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Paper 2 16/02/05 VISIT Forum 

 
Application by Cairngorms National Park Authority for European Charter 
for Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas 


The following briefing outlines the process for application to Europarc: 

Principles 

1. As the Authority is responsible for the protected area, the NPA will sign and agree to 
abide by the principle for sustainable tourism in protected area as set out in chapter 3.1 of 
the Sustainable Tourism Strategy. 


Application Report and Supporting Documentation 

2. This is a short summary report with cross reference to the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 
and Action Plan to be sent to Europarc by 15th March 2005. A number of a supporting 
documents will be part of the application including details of the development of the Park 
Plan, visitor leaflets and brochures etc. 


Verification Visit and Report 

3. Once the application is received, an expert verifier will be appointed by Europarc to visit 
the CNP for two days in April/May 2005. They will conduct interviews with personnel 
involved in tourism as well as representatives of tourism enterprises. The verifier will 
submit a report to the Evaluation Committee and a short report with feedback on the visit 
to the NPA. 


Evaluation Committee and Results 

4. An evaluation committee will consider the application in July, and the result will be 
either: 

a) To award the Charter 

b) To defer the award subject to specific changes being made 

c) To reject the application 


Award of the Charter 

5. Arrangements for an official signing of the Charter certificate will be made, and 
successful protected areas are allowed to use the Charter logo and obtain as much media 
coverage of their success as possible 


Endorsement of the National Park Authority Board 

6. Following the incorporation of the comments on the strategy and action plan, the final 
version will be presented to the NPA Board on 11th March 2005. This is after the 
application will have been submitted to Europarc, but any comments and outcomes from 
the Board will be forwarded prior to the 15th March deadline.