for the museum, with a
particular emphasis on ecotourism packages that could
be sold to the museum membership. Some of these
packages were developed with museum staff and others
built on existing tour products offered by select
international ecotourism operators.
In order to ensure that all tour products met the highest
ecotourism standards, James prepared a detailed
manual outlining all ecotourism criteria with respect to
community involvement and guest/host relationships,
energy and water conservation, waste management
practices, interpretation program standards, use of
environmentally responsible accommodation and
transportation, and other attributes typically associated
with a quality ecotourism experience.
Eco-tent accommodation in the
Okavango Delta (Botswana)
Egypt
Ecolodge
Design,
Construction
and

Operations
Giuidelines
Manual
for
USAID
Ecoplan:net was retained by Chemonics International
and USAID to prepare a comprehensive Ecolodge
Development and Operations Manual to be used to
a] assist Egypt’s Tourism Development Authority (TDA)
to assess the credibility of various ecolodge
applications and b] to assist new developers in
constructing facilities that responded to the highest
environmental requirements. The document was
subsequently distributed to existing resort and lodge
operations in the Red Sea Region in order to promote
more environmentally responsible lodging ad food
services operations.
A Practical Manual for Investors
The manual is divided into three sections.
Section 1 included an assessment of existing ecolodges
particularly in arid and desert environments but also
considered were responsible practices in coastal,
marine, mountain and forest locations.
In Section 2, these ‘Best practices’ were used to
identify and describe more than 150 development
criteria, standards ad technologies that would be most
applicable to the conditions within the Egyptian desert
environment.
Section 3 provided a checklist to TDA that allowed
them to rate the quality of the ecolodge application.
Botswana
Ecotourism
Best
Practices
Guidelines
Manual

and
Handbook
for
the
Commonwealth
Secretariat
(London)

ecoplan:net, in collaboration with Discover Ltd., was hired by the Commonwealth
Secretariat and the Botswana Tourism Board to identify Ecotourism Best Practices in
Africa and worldwide. Approximately 40 ecotourism destinations and facilities where
assessed and a comprehensive description was provided for 20 facilities.
Information extracted from the analysis of these operations then provided more than
180 planning, design, construction, operations, tour and marketing criteria that would
ensure a sustainable tourism eco-operation.
Each criteria was then described so that it would assist any operator or enterprise
that wanted to be a green business. For instance water saving devices, energy
conservation practices, and waste management techniques that encouraged recycling
and composting were described in technical detail. Particular emphasis was placed
on the preparation of the Ecotourism Business Plan and the Environmental Impact
Assessment.
These criteria eventually were used as a basis to the standards identiﬁed in the
Botswana Green and Ecotourism Certiﬁcation Program. The manual also contained an
extensive list of suppliers of green products and technologies in both Botswana and
South Africa. Following the production of the manual, a concise Ecotourism Handbook
was prepared and printed for widespread distribution to operators and
accommodation suppliers throughout Botswana.
GUIDELINES AND MANUALS

ECOLODGE DEVELOPMENT
Lake
Matagami
Ecolodge
James is co founder and partner,
business planner and vice-
president of marketing
C a n a d a ’ s fi r s t N o r t h e r n
ecolodge is located on the 50th
parallel yet all electricity is
generated by solar and wind
sources. The facility is built
entirely from wood grown in a
certified sustainable forest
(owned by a local aboriginal
Cree community business).
The facility is plastic and
chemical free and has been
c a l l e d “ a l a b o r a t o r y i n
sustainable living” by an
international tour operator.
A 3% contribution is added to
the payment and it is used to
finance local Cree culture and
environmental projects.
Furthermore all fuel consumption
i s c a l c u l a t e d a n d t h e
appropriate number of carbon
credits are purchased making it
the first carbon neutral lodging
facility in Québec.
Haida
Gwaii
Native
Coastal

Ecolodge
and
Cultural

Center
Business
Plan,
for the Skidegate Tribal Council,
Queen Charlotte Islands, Canada
Despite its remote location, the
Islands of Haida
Gwaii have become
one of the more
desirable
destinations in
Canada. The local
tribal council, using
funds from fishing
decided to expand
their economic base
by investing in the
tourism sector. James
was hired to prepare
a business plan that
included both a 22 unit lodge and
cultural center to display the
indigenous art. James worked
with several tour operators in
Vancouver to ensure immediate
positioning in the marketplace.
Eagles
Nest
Coastal

Eco-Resort
Business
Plan,
Barkley Sound, for Barkley
Charters Limited, Vancouver Island, Canada
Barley Sound was one of the
major commercial fishing areas on
the west coast. With the decline in
fishing, many fish processing
plants were vacated. James and a
local architect were hired to
assess the feasibility of converting
a closed plant into a fishing and
leisure resort.
The proximity to Barkley Sound,
with direct access to the Pacific
Ocean was a major attraction and
the eco-resort has been a
successful venture for the owner
and local residents
Banks
Island
Naturalist

Ecolodge
Business
Plan,

Arctic Coast, for the Sachs Harbor
Inuit Council, Banks Island, NWT, Canada
The Inuit community of Sachs
Harbour is located approximately
840 km above the
Arctic Circle. During
the preparation of
the Western Arctic
Tourism Strategy,
James was asked to
assess the conversion
of a Canadian
Atmospheric
Weather Station into
a naturalist lodge.
A feasibility study
demonstrated the
demand for a high
arctic destination lodge. A
detailed training plan was
provided to ensure that the local
indigenous people had access to
most of the jobs in the lodge.
Nanatsuak
Wilderness

Coastal
Destination

Ecolodge
Feasibility

Analysis, for the Nain Inuit Tribal
Council, Labrador, Northern Canada
The Nain Tribal Council acquired
a former Moravian Missionary
site and heritage buildings, south
of the Tourngat Mountains in
Northern Labrador. The site was
only accessible by boat and
snowmachine in the winter.
James was hired to assess the
business potential for the
development of one of Canada’s
premier wilderness resorts within
the highest environmental
standards and respect for the Inuit
traditions.

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM TRAINING
International
Training

Workshops
James has delivered 250 tourism
training workshops to more than
6600 participants in 14 countries.
They have focused on sustainable
tourism and ecotourism planning,
product development and
marketing including quality
assurance.
Several have been award winning
and landmark events including:
ecotour ’94: the first
ecotourism training workshops in
South Africa
ecoCARIBE: a series of
sustainable tourism, green
management and ecotourism
training workshops designed for
the 11 Commonwealth Caribbean
Nations and
WINNER
Green Globe Achievement
Award (1997)
Brazil Train-the-Trainer
Ecotourism Planning Workshop
WTTC Human Resource Council
‘Best Practice’ (1998)
Botswana
ecoCertification
Guidelines
Workshop Series and
Auditor Training for the
Botswana Tourism Board
James facilitated a series of 14
workshops
throughout
Botswana. The first
series identified
more than 160
ecotourism planning,
management and
operations criterion
which subsequently
formed the core of
the Best Practices
Guidelines Manual.
The second round of
workshops (in
Gaberone, Maun,
Kasane) identified the private sector
demand for a national eco-certification
scheme based on the previously
identified ecotourism criteria.
Morocco Rural Tourism
Eco-certification Auditor
Training Workshop for the
Zakoura Microcredit Foundation
Following the preparation of the
Tourism for Tomorrow Award winning
Rural Tourism Eco-certification
Program, ecoplan:net was hired to
design, prepare the manuals and
deliver an intense 1-week training
program for the field agents from
across Morocco. The training
included both theory and practical
application. There were more than
300 small accommodation and
restaurant clients who were eager to
apply for certification.
This was the first such training
program in Africa.
Madagascar Ecotourism
Planning and Product
Development Workshop
Series for USAID and TIES
Following the facilitation of
Madagascar’s first National
Ecotourism Symposium
(for the International
Ecotourism Society),
James was invited to
return and deliver 5-
day regional
workshops in the south
(Tuléar) and on the
island of Nosey By in
the north. These
programs were
attended by more than
100 participants and
officially launched
ecotourism in
Madagascar. The
workshops were part of the National
Park and Protected Area (ANGAP)
Ecotourism Development Strategy
which was also prepared by
ecoplan:net, for USAID’s SAVEM
Project.
Hawaii (Maui) Resort
Green Management
Workshop and Manual for
the State of Hawaii and Pacific Rims
Convention Ltd.
ecoplan:net designed and delivered
Hawaii’s first Corporate Green
Management Workshop for major
resort operators from across Hawaii
as well a several islands in the South
Pacific (Guam, Samoa, Palau) and
California. The 5-day program was
developed to assist major resort
operators to conserve limited island
and marine resources and respond to
market demand for environmentally
responsible resort and hotel
properties and operations.

SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION PLANNING
Tata Regional Sustainable Tourism Development
Principles and Strategy; A
Quadruple Bottom line
Approach (2009-2014) for UNDP and the
Program for the Oasis of the South, Morocco
The oasis in the southern regions are
threatened by climate change, advancing
dunes, changing agriculture practices and
neglect. ecolan:net was hired to work with
local villages and stakeholders to prepare a
tourism strategy based on international
sustainable development practices. The
strategy also introduced the QUADRUPLE
BOTTOMLINE APPROACH to promote CO2
reduction and climate change adaptation.
ecoplan:net worked with the UN-HABITAT’s Local Agenda 21 program which,
in promoting the Millennium Development Goals, was responsible for many
progressive programs including composting, water conservation and recycling.
ecoplan:net continues to work with local lodging managers and tour
operators to develop sustainable operations and practices with the intention
of promoting the region as a true sustainable destination making a determined
effort to reduce tourism related CO2 emissions.
Clayoquot Sound UNESCO
Biosphere Reserve
Sustainable Tourism
Development Opportunities,
for the British Columbia Ministry of
Economic Development, Canada
C l a y o q u o t
Sound was the
m o s t
controversial
environmental
‘hot spot’ in
Canada, in the
m i d 19 9 0 ’ s .
L o g g i n g
interests were
c u t t i n g
Canada’s most
valuable old growth forests leaving
few economic beneﬁts in the region.
ecoplan:net was hired to both identify
sustainable tourism development
opportunities as well as determine the
potential long term economic value of
the industry. James facilitated
numerous public meetings where
heated debates between the various
interests (loggers, ﬁshers, native
communities, environmentalists and
travel industry representatives)
threatened to stall the cooperative
planning process. However the
overall mission was kept focused by
the focus on long term sustainable
development of the
region. The
Biosphere has now
b e c o m e a n
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
destination for
m a r i n e a n d
c o a s t a l
ecotourism.

ADDITIONAL PROJECTS
Western Sahara Tour Itineraries,
Sustainable Tourism Criteria and
Action Plan for the UNDP Program
for Protection of the Oasis
Retezat National Park
Sustainable Tourism Strategy
and Development Criteria,
Romania, for USAID, PAN Parks and
Chemonics International
Ecotourism Development
Strategy in the Sundarbans
Tiger Reserve (Ecotourism
Amenities & Design) Bangladesh,
for the Asian Development Bank
and ANZDEC
Namgis/Alert Bay Product
Development and Market
Opportunity Study and
Ecotourism Planning Workshop,
for the Alert Bay Historical
Corporation, British Columbia,
Agadir, Southern Morocco
Sustainable Coastal Tourism
Policy and Action Plan (including
Web Site Development, Visitor Exit
Surveys, Tour Operator Database), for
USAID and Chemonics International
International Coastal Ecolodge
Design Competition (site location,
training workshop and selection of
architectural ﬁrm), for the Bahamas
Ministry of Tourism and the Inter-
American Development Bank
The Cree First Nations of James
Bay (Northern Québec)
Community Tourism/Ecotourism
Development Strategies for the
James Bay Cree Municipal Council
Izmir Aquarium Feasibility Study
and Site Selection Proposal, City
of Izmir, Turkey, for the Canadian
Museum of Nature
Indian Ocean Region
(Comores, Mauritius, Seychelles)
Assessment of Biodiversity
Planning Requirements, for the
Canadian Museum of Nature
Oregon Coast Ecotourism
Product Development (Select
Itinerary Proposals), for the
Presidential Commission for Rural
Development and the National
Endowment for the Arts,
Washington, D.C
Metlakatla Regional Ecotourism
and Aboriginal Tourism
Development Plan, for the North
Coast Tribal Council, BC, Canada
Vancouver Island Tourism
Marine Education and
Information Centre Business
Plan, for the City of Nanaimo,
Harbour Commission, Nanaimo, BC
BIOPARC Environmental
Education Centre Business Plan,
for the Municipalité de Bonaventure,
Gaspé Region, Quebec,
Gulf of Georgia Cannery
National Historic Site
Management Plan and
Feasibility Study, for Environment
Canada, Canadian Parks Agency,
Western Region
Cruise Ship Industry Study -
B.C./Alaska Ports, for the Port of
Prince Rupert and Prince Rupert,
Convention and Visitors Bureau,
Canada
Quadra Island Marine
Destination Resort and Golf
Course Feasibility Study, for the
Cape Mudge Band Council,
Quadra Island, BC
MacKenzie River and Delta Tour
Boat Market Opportunity and
Feasibility Study - Top of the
World Tours, Yellowknife, NWT
Shippagan Marine Museum
Feasibility Study and Master
Plan, for the Department of Regional
Economic Expansion, New Brunswick,
Canada
Vancouver Public Aquarium
Economic Impact and Long Term
Development Strategy, for the
Public Aquarium Board
The Fisherman's Village
(Commercial Tourism
Development) Feasibility Study
and Master Plan, for the Town of
Caraquet, New Brunswick,
Bay du Nord River,
Newfoundland; Canadian
Heritage River System
Evaluation and Management
Plan, for the Canadian Parks Agency
ecoplan:net
has
been
responsible

for
over
200
studies
based
on

comprehensive
sustainable

tourism
planning
policies,

d e v e l o p m e n t
c r i t e r i a
a n d

operational
practices
and

procedures.

We
have
endeavored
to
promote

the
highest
environmental
and

socially
responsible
ethics
in
all

projects,
plans
and
programs.

ECOPLAN:NET PEOPLE & PROJECTS
Additional ecoplan:net services:
We offers a complete range of sustainable
tourism services including:
• National and Regional Sustainable
Tourism Strategies and Policies
• Tourism Business Plans
• Tour product development and packaging
• Marketing Research and Strategies
• Green management Strategies and Audits
• Sustainable Tourism and Green Tourism
Certiﬁcation Program Planning
• Visitor Centre Development
• Training and Train-the-Trainer
Programs in: sustainable tourism,
ecotourism, green management, auditing,
green marketing
• Park and Protected Area Management
Planning and Site Design
James MacGregor
Sustainable Tourism Policy
Planner and Trainer
President: ecoplan:net sarl
James has 35 years experience
consulting to the tourism sector
including national-state-provincial-
municipal governments, private
companies, NGO's, indigenous
people's organizations and
communities.
He has been project manager on
more than 370 tourism and
economic development
assignments.
He is an internationally recognized
regional/community tourism, and
protected area planner and an
expert in ecotourism and
sustainable tourism development.
Specific knowledge includes:
preparation and implementation of
sustainable tourism development
strategies and policies, design and
development of sustainable tourism
certification programs, community/
regional tourism plans, market
analysis, business plans/feasibility
studies, green management
strategies, ecotourism, and
adventure travel product
development, resort and ecolodge
planning/construction, international
e-marketing and investment
strategies, and sustainable tourism
training program design and
facilitation.
James held senior management
positions in several international
consulting firms including SNC
Lavalin, where, for 12 years, he
was Director of the International
Tourism and Economic
Development Division.
In 1992 he established ecoplan:net,
which became Canada’s leading
sustainable tourism and ecotourism
planning, marketing and training
consulting firm.
He is cofounder and partner in both
ECOadventures Ltd. a leading
Canadian ecotourism and
adventure travel company and the
Lake Matagami Ecolodge in
Northern Québec.
He has published numerous papers
and is a frequent keynote speaker,
lecturer and workshop facilitator in
the Americas, Asia and Africa.
The Sustainable Tourism
Development Policies he prepared
for the Bahamas received the 1996
Green Globe Achievement Award
from the World Tourism and Travel
Council.
He was Chief of Party for the
USAID/Morocco Rural
Sustainable Tourism
Development Program and
currently operates a sustainable
tourism planning and economic
development consulting practice in
Morocco with current projects in
Botswana, Egypt, Zambia and
James can be contacted at:
ecoplan:net sarl (Morocco)
+212 645 492 026
jmacgregor@ecoplannet.com

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