The increasing numbers of tourists in the vacation regions of the Adriatic coast and the Ionian Sea lead to high energy consumption and the associated high CO2 emissions as well as immense sea water pollution and a large volume of waste. In recent years, short and long-term tourists have exacerbated the situation in these regions due to the villages' supply and disposal structures, which are in great need of improvement. The landscape and tourism are shaped by the small villages and their hotels and vacation homes. Renovation and the necessary measures for environmentally friendly and efficient operation of the facilities and accommodation have not yet taken place.
With "EcoTourism", phase II of the previous feasibility study "Feasibility Study for the Promotion of Sustainable Tourism at Albania's Mediterranean Coast" (funded by the Environmental Technologies Export Initiative, Fkz 16EXI130-1) is being implemented. "EcoTourism" focuses on smaller villages and their hotels and vacation apartments, whose supply and disposal systems are comparatively environmentally harmful and inefficient. The stakeholders (owners of the buildings, local administrations and ministries for regional development) are willing to organize themselves into associations and make joint investments in order to facilitate a comprehensive solution. The involvement, organization and implementation of workshops are intended to deepen the relationship between Germany and the respective country and to build the capacity of the local GIZ and AHKs.
As part of the project, transferable, country-specific concepts in the areas of energy, wastewater and waste for sustainable supply and disposal will be developed as a basis for ecologically sustainable tourism and implemented with local planners in a sample village. The pilot character will thus serve as a best-practice example for the implementation of an "ideal-typical sustainability-oriented Adriatic village" and will be easily transferable to all villages in the countries under consideration (Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro).
- Energy (SIZ): Transformation into climate-friendly and energy-efficient tourism. Holistic approach to the economic and ecological optimization of energy supply and reduction of energy consumption (heating, cooling and electricity) of existing buildings as well as the use of renewable energy sources
- Wastewater (ISWW): Wastewater technology solutions and concepts for closing the cycle as far as possible, taking into account quality standards and energy efficiency. The focus is on sustainable use for tourism.
- Waste (Goduni): Reduction of waste volumes as a causal source of environmental pollution and introduction of energy recovery from organic waste to generate energy as well as material recovery from recyclable packaging.
WP1 Conceptual design of the implementation (SIZ and Goduni)
- Updating the concept study from Phase I and adapting it to current developments in line with the choice of building and changes to the boundary and framework conditions.
WP2 Inventory assessment and energy supply (SIZ, Goduni and ISWW)
- Inventory and inventory assessment with subsequent derivation and concretization of an energy, wastewater and waste concept to be implemented (transformation and renovation) with specifications for the planners.
WP3 Recycling (Goduni and ISWW)
- Development of scenarios and concepts for waste prevention
- Establishment of a circular economy
- Methods and implementation concepts for waste and wastewater treatment
- Creation of specifications for planners
WP4 Stakeholder involvement (Goduni)
- Integration of those involved in planning
- Organization of workshops for knowledge transfer
WP5 Implementation (Goduni)
- Project management
- Implementation of technologies and methods
WP6 Scientific monitoring of planning and implementation (SIZ)
- Development of a standardizable monitoring concept and tools for quality assurance
- Monitoring and support for implementation, commissioning and operation
- Evaluation and publication of the results