National park hosts in the Eifel National Park (Nationalparkgastgeber im Nationalpark Eifel)

Region

Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz

Term 2008-11-19

Short description: Gastronomy businesses which use the brand “Regionalmarke Eifel” can be trained as “Na-tionalparkgastgeber” (national park hosts). Until now there are 25 participating businesses who have to fulfil specific criteria. They have to act as ambassadors of the national park and are provided with special information by the national park.

Objectives: Guest businesses within the national park form an offer group "nationalpark hosts" and act as "embassadors" of the national park.

Process: Certification after a 5 day training course and fulfilling the defined quality criteria. After a successfull certification process the national park hosts develop their own packages and marketing measures.

Results: Being "ambassadors" of the national park the national park hosts gain higher sensibility among their guests for environmental issues and make them to "ambassadors" of the national park as well.

Source of information

Comments

Impact on nature and environment: By fulfilling environment saving measures it is anticipated to attract more visitors who are sensitive regarding ecological aspects.

Economic value added: By using the brand “Regionalmarke Eifel” or “Viabono” the national park hosts oblige themselves to accomplish special nature friendly measures such as energy saving measures. Being ambassadors of the national park the national park hosts gain higher sen-sibility among their guests for environmental issues and make them to “ambassadors” as well. Among the local people a higher ac-ceptance of the National Park’s ecological protection targets is aspired.

Socio-cultural value added: By the use of the brand a stronger regional identification arises among the participating businesses.

Innovative content: The innovative content is, that hosts within the national park deal actively with the subject national park and it's philosophy.

Good governance: The national park hosts participate actively in the coordination tasks of the Eifel Tourism Ltd. and the National Park Administration and has its own speaker. They develop their own criteria and packages. Training programs are part of the qualification criteria. Every three years the participants will be evaluated.

PR impact: National park hosts will have their own website with a link on the national park's website.

Multiplier effect / networking: Being ambassadors of the national park the national park hosts gain higher sensibility among their guests for environmental issues and make them to “ambassadors” as well.