Voluntary
Initiatives for Sustainability in Tourism
Mission
Statement
“To promote and support sustainable
tourism development through the representation, promotion
and mutual co-operation
of international, national and regional certification
schemes and other voluntary initiatives for sustainable
tourism at an international level.”
VISIT stands for “Voluntary Initiative for Sustainability
in Tourism”, and was created within the frame of
an EU funded LIFE project in tourism eco-labelling. The
name outlines the concept of the organisation: a positive
collaboration between distinct initiatives working towards
achieving sustainability in tourism.
The Association was
established in 2004 at REISEPAVILLON, Europe’s
leading Green and Ecotourism Fair. This was the culmination
of ongoing
liaison and co-operation
between a dozen leading tourism eco-labels from 2001
onwards. Seven of these labels (based in the Netherlands,
Italy, Denmark, Latvia, United Kingdom, Switzerland and
Luxembourg) founded the organisation together they represent
over 2,000 participating tourism enterprises.
Other organisations
involved with and interested in sustainable tourism may
join the organisation as associate
members, these include ecolabels working towards full
membership such as Ecocamping and professional bodies
involved in research and development in sustainable tourism
such as Ecotrans. For further information on joining
VISIT as a Full member ecolabel or as an Associate please
contact the VISIT secretary at the address below or download
the relevant forms on other pages on this site.
The alliance between the labels within VISIT is based
on mutual understanding and recognition and the agreement
to adopt a common standard. This standard sets the
framework by which credible tourism eco-labels should
operate in Europe. This ensures the consumer has a
reliable and responsible tourism choice and an indication
that there are efforts to improve the destination towards
more sustainability.
VISIT is the first association
of its type anywhere in Europe and its primary goal is
to ensure that eco-labelling
in tourism is successful, practical and responsible.
