Ecotourism:The future is now – take responsibility Erasmus Project

Project Title

Ecotourism:The future is now – take responsibility

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions; Creativity and culture

Project Summary

Tourism in the time of globalization and how to avoid that overcrowding and neglect destroy the natural wealth and the sustainability of touristic resources are the factors that generated the answer defined nowadays as Ecotourism. This concept involves environmental, economic and social issues which vigilance is of crucial importance to ensure the survival of natural and historical patrimony. Putting together the tourist potentials of the participating European countries, the objective was that our students had the opportunity to know the different realities and reflect on the
practices and their consequences.
In this way it is possible to awaken a common conscience that will help preserve the natural and cultural wealth of Europe. International meetings have been organized to involve students in the development of good ecotourism practices and have included the knowledge of cultural and natural richness, conservation projects and normative approach and their consequences.
During the first mobility (Spain) they got familiar with the fundamental concepts of Ecotourism and had the opportunity of comparing the effects of human intervention on some touristic spots throughout the years. During the second one (Portugal) they approached the three main sectors directly involved in tourism: institutions, professionals and consumers. At the third mobility (France) each international team was given the opportunity of being creative and presented an ecotourism accommodation in which they have worked on all environmental aspects related to the theme: materials, construction,
organization, philosophy, energy, etc. During the fourth meeting (Germany) each country set a stand with typical referents and food of their places and the exposition was visited by students, teachers and families. ICT tools were also applied to work on sustainable tourism as a way of preserving the environment. Furthermore, during all meetings, many parallel activities (exhibitions, visits to natural parks, eco-sport activities, …) and mixed international
teams projects offered the students a glance at the different European realities and gave them the opportunity of collaborating with their international partners in the creation of a more responsible way of living tourism.
Digital and/or physical materials such as magazines, ebooks or websites have been created after each mobility to collect the work and results obtained by the students. These materials have been shared with the respective school communities for their benefit and they will be used as referents for future projects and future student generations. This project has fostered the creation and improvement of an awareness of the necessity of giving an
answer to the problems created by the abuse of mass tourism activities. In the long term this is a way of creating future conscious citizens, able to value and help to respect the environment and european natural and historical richness.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 131580,92 Eur

Project Coordinator

Gymnasium Marne & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Institut Tarragona
• Strokovni izobrazevalni center Ljubljana
• LYCEE GENERAL ET TECHNOLOGIQUE PRIVE ND KREISKER
• Agrupamento de Escolas de Carvalhos