MEET methodology and policy manual
The MEET Manual offers a detailed step-by-step guide for Protected Areas to develop ecotourism activities and measure their impacts following the MEET approach. The manual was developed during DestiMED project and updated during DESTIMED PLUS. The purpose of this manual is to provide protected area managing bodies and the local ecotourism sector with a clear methodology to develop ecotourism in their destinations, including the four main steps: setting up a cluster, developing an itinerary, measuring sustainability and marketing the products. The updated manual includes policy sections on local, regional and Mediterranean-level governance.
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Following MEET manual, Mediterranean protected areas (managing bodies and local ecotourism stakeholders) can have a clear pathway to create ecotourism experiences and measure their impacts following the MEET approach. To this end, the manual provides guidance into the approach and the main activities to be delivered in destinations. Additionally, the manual provides guidance for policy makers into establishing governance mechanisms for improving the enabling conditions for ecotourism development, ensuring the integration and coordination of conservation and tourism policies in the Mediterranean, regionally and locally: establishment of LECs (Local Ecotourism Clusters), RECs (Regional Ecotourism Coordination Tables) and a MEC (Mediterranean Ecotourism Consortium).
Replicability conditions
The manual is addressed to Mediterranean Protected Area managers in charge of tourism and conservation development, inbound tour operators, tourism boards, destination management organisations, local development groups, or anyone who is interested in fostering a participatory ecotourism itinerary design in their protected area destinations. The manual and its underlying methodology can be easily accessed online via the MEET Network website, along with many accompanying tools, and, thus, replicated in Mediterranean Protected Area destinations and beyond. Most of the concepts, guidance and tools presented can be applied by any protected area that wants to promote ecotourism activities in its territory by adopting a robust participatory approach and by encouraging the development of products that meet a set or criteria in order to be qualified as ecotourism. The tools for sustainability assessment are also available, and an e-learning course provides training to interested takers of the MEET approach.