carbonneutraltourism.co.uk

Who knows what an AONB is? Perhaps not the best known abbreviation and when said in full – Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – it can sound as if the speaker is simply waxing lyrical.

But an AONB is in fact a nationally designated landscape – “a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them” (NAAONB).

The primary purpose of AONB designation is to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the landscape. Two secondary aims complement this:

• To meet the need for quiet enjoyment of the countryside
• To have regard for the interests of those who live and work there.

In England, AONBs are on a legal par with National Parks – equivalent in terms of their landscape quality and planning status. The main differences between the two are:

• AONBs are managed by local authority advisory committees, whilst National Parks require a special authority of their own
• The statutory planning process is the responsibility of the National Parks Authority, whilst within AONBs, it is the responsibility of the individual local planning authorities the area falls within
• National Parks tend to be located in upland areas whilst AONBs are mostly lowland landscapes
• National Parks are legally obliged to provide for public recreational opportunities, whereas AONBs are not.

There are 39 AONBs in England and Wales and a further nine in Northern Ireland. Some of the best known ones perhaps are the Cotswolds, Chilterns and South Downs – for a full list go to www.aonb.org.uk – discover the Lincolnshire Wolds, Northumberland Coast, the Forest of Bowland and many more.

The Kent Downs AONB is the eastern half of the North Downs. This ridge of chalk stretches from Farnham in Surrey, where it is designated the Surrey Hills AONB, through to Kent and across to the iconic White Cliffs at Dover. This same ridge of chalk reappears on the French side of the Channel where it is designated le Parc Naturel Regional des Caps et Marais d’Opale.

One of the most renowned features of the Kent Downs is its chalk grassland. This habitat is of international importance because it has become so rare and supports so many species of flora and fauna.  A walk across an area of chalk grassland in May and June can be a feast for the senses – tantalising smells of wild herbs, a colourful array of orchids and other wild flowers and the sound of insects that rely on the plants for their survival.

The Kent Downs is famed walking country – you can tread the paths of Pilgrims along the North Downs Way National Trail and the mythical Pilgrims Way, or breathe in the sea air along the Saxon Shore Way. Explore the secluded dry valleys, ancient woodlands and downland villages. Easy to reach by train, many places are accessible in approx one hour from London.

www.kentdowns.org.uk

Sarah Loftus
Sustainable Tourism Officer
Kent Downs AONB Unit

The four day International Conference on Responsible Tourism concluded with the signing of the Kerala Declaration today. The Conference drew a crowd of 503 delegates and speakers from 29 countries.

Hoteliers, tour operators, government agencies, NGOs, academia, media, industry and local government from the State, National and International arena shared their expertise and knowledge to take forward the agenda to ensure that more responsible and sustainable tourism practices are adopted around the world.

Earlier inaugurating the event, Minister for Home, Vigilance and Tourism Shri Kodiyeri Balakrishnan iterated that his vision is to create a broad consensus on adoption of
responsible tourism practices by all stakeholders.“Opportunities should be shared with the local people. We should join hands with Local-Self-Government bodies like the Panchayat to create durable institutions that will take the Responsible Tourism agenda forward. Women’s self-help-groups like Kudumbasree are testimony as to how tourism can be used as a platform for local economic development”.

Dr. Venu V., Secretary of Kerala Tourism said “responsible tourism practices are crucial for us given the increase in tourism numbers to Kerala. The efforts of Kerala to involve a participatory, sustainable initiative providing linkages between the local communities and tourism businesses have been strengthened by the insights we have received at the Conference”.True to the theme and commitment of the conference, speakers and delegates paid to attend the conference including registration fees, travel expenses and accommodation to ensure that the host State does not carry the full financial burden. The Conference organizers absorbed the cost for State Level and District Level Responsible Tourism Committees and District Tourism Promotion Councils so that they could gain valuable insights from the international presenters and case studies showcased. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman - World Travel Mart said that she was happy to demonstrate her commitment to this important issue by attending as a paid speaker.

The case studies presented at the Conference demonstrated that responsible tourism practices were being adopted in different context, delivering innovative solutions based on a community led approach. There was immense scope for all businesses to be more responsible and this should be a priority issue for all stakeholders.

A total of 63 speakers presented at 7 sessions spread over the four day Conference attended by 503 registered delegates from 29 countries including India.

Speakers at the inaugural session included:

• Prof. Harold Goodwin, Director, ICRT, Leeds Metropolitan University, UK
• Dr. Harsh Varma, Director-Development Assistance, UNWTO
• Ms. Fiona Jeffery, Chairman, World Travel Market
• Mr. Hiran Cooray, PATA Secretary and Treasurer
• Mr. E.M Najeeb, President, Kerala Travel Mart Society
• Mr. Mandip Singh Soin, President, Ecotourism Society of India
• Mr. Abama Bah, Chair, Association of Small Scale Enterprises in Tourism Gambia

The Conference programme included the following sessions:

• Academic Conference on 21st March where papers on various aspects relating to Responsible Tourism were presented
• The second day (22nd March) of the Conference focused on global perspectives on the responsible tourism movement, experiences from destinations as well as thematic presentations and interactions on rural tourism.
• The third day (23rd March) featured case studies from Indian destinations, session on ‘the Kerala experience’ and site visits
• The fourth-day concluded with the proclamation of the Kerala Declaration on Responsible Tourism