Carpathian Convention and sustainable tourism

Posted by Iryna Shchoka on Dec 23, 2019 | 0 comments

This year 10^th Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee was conducted in the capital of Hungary, Budapest on 11-13 December 2019.

Sustainable Tourism Progress Report

One of the reporting sections was dedicated to the Sustainable Tourism. The main presenter was Alina Szasz. Mrs.Szasz is the head of the Romanian Sustainable Tourism Center of the Carpathian Convention. The presentation included:

• General update on Centers staff and their tasks;
• Overall budget for Carpathian Sustainable Tourism Platform (CSTP) operation;
• Work programme 2018-2020;
• Actions from country Action Plans and Joint Action Plan;
• Specific Carpathian Sustainable Tourism projects.

As one of the next steps, CSTP and its centers shall further work on the development of the common Carpathian brand.

Svydovets case

An updated Appeal about Svydovets case was presented on behalf of Free Svydovets initiative group on the Committee meeting. Almost 2 years a project of building huge recreational complex in Ukrainian Carpathians is disturbing advocates of this unique area.

During last years, Initiative Group Free Svydovets and other stakeholders are putting a lot of efforts to support regional development around Svydovets. Alternative earnings and low-impact tourism strategies have been developed jointly with the local population.

Svydovets case appeal

An Appeal to the Carpathian Comvention and its parties includes:

• Consult Ukraine on non-admission of further violence of the Carpathian Convention Protocols;
• Cooperate with other related international environmental treaties (e.g. Espoo Convention, Bern Convention);
• Develop recommendations about conditions of ski resorts or recreational complexes building in the Carpathians in accordance with the Protocols of Carpathian Convention;
• Consider an issue of recreational complex “Svydovets” building on coming Carpathian Convention Working Groups meetings, (Climate Change, Biodiversity, Forest Management, Sustainable Tourism, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development etc.);
• Support, initiate and advice alternative sustainable regional development projects;
• Support the initiative of  CC Sustainable Energy Protocol development.

The complete text of the Appleal can be found here.

We hope on the next Sustainable Tourism Working Group Meeting the Svydovets case will be discussed in more details.