European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in 'Terras do Priolo'

The application to the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) is being prepared to enhance sustainable tourism in the "Lands of the Priolo": in the municipalities of Nordeste and Povoação.

Through the LIFE project Sustainable Laurel, SPEA, the Government and municipalities are looking to implement for the first time the CETS in this region. The European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (CETS) is a tool at the european level, that aims to improve tourism in protected areas, with the primary objectives of conserving the biodiversity and develop a sustainable tourism. At the same time, the CETS is an opportunity to disclose these protected areas and the municipalities that encompass it at an international level.

The process to this certification, was presented on 25th of February by the Regional Director of Environment, the week that a Formation about the process was given to the technicians of the entities envolved.

In 2011, the process has started along with the local inhabitants of the municipalities, by presenting CETS in each one of them, in Nordeste and Povoação. To date, eight meetings were held, which involved a good share of the population, and where important contributions to this process, were collected.