FORUM THEMATICAREAS

TransportSustainable mobility and island tourism

Inland transport technologies and systems arenowadays an essential factor that defines thequality of island tourist destinations. Progres-sive inclusion of aggressive models of trans-port represents a threat to the development ofthis activity and an impact that is frequentlyinadmissible for tourists. Island destinationsdeteriorate because of excessive road networks,noise and traffic. Nevertheless, new transporttechnologies offer at present a wide selectionof low-impact solutions with regard to emis-sions and noises. Hybrid, electric and fuel-cellpowered vehicles, show an enriching future for islands' tourist centres and cities. Thesetechnologies will reach their maximum efficiency in combinationwith advancedmethodsof transport information andmanagement. Initiatives that could be completed by decisivepolicies of restraint on traffic and integration of the different forms of transport, favour-ing pedestrian areas and primacy of public transport.

TelematicsTourism and Information Society

Integration of islands in the information soci-ety and, in particular, of their tourist activity, istoday a primary target. Improvement of infor-mation and electronic trade systems are advan-tageous to qualification, identity, singularity anddevelopment of new tourist products moreadapted to island realities. Barriers imposed byinflexible, homogeneous offers to tourism sus-tainable development on islands can be over-come with the help of telematics.Telematic resources will allow perceptible im-provement of information andmanagement sys-tems within sectors such as transport, energydemand management, water saving, responsi-ble hotel management and local product com-mercialisation.

Renewable Energy SourcesAnother way to enjoy the sun

Energy repercussions of island tourist development aremore and more evident. Conventional methods of en-ergy production show serious environmental risks andinadmissibly increase costs and overseas dependence.Nevertheless, as a rule, on islands abundant renewableenergy sources can be found, such as wind, sun or tides,which are sometimes complemented by hydraulic,geothermic or biomass-derived resources.Beside already mature technologies widely-experi-mented in the hotel sector, like hot water production through solar panels, some innovat-ing systems are making their way through the market, such as solar cooling, large-scaleuse of photovoltaics in hotels connected to the grid, or participation of the tourist sectorin energy decentralisation by promoting consortia of wind farms. The concept has radi-cally changed, energy for tourism on islands will not be considered anymore as an exog-enous resource, but as a quality service. The European campaign on 100% renewabletourist islands (Island 2010) is a good expression of the possibilities of the future.Apart from technology innovation in renewables, big advances have been made over thelast few years in the field of rational use of energy, with the use of efficient saving, man-agement and production systems.

Water-related technologiesRelieving islands' thirst

Water is nowadays an extremely valuable and scarceresource in island destinations. Increasing water de-mand from tourism clasheswith traditional agriculturalactivities and takes away valuable ecosystem resources,which are part of the tourist attractions of several is-lands.Even if we are attending to an important developmentin the implementation of saving-related best practicesin the hotel sector, there is still a long way to go in thefield of water purification and re-utilisation in touristareas and within resorts. The present range of applicable technologies and new productscover frommodern bio-purification systems to low-impact treatments that guarantee thequality of water.Water scarcity, or its forced availability, has led in many areas to undertaking advanceddesalination projects in many areas. The new qualitative jump is based on guaranteeingnewwater supplies in coastal areas starting from renewable-energy powered desalination.

Sustainable BuildingTowards an integrated tourist habitat

Environmental, cultural and technological integra-tion of tourist buildings is not just an option in thecase of islands. Non-integrated, impersonal, out-of-context and energy-wasting buildings start toworsen the image of the destination. The devel-opment of a culture based on sensitivity and onbioclimatic models will bring to a higher comfortand singularity of the tourist offer, especially if wetake into account the fact that accomodation isthe tourists main expectation.Within this context, quality of accomodation is an added value and a factor improvingcompetitivity of island tourist destinations.

Zero-waste strategy

Waste generation in tourist establishments is nowadays a serious en-vironmental risk for island destinations and an increasing cost for thehotel industry. As a complement to traditional policies of waste val-orisation, based on recycling, re-utilisation and recuperation, newmethods appeared that include aspects ranging fromwaste minimisa-tion to in situ modular composting to introduction of biotechnologi-cal solutions.Industry is at present able to supply telematic resources, guaranteeing information and atthe same time elimination of printedmaterial, biodegradable and recoverable packings andcontainers, highly-reliable product dispensers or organicwaste processing technologieswiththe help of biological products. Innovation is also moving towards the processing and dis-posal of dangerous products and recuperation of other wastes such as oils and inert waste.

Instruments of support

Successful technological innovation in the different fields of tourist activity must be ac-companied by the development of adequate regulation measures in the various areasinvolved such as taxes, training and development of innovative financial instruments andproducts able to adapt themselves to the new market requirements.The necessary dialogue between the tourist sector, service providers, manufacturers andtechnologists needs to renew the present frameworks that avoid the formation of marketniches and alliances, which are objectively feasible and viable, in favour of tourist devel-opment sustainability.Absence of information and qualified training strongly contributed to the fact that themost dynamic industry within island economies is today really behind with regard totechnological innovation, when compared to other activity sectors.

MAIN OBJECTIVES OFTHE FORUM

� To discover state of the art eco-efficienttechnologies in the islands' tourist sector.� To promote efficient market alliances andidentify action priority areas.� To open communication channels betweenmain decision-makers: hotel managers,tourist associations and operators, localauthorities, manufacturers, service provid-ers, consultants, engineers and architects,research and development institutes.� To exchange experiences between islandterritories.� To identify demonstration projects, pro-grammes and initiatives.

Participants

� Representatives of the tourist industry� International tourist associations� Island tourist associations� Chambers of commerce� Agencies and international programmes� DecisionMakers in island governments� Research centres, technology institutesand universities� International co-operation networks� Industry associations� Technological providers� Service providers� Consulting, engineering and architecturalcompanies