ECOTOURISM POLICY FOR BURREN EXPERIENCE GUIDED WALKS

Ecotourism is defined as “Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people” (TIES). Burren Experience Guided Walks seeks to be a certified ecotourism provider and is committed to the following principles of Ecotourism:

I endeavour to uphold the principles of eco tourism in the following areas
• Using environmentally sustainable practices
• Bringing people into nature
• Promoting our natural and cultural heritage
• Contributing to conservation
• Maximising benefits for local communities
• Ensuring visitor satisfaction
• Marketing responsibly
• Increasing cultural respect and awareness

Because of our love and passion for this area we have adopted environmentally sustainable practice and we actively contribute to the conservation of our local biodiversity and cultural heritage. All of our guided walks subscribe to the Leave No Trace principles and the Burren Code. For our Burren Experience Guided Walk, the following features and procedures have been incorporated to ensure adherence to ecotourism principles.

Using environmentally sustainable practices
-We walk to the start of the walk where possible. All our walks take place in nature and use natural landscape and resources
-Guided walks will consist of small groups (approx 10 in number) therefore minimising low impact on the landscape.
-Any impact on fauna & flora and limestone pavement and heath land will be minimal as visitors will be kept on marked trails, paths and roads. The walkers have the opportunity of a full Burren experience while gaining an understanding of sustainable practices.
-We educate our walkers on the importance of farming for conservation by highlighting awareness of the importance of the animals and habitats and the role they haves to play in the well being of the natural system. The visitor can physically witness this during the walk e.g. seeing the cattle out wintering on the mountain and how the encroachment of hazel scrub is being monitored by the farmers.
-By educating our walkers to the principles of the Burren code we help visitors and walkers to be aware of landscape conservation. We collect and take home and leftovers and rubbish ( e.g. if we have an outdoor picnic)
-Bringing people into nature
We educate our walkers on the importance of wildlife / biodiversity by highlighting awareness of the importance of each organism and the role it has to play in the well being of the natural system. This walk highlights the co dependents of the habitats and if one is altered by human activity it upsets the whole ecosystem.
-We ensure that our walkers are mindful & observant of where they tread and aid them to develop an awareness of the delicacy of the wild flowers (e.g. leave wildflower undisturbed and photographs instead of picking.
-We advise walkers to take nothing but memories therefore leaving the area aesthetically gratifying for other nature lover.

Promoting our natural and cultural heritage
Because of our love and passion for this area we have adopted environmentally sustainable practice and we actively contribute to the conservation of our local biodiversity and cultural heritage.
The walks enable the visitors to appreciate the natural landscape and experience the culture and activities of the people who live here
We provide a free walks on heritage week to build awareness and education about our heritage thereby encouraging its conservation and preservation. 

Contributing to conservation
10% reduction in walking fee for those who reach meeting point by public transport or by bicycle.
We are members of Burren beo trust and we encourage our walkers to become members also.
 We encourage wildlife by protecting their habitats and remove invasive species.

Maximising benefits for local communities
We offer visitors opportunities to engage with the protected landscape of the Burren in a manner which is sustainable both in terms of the environment as well as the community.
In Burren Experience Guided Walks we actively promote local pubs shops heritage centres.

Ensuring visitor satisfaction
The visitor will get a full Burren Experience coupled with insights and knowledge about the Burren.  When people understand the mechanism of how something operates work they tend to appreciates it all the more. We educate our walkers about this.
The walking experience is outdoor and recreational combined with exercise and fresh air. The walking routes are carefully planned in advance and include the aesthetics and visual impact of the amazing landscape is more than rewarding.

Marketing responsibly
We have a website to market our walks. We are in the process of updating this to a more user friendly system where we can have an Eco information section and displays our Eco policies.

We have a policy of using internet and email to promote our business e.g. advertising, walks, though links with other networks e.g. Burren ecotourism network, and word of mouth.

Increasing cultural respect and awareness
Occasionally the walk includes a seisuin in our local Teach Cheoil.
Visitors are encouraged to share and contribute in our local yearly Traditional Music Festival.
At present we are planning for a cultural event for The Gathering 2013 ( a series of events promoting our Irish culture)