Governance and Zero Carbon Emission CO2
Overview and Mission
Destination–Management.co, based on Lemnos Island, is a partnership of tourism professionals, academics, and policymakers committed to promoting sustainable tourism development through data-driven planning and local stakeholder engagement. The organization addresses challenges such as lack of coordination among stakeholders, limited integration of green and digital strategies, and insufficient emphasis on sustainability. Its mission is to empower destinations with customized, sustainability-oriented plans and foster stakeholder collaboration.
Approach and Milestones
The company emphasizes the involvement of local stakeholders—residents, businesses, and public authorities—in shaping tourism strategies. Key milestones include:
- Conducting sustainability-focused SWOT analyses.
- Facilitating stakeholder engagement in vision creation.
- Designing tools to support digital transformation and green practices.
Focus on Remote Regions
In remote areas like Lemnos, where tourism expansion pressures sustainability, the company tackles:
- Infrastructure and resource strain from increased tourism.
- Isolation that limits networking and innovation.
- Budget limitations and lack of access to advanced tools.
Sustainable Development Vision
By blending cultural, rural, and eco-tourism with innovative tech, the company supports green practices and reduced carbon emissions. Central to its approach is the education of local businesses and workers, ensuring long-term community participation in sustainable development.
Future Goals
Destination-Management.co seeks to grow its client base and become a sustainability leader by:
- Creating digital platforms for ongoing training.
- Developing marketing strategies for new tourism niches.
- Strengthening public-private collaboration for comprehensive tourism growth.
Context: Municipality of Lemnos
Lemnos, administered under the 2011 “Kallikratis” reform, faces sustainability challenges due to its remote location and growing tourism demands. Reliant on ferry and air transport, the island is grappling with increased environmental impact, skill shortages, limited digital capabilities, and gaps in green expertise.
Municipal Vision for Sustainable Tourism
Lemnos envisions high-quality tourism by:
- Conserving natural and ecosystem resources.
- Promoting environmentally responsible, year-round tourism.
- Addressing workforce and digital skill gaps.
- Encouraging public-private sector collaboration.
Residents are invited to engage in sustainability programs, workshops, and consultations to strengthen community cohesion and align development with both local values and visitor expectations.
Project Empowerment
This initiative empowers the Destination Management Company (DMC) in Lemnos to lead the green and digital transition in tourism, enhance operational sustainability, and boost its influence across the region.
Project Aims
- Skills Mapping & Capacity Building: Identifies green/digital skill gaps and provides online training for tourism businesses.
- Sustainability Hub: Offers tools, EU Ecolabel campaigns, and educational content on the DMC and Municipality websites.
- CO₂ Tool: Online calculator to help stakeholders and visitors track and reduce emissions.
- Awareness Events: Launch event and workshop to promote green/digital practices and the Eco Label.
- Networking: DMC participation in industry events to boost innovation and sustainability in tourism.
Alignment with Priority Topics
- Topic 1: Tourism hub and partnerships support sustainable strategies.
- Topic 2: Tools and events promote continuous SME learning.
- Topic 3: Digital platforms enhance digital capacity.
- Topic 4: Skills assessments address specific sectoral needs.
- Topic 5: Events and networking promote awareness and dissemination.
Innovative Aspects
- CO₂ Calculator: Helps users reduce emissions—first of its kind in the region.
- Skills Mapping Survey: Identifies local training needs.
- Digital Training Platform: Consolidates resources for lasting capacity building.
- Sustainable Tourism Hub: A replicable model offering accessible resources and best practices.
Needs Addressed
- Eco-responsibility: CO₂ data supports low-emission tourism choices.
- Skills Development: Training closes digital and green competency gaps.
- Centralized Information: Sustainability resources made easily available.
- Public Engagement: Events enhance participation in sustainability.
Note: Destination-Management.co holds full rights to this proposal, which was presented at the FU Tourisme Project 2024.