Project concept is to deepen the convenience of developing a circular economy and highlight the return of implementing this approach in the tourism sector.
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended.
In practice, it implies reducing waste to a minimum. When a product reaches the end of its life, its materials are kept within the economy wherever possible. These can be productively used again and again, thereby creating further value.
This is a departure from the traditional, linear economic model, which is based on a take-make-consume-throw away pattern. This model relies on large quantities of cheap, easily accessible materials and energy.
Why do we need to switch to a circular economy?
- The world’s population is growing and with it the demand for raw materials. However, the supply of crucial raw materials is limited. Finite supplies also means some EU countries are dependent on other countries for their raw materials.
- In addition, extracting and using raw materials has a major impact on the environment. It also increases energy consumption and CO2 emissions. However, a smarter use of raw materials can lower CO2 emissions.
Why it is important?
On one hand, tourism wields tremendous economic positive outcomes: it is one of the world’s most significant sources of economic outcomes and employment. However, tourism is a very complex industry involving numerous stakeholders (sometimes with opposite interests) and requiring a significant amount of resources. As such, tourism can have very opposite effects according to the way activities are managed. Managed well, tourism can play a positive role in the socio, cultural, economic, environmental and political development of the destination and as such represents a significant development opportunity for many countries and communities. On the contrary, unchecked tourism development can lead to very damageable impacts, impacts on natural resources, consumption patterns, pollution and social systems. The need for sustainable planning and management is imperative for the industry to survive as a whole.
https://corporate.enel.it/en/stories/a/2019/07/sustainable-tourism-in-italy-definition-examples
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/22/12691
Learning outcomes
- Opportunity of recovering and reusing of agricultural and industrial resource and sub-products;
- To promote attractiveness of unspoiled places for making travelers as the ones that have discovered that places;
- Making it convenient for tourism operators
- To satisfy consumers’ needs with the tourist offer;
To whom program is (i.e. target group and benefits)Â
- hosts, operators and suppliers of green tourism offers and services in offbeat destinations
- community leaders (mostly policy makers), who will be offered approaches to adapt their development policies to the circular economy agenda.
- tourism support organisations (as adult educators)
Explanation of learning process and tips for efficient learning
The type of training will be aimed at a circle of adults belonging to the target groups and will mainly have the characteristic of informal training, based on the learning by doing approach. Once the training has been completed and the required skills acquired, it will be possible to download an Open Badge, a tool that, outside the formal systems, becomes a concrete possibility for all citizens to be able to use it for employment and learning purposes. The Open Badge represents in all respects a digital certificate.