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The implementation of the eco-management audit scheme (EMAS) in the management of high-growth tourist areas (Emas_tourism)
Start date: Sep 1, 2001, End date: Jun 1, 2003 PROJECT  FINISHED 

Background ¿ BACKGROUND The growth of tourist flows in Europe has exerted heavy pressure on areas hosting tourist-attractive natural resources. In this context, the growing rate of tourist activities seen in recent years in the Villasimius area, Southern Sardinia, has led to an inevitable increase in tourist flows, which are concentrated in July and August. Such an increase, accompanied by the seasonal nature of local activities, raises several problems linked to the utilisation of environmental and natural resources and to the effects of tourist activities on the overall natural framework. Because such matters concern all local interests, the definition and adoption of voluntary agreements among local stakeholders to reduce environmental impact and to optimise environmental and natural resources, contemplating as well the social and economic patterns of local tourist activities, have become necessary. The Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) is one of the instruments adopted by the EU for the diffusion and uptake of voluntary agreements for environmental purposes. ¿ PROJECT OBJECTIVES The project aims to introduce EMAS in the planning and management of the Villasimius area. An environmental management system will be implemented according to the EMAS model; by voluntary agreements, local social-economic stakeholders will unite to jointly settle and implement local environmental policies and programmes based on sustainable tourism, protection and exploitation of coastal zones. The environmental management system, both of Villasimius Municipality and of partners' pilot hotels, will be implemented, and investments in infrastructures and equipment related to innovative environmental management will be made. In this way, the organisations involved will be able to account for environmental control and improved environmental performance. The implementation of EMAS will improve the environmental performance of Villasimius Municipality, thanks to the recycling of used waters and the managing of urban solid waste. A model of this EMAS application will be disseminated throughout Europe for the planning, management and exploitation of high tourist growth areas. This model might well be proposed also in the context of Structural Funds allocated by the EU from 2001 to 2006. Objectives
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