Russian Paanajärvi, the New PAN Park
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Combining nature conservation and sustainable tourism in Europe’s protected areas Autumn 2005 Europe’s Wilderness Days Russian Paanajärvi, Training needs assessed Wild adventures in Poland the new PAN Park PAN News PAN Parks National Park International Bulletin, UK Courier PAN Parks Courier is the voice of the PAN (Protected Area Network) Parks Foundation. The Courier aims to inform all interested parties about PAN Parks. The project, as a joint initiative Kaleva, Finland of WWF and Molecaten, “Oulanka and Fulufjället is financed by WWF Netherlands. [National Parks] belong to the network of Certified PAN Parks. PAN Parks is a trademark which guarantees that the parks offer Editorial Board authentic wild nature.” André Brasser Edit Borza Zoltán Kun Letters to the Editor and Free Subscription Edit Borza PAN Parks Foundation PF 264, 9002 Gyôr, Hungary WWF Magazin, Hungary Tel.: +36 1 436 9144 “PAN Parks aims to improve Fax: +36 1 436 9143 conservation in European protected e-mail: [email protected] areas using sustainable tourism as a tool.” Cover Photo Ryszard Nater Bieszczady National Park Design and Lay-out Hammer Advertising Circulation Mora tidning, Sweden 2500 copies are distributed “A group of volunteers from Canon HU ISSN 1586-1058 PAN Parks joined hands to help local rangers Courier is printed on in the field in PAN Park Fulufjället. recycled paper and is ... This has been an unbelievable published by PAN Parks experience for participants to Foundation (9E0163) of WWF help preserve nature.” Electronic version of this and previous issues of the Courier can be downloaded at www.panparks.org under Newsroom > Courier. 3 PAN PARKS COURIER AUTUMN 2005 In This Issue What's New? Tourism Spotlight 4 Announcements 10 The first season in Fulufjällsbyn 4 Training needs assessed 10 11 Women dominate the 5 Park Briefs eco-travel market 6 Europe’s Wilderness Days Network News How does business benefit 13 Volunteers work for nature 6 11 from wilderness? in Oulanka Network Focus Travellers' Stories 8 What makes Paanajärvi 14 Wild adventures in Poland a PAN Park? Bieszczady National Park 8 14 Summer is traditionally the period Furthermore, co-operation can of recreation when everybody feels Editorial make promoting the parks easier the need to take a holiday and enjoy and bring economic benefits to the the lazy time or the relaxing adventures. local community. This summer was, nevertheless, active and eventful for the PAN Parks team. PAN Parks has long been promoting An important step was the verification co-operation without borders. of Paanajärvi National Park, the “pearl” Edit Borza The first transboundary PAN Park of the Nordic land, in June. This is gives us a really good chance to show important not only because we can Without borders the practical benefits. For instance, greet a new PAN Park in our ever- a new border station opened between widening network, but also because Oulanka promoting Paanajärvi and Oulanka and Paanajärvi will make the first transboundary PAN Park - inspiring the Russian twin park to the access between the Finnish and in conjunction with the already apply for PAN Parks verification. the Russian PAN Parks easier not verified Oulanka - was born. only improving the crossing of people The first transboundary PAN Park but hopefully also the meeting of the There is no need to introduce demonstrates that people coming minds - without borders. Oulanka here, one of our oldest from and living in countries with members and a spectacular reserve different traditions and distinct of wilderness in Europe. This wild political and legal systems can kingdom “continues” in the area of work together for the common goal Paanajärvi, which is approximately of protecting nature. Ecosystems do four times the size of Oulanka and not recognize borders; it is important holds similar enchantments for the to apply the same conservation visitors. The two parks have established standards and principles to Write to the Editor at: close contacts over the years with neighbouring geographical areas. [email protected] AUTUMN 2005 PAN PARKS COURIER 3 What’s New? AnnouncementsAnnouncements Training needs assessed Courier going online Language, customer care, marketing, and interpreting nature for tourists are the most important training needs for PAN Parks To bring more up-to-date news to you the PAN Parks and businesses operating around PAN Parks, according to a Foundation will regularly distribute an e-magazine from survey carried out by a team from the Glion Institute of Higher beginning next year and the Courier will cease to be published Education in Switzerland. in a printed format. This will also enable easier response for readers. Of course we would like to keep our subscribers, A team from the Glion Institute of Higher Education in who have taken an interest in our work. To continue your Switzerland, in co-operation with the PAN Parks Foundation, subscription and receive our e-magazine, please send an has now completed a Training Needs Analysis of Oulanka, email to [email protected]. Central Balkan, Bieszczady, and Fulufjället national parks’ staff and local businesses, including PAN Parks partners. The team Our new tourism partner: VCK Travel held around 70 individual interviews and a number of group meetings, including one in Salla, Finland, where 20 people PAN Parks has signed a partnership agreement with VCK were present. Travel, a Dutch tour operator, offering tailor-made incentive tours for businesses and groups, package tours, and cruises. In a past issue of the Courier, the team reported on the interim The company, serving mainly middle-sized businesses, ranks findings of the Training Needs Analysis before they had visited sixth on the Dutch business travel and individual traveller Fulufjället National Park; it can now confirm that these findings markets. VCK Travel guarantees high-level satisfaction for were also reflected in the results from this last field visit. clients by being totally flexible in its services. A customer satisfaction survey in March 2005 showed that 97% of VCK The training needs that have been identified as clear priorities are: business travel clients were very much satisfied with ● Language - mostly English but also German VCK Travel services. The company is planning to widen ● Customer care skills for dealing with foreign visitors/ its scope of destinations to include PAN Parks. understanding the needs of foreign visitors ● Marketing - all aspects, including how to deal with For further information: the foreign travel trade Mylene van der Donk ● Interpreting nature for tourists - this has been clearly expressed [email protected] by both park staff and businesses around the parks ● Issues around sustainable tourism development Partnership with WWF Netherlands ● Assessment of quality of provision for tourists prolonged A complex issue of common import is helping groups like the newly formed Local PAN Parks Groups learn to work together, Based on a new project proposal, entitled Call for Wilderness, Photo:Vladivoj Vancura WWF Netherlands has decided to prolong its partnership with the PAN Parks Foundation. The project proposal covers activities such as the verification process and developing and marketing nature-based tourism products. The new financial agreement provides more than 1 million Euro over the next 3 years for the core activities of the PAN Parks Foundation. Both parties, however, agreed that the Foundation would work towards financial self-sufficiency during the course of the project. For further information: Zoltán Kun [email protected] The survey of 4 parks was completed in Fulufjället this summer 4 PAN PARKS COURIER AUTUMN 2005 Park Briefs Local partners in Oulanka Nine local businesses operating in the Oulanka region will sign partnership contracts with the PAN Parks Foundation in Photo:Vladivoj Vancura October. Partners include campsites, a reindeer park, a taxi service, a café, and businesses offering safaris, husky and bird watching tours. PAN Parks partners are committed to preserving the natural values of the national park, constantly improving the standard of services, adjusting them to the needs of customers, and participating actively in the region’s sustainable tourism development. By choosing the services of Local businesses need training among others in customer care, … PAN Parks partners, visitors indirectly support the preservation break down barriers, communicate, and trust each other. of nature since the annual fee paid by the partners is re-invested Although this was not expressed as an explicit training need, in the area. The list of partners will soon be uploaded on www. it is an issue that PAN Parks should take on as part of the panparks.org on the Oulanka pages. proposed implementation of this training project. Group dynamics are complex, and successful communication between For further information: many disparate groups is crucial for realizing the PAN Parks Matti Tapaninen concept. Park management has to learn how to bring together matti.tapaninen@metsa.fi all of these groups to work towards the common goals Tourism development in Bieszczady Bieszczady National Park, Poland, became the fourth PAN Park to receive full certification after its sustainable tourism development strategy was successfully verified. Photo:Vladivoj Vancura As the verification team concluded after its field visit to the park at the beginning of July, the park management is developing a sustainable model of tourism. The draft Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy that was adopted in April 2005 is supported by stakeholders and presents a good framework for future co-operation and activities in the PAN Parks region. … interpreting nature and marketing. Old-new partners in Fulufjället of preserving wilderness and supporting local community This July, our Swedish local business partners renewed life and businesses within the context of a sustainable tourism their partnership contracts for two more years. strategy. The reconciliation of opinions and interests is Moreover, a new partner also joined the group, not an easy task, and therefore it is recommended that indicating that local businesses see the benefits of communication and problem-solving skills be integrated co-operating with PAN Parks.