The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority encourages businesses to take simple measures to improve the sustainability of their business and reduce costs, without sacrificing guest comfort and satisfaction.
As well as this, visitors are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impacts, however they can lack confidence in alternatives and the knowledge in where to access the relevant information.
Perhaps you could add a section to your own website on sustainable tourism and include useful information or links to help visitors to be more environmentally conscious, but also to showcase your own green credentials.
Here are some suggestions to help you go green.
Green Accreditation
Ultimately you may want your green credentials and the work you've done to become 'greener' to be recognised and to become accredited by a certification scheme.
Green accreditation
Sustainable Development Fund
The Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) is a small fund that is available each year to support projects that promote a more sustainable way of living and working in and visiting the National Park, whilst conserving and enhancing our local culture, wildlife, landscape, land use and communities.
Sustainable Development Fund (SDF)
Sustainable travel
We have a section on our website all about accessing the Yorkshire Dales by train with details of all the railway lines linking to the Dales, walks/activities/events, access and ‘more info’.
Sustainable travel
Food Tourism Business Toolkit
Rural businesses can implement sustainable food systems, such as farm-to-table initiatives or community-supported agriculture, to promote sustainable consumption and support local farmers.
Food Tourism Business Toolkit
Become a Dark Sky Friendly Business
The Yorkshire Dales National Park is an International Dark Sky Reserve and we are offering tourism businesses the opportunity to become recognised as an official Dark Sky Friendly business by signing up to a free Dark Sky Friendly initiative.
Become a ‘Dark Sky Friendly’ tourism business
Cycle Friendly
We have compiled a few helpful tips on how to make your business more attractive to this market, consider providing:
Make your business cycle friendly
Show your support for wildlife conservation
There are a number of rare species of wildlife that visitors are attracted to come and see for themselves and we are working with local landowners to encourage visitor access to viewing sites. Why not take the opportunity to support some of these wildlife conservation projects?
Support wildlife conservation
The Three Peaks
If you want to work with us as a Friend of the Three Peaks there are opportunities such as featuring on the Three Peaks App, profit share on retailing Three Peaks souvenirs, opportunities for volunteering for practical work with the Three Peaks ranger as well as showing your support for the work to improve the rights of way in the area.
The Yorkshire Three Peaks
Create authentic experiences
Rural communities can offer community-based tourism experiences that allow visitors to experience the local way of life, support the local economy and encourage visitors to learn about the local environment and support conservation efforts at the same time. Rural businesses can collaborate with each other to create a sustainable local product line that showcases their unique offerings.
Create authentic experiences