ERNEST

Basic Information

Description

The overall objective of the ERNEST project is to develop and strengthen a framework for the coordination of regional research programmes on sustainable tourism

The activities carried out by ERNEST so far (until the end of 2011)are the following: Information exchange on regional research programmes; Preparation and implementation of joint activities on tourism research, particularly on interregional exchange and evaluation; Implementation and launching of one Joint Call for the funding of interregional research on sustainable tourism. 8 interregional projects have been financed and are being monitored.Results will be shown at the final conference, in June 2012. The Joint Call proved to be an important learning tool towards the harmonization of regional financial measures for sustaining the sustainable development of tourism, even for those partners who could not actually take part to this call. It is expected that the ERNEST joint activities will contribute to the mainstreaming of sustainability and to the experimentation of sustainability models in the destinations, and help the involved organizations to improve their tourist research funding policies.

Main research priorities of the network

The ERNEST Project specific research themes are: - social dialogue - measurement the 10 strategic research areas into sustainable tourism are: - Impact of transport - Residents’ quality of life - Quality of work - Widening the relations between demand/offer (geographical and seasonal concentration of tourism) - Active conservation of cultural heritage - Active conservation of environmental heritage - Active conservation of distinctive identities of destinations - Reduction and optimization of natural resources use with particular reference to water - Reduction and optimization of energy consumption - Reduction of waste and better waste management