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Eligibility Criteria
1. General Award Criteria
The General Award Criteria have been derived
from the Guidelines of the European Commission and are integrated into
an on-off procedure. Therefore, eligible destinations will need to
comply with these general criteria in order to be described as a
European Destination of Excellence in the frame of EDEN European
Programme. The general award criteria will require that destinations:
- Are “non traditional”. The European
Commission describes this as a destination where the visitor density
ranges from “low” to “very low” in comparison to the national
average.
- Be designated as coastal, lake and
riverside tourism destinations by the national regulations.
- Manage its own tourism offer in such way
as to ensure its social, cultural and environmental sustainability
and in a partnership between the authorities responsible for the
management of the destination and all those involved in tourism in
and around the area (e.g. tourist service providers, local
communities, etc.).
Beneficiaries are exclusively Local
Authorities and/or associations of Local Authorities activated in a
specific geographical area where soft forms of aquatic tourism have
developed. The beneficiaries can collaborate with other local entities
(e.g. professional organizations) that cannot apply directly to the
Programme.
2. Specific Award Criteria
The Specific Award Criteria are allocated in
two categories:
i. General Quality Criteria
ii. Specific Quality Criteria
The General Quality Criteria are determined
according to the aforementioned General Award Criteria and the general
aim of the EU preparatory action.
More specifically, each candidate area can be
defined as an aquatic tourism destination under the frame of EDEN
Programme if it includes at least 3 of the following:
(1). Evidence of the enhancement of the value
of the natural environment.
(2). The offer should aim to raise awareness
of local population and visitors on the importance of the aquatic
environment. Evidence or plans of action aimed at increasing awareness
should be provided.
(3). The area should host innovative and small
tourism business/services related to aquatic tourism (e.g. a traditional
restaurant within a boat yard, or a sea excursion company that developed
fishing, star watching, traditional cuisine tasting cruises and spa).
(4). Organize cultural events promoting local
traditions (e.g. traditional music concerts).
(5). Preserve and exhibit traditional crafts,
nautical vessels or other activities related to water element and
maintaining know-how through specialized training courses for visitors.
(6). Preserve strong relationships among local
inhabitants and trust local bodies and public authorities.
(7). Properly maintain local Museums with
unique collections – exhibitions concerning the water element and
people’s life concerning the water and sea (e.g Sea Museum).
(8). Encourage modern cultural activities
(club cinema, digital representation of traditional crafts and
activities related to water element, etc).
(9). Have adequate representation of
professional or voluntary associations of businesses activated in
Aquatic Tourism (e.g. sailor’s club, amateur fishermen association,
friends of the sea club, etc).
(10). Have a travel agency and/or a
public/private enterprise activated in the development of safe aquatic
excursions (e.g. for scuba diving, shipwrecks etc) and if possible
certified for the quality of its services.
(11). Constitute a place of great hospitality
for artists and/or athletes with special interest on aquatic environment
often inviting them for competitions/ concerts/ exhibitions (e.g. on
tourist boats).
(12). Host environment friendly accommodation
units (hotels, rooms to rent, etc).
(13). Apply innovative forms of cooperation
among local bodies and socioeconomic actors (e.g. a Local Steering
Committee always assessing and supporting the implementation of new
tourism strategies and individual projects), and/or have created an
integrated public-private-partnership among local stakeholders.
(14). Cooperate effectively with industry
federations, innovation institutes, national and regional public bodies,
market research organizations, trade associations and other relevant
organizations with Aquatic Tourism issues.
(15). Created a network together with foreign
destinations in order to exchange experiences, visitors, etc.
(16). Use of effective methods of
communication/promotion of the destination to potential tourists. This
could include the use of new technologies to present the tourism offer
in the area, digital/improved signposting and the setting up of the
information centers, etc.
1. Visitor density is defined according
to the average number of visitors in candidate destinations. The number
of the visitors must not exceed the 17.000 persons per year (for the
years 2009, 2008, and 2007. The Beneficiary must present the relative
information concerning the number of the visitors from the following
sources:
- Number of overnights (if there
are any accommodation facilities in the area).
- Number of visitors in museums,
exhibitions, etc.
In case that there is not any of the
aforementioned information, the beneficiary can use the estimations of
the Head of the Local Authority.
2. An eligible area is the one that
includes within its community or municipal borders: sea, artificial dam,
lake, lagoon, river, water park, spring, fish-farm or any other aquatic
form of tourism.
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