project meeting IN GERMANY 08/05-13/05/2023
The last meeting of the project “Tourism and sustainability in European coastal areas” took place from May, 7th to may, 14th 2023 in Germany. The organizer of this meeting, the Gymnasium Nordenham, was also the coordinator of the entire project. The focus of the project meeting in Germany were the areas of cruise tourism and nature conservation. As part of a one-day workshop at the University of Bremerhaven held by students of the degree program “Cruise tourism management”, all participants got the opportunity to intensively examine both the positive and negative consequences of cruise tourism on nature. To this end, various perspectives were taken and critically questioned under the slogan “Navigating towards sustainable cruises?”. The students also defined actions for the future and critically questioned their own behavior as a tourist. Another project focus was the UNESCO World Natural Heritage of the Wadden Sea. As part of a guided mudflat hike, the participants were shown the effects of tourism on this habitat and the need for its protection got evident. In a lecture of the management of the hotel chain “Center Park Nordseeküste”, the students got insight into how the hotel industry can help protect the surrounding flora and fauna and motivate guests to treat their environment more responsibly. In order to compensate to some extent, the high CO2 emissions caused by air travel / flights, the participants from all countries met in a forest area close to the city, where they planted more than 100 young trees – knowing well that the symbolic nature of doing so was focused. At the end of the project meeting, various project results from the individual meetings were summarized, put together and presented in the form of videos, posters, podcasts and action guidelines.
Day by day activitites:
Monday 08/05
In the first morning of our sixth and last project meeting in Germany all participants were welcomed by the German headmaster and the representative major of the city who also had a couple of welcoming-gifts for the group. After the welcoming ceremony, each group presented their poster about the proj-ect meeting in their country and there was a tour around the school for all guests. The new working tasks were assigned and once again we started working on the topic in international teams. Podcasts, posters, videos and guidelines for sustainable tourism were produced.
Tuesday 09/05
In the morning of the second project day, we directly met each other at the forest of the city where we were supposed to plant more than 100 trees! That way, we wanted to reduce – at least a little bit – the carbon footprint produced by our last journeys in airplane during the year of Erasmus+ project meetings. We liked this idea and are courious to see our trees growing. The Germans will check! After planting trees, we spend the afternoon in school to prepare interviews. In the evening, there was a barbecue for everyone at the harbor.
Wednesday 10/05
In the morning of the second project day, we tooked the ferry to cross the river Weser and to spend a day in the city of Bremerhaven. In Bremerhaven, we first went to the citie’s university where we had a workshop about sustainable crui-ses prepared by the professors and students of the Bachelor degree “Cruise tourism management”. After an introduction in the hall were we had a lecture about the topic, everyone passed three different workshops regarding cruise tourism from a different perspective: tourists, locals, destinations. We worked in three international teams.All participants got the opportunitie to ask questions and to put themselves in the position of the different steakholders. In one of the workshops, there were also a couple of questions in which they had to reflect their own traveling behavior.
Even though a lot of efforts could be seen, the students and participants had to come to the conclusion tat real sustainable cruises arent possible and also wont be possible in near future. Cruise industry does a lot to imprive the situation and to reduce its environmental impact. Some positive aspects that has to be seen are for example the transition to cleaner fuels (such as liquefied natural gas which produces fewer air pollutants), wastewater treatment systems (to reduce the discharge of pollutants into the ocean), waste management (including recycling programs), alternative power sources (such as shore power), local sourcing (sourcing food and supplies locally in port cities), conservation and education (engagement in local communities), reduce plastics (such as straws, water bottles and others in favor of more sustainable alternatives), efficient routing (to minimize fuel consumption) and certification standards (to evaluate environmental performance and ahere to international standards).
While progress is made in a lot of different areas, real sustainable will not be reached and there will always remain some challenges. Besides, the desires of the passengers for comfort and convenience have to be taken in account.
After the workshop in the university we had lunch. In the afternoon, we visited the “Klimahaus Bremerhaven”, a kind of interactive museum leading its visitors through the different climatic zones along the 18th longitude degree east.
Thursday 11/05
In the morning of the fourth project day, we directly meet in the village of Tossens at the northern see because we were supposed to have a mudflat hike with a local guide there. It’s a funny and informative activity that involves exploring intertidal mudflats during low tide. For most students who have never done this kind of “hike” before, it was a unique and fascinating experience. Mudflats are sensitive ecosystems that provide vital habitats for various marine species. During the mudflat hike you should take of your environment and try not to cause harm. Its important to follow the rules of the guide, not to disturb the animals, not to let trash in the mudflats and take care of the tides for your own safety. A responsible behavior is of big importance in this habitat!
Mudflat hikes in the northern sea have a big importance for tourism in this region. They offer tourists a chance to engage in authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences, to connect with nature and to appreciate the beauty of coastal environments. Besides, mudflats are very rich in biodiversity, making them attractive for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers. In a guided tour, tourists can observe a variety of birds, marine life and unique plant communities. Being part of the UNESCO Natural Heritage, mudflats have a special cultural importance. By the way, when managed responsibly, mudflat tourism can promote sustainable tourism practices by raising awareness about the importance of conserving these ecosystems.
After the mudflat hike, we went to the Center Parks Nordseeküste in Tossens where we had lunch. Afterwards, we had a guided tour not only through the hotel complex itself, but also around the area around where apartments are rent. Center Parks Nordseeküste offers a variety of accomodations, inclu-ding comfortable cottages and apartments. A lot of indoor and outdoor activities are offered, for example there is an enormous subtropical water park, but also golf, bowling and other activities. The Center Park Nordseeküste belongs to a big network of holiday villages known for their focus on nature, sustainability and outdoor recreation. They have made efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations and promote environmental stewardship.
Friday 12/05
In the morning of the fifth project day, we met in school to present our work of the week / the results of the assignments we got on the first day of the project.
Afterwards, we got our certificates by the headmaster of the German school.
Around noon, we took the train to go to the city of Bremen where the german students had prepared a tour through the city center, showing and explaining the most importants monuments like the dome of the figure of the musiciens of Bremen to their guests. In the afternoon, there was freetime in Bremen.
Saturday 13/05
As on the sixth and last project day, some groups already had to leave during the day, there was no fix program. Nearly all students met during the day, either in the city center or at the beach of Nordenham or they had a trip to the villages of the northern sea to have a walk along the coastline.
As the meeting in Germany was the last meeting of our project, it was the last time the students of the participating countries got the chance to see each other. For all of us it was a great experience to be part of this project and we want to say thank you not only to the german teachers but to the teachers of all countries!
Day by day activitites:
Monday 08/05
In the first morning of our sixth and last project meeting in Germany all participants were welcomed by the German headmaster and the representative major of the city who also had a couple of welcoming-gifts for the group. After the welcoming ceremony, each group presented their poster about the proj-ect meeting in their country and there was a tour around the school for all guests. The new working tasks were assigned and once again we started working on the topic in international teams. Podcasts, posters, videos and guidelines for sustainable tourism were produced.
Tuesday 09/05
In the morning of the second project day, we directly met each other at the forest of the city where we were supposed to plant more than 100 trees! That way, we wanted to reduce – at least a little bit – the carbon footprint produced by our last journeys in airplane during the year of Erasmus+ project meetings. We liked this idea and are courious to see our trees growing. The Germans will check! After planting trees, we spend the afternoon in school to prepare interviews. In the evening, there was a barbecue for everyone at the harbor.
Wednesday 10/05
In the morning of the second project day, we tooked the ferry to cross the river Weser and to spend a day in the city of Bremerhaven. In Bremerhaven, we first went to the citie’s university where we had a workshop about sustainable crui-ses prepared by the professors and students of the Bachelor degree “Cruise tourism management”. After an introduction in the hall were we had a lecture about the topic, everyone passed three different workshops regarding cruise tourism from a different perspective: tourists, locals, destinations. We worked in three international teams.All participants got the opportunitie to ask questions and to put themselves in the position of the different steakholders. In one of the workshops, there were also a couple of questions in which they had to reflect their own traveling behavior.
Even though a lot of efforts could be seen, the students and participants had to come to the conclusion tat real sustainable cruises arent possible and also wont be possible in near future. Cruise industry does a lot to imprive the situation and to reduce its environmental impact. Some positive aspects that has to be seen are for example the transition to cleaner fuels (such as liquefied natural gas which produces fewer air pollutants), wastewater treatment systems (to reduce the discharge of pollutants into the ocean), waste management (including recycling programs), alternative power sources (such as shore power), local sourcing (sourcing food and supplies locally in port cities), conservation and education (engagement in local communities), reduce plastics (such as straws, water bottles and others in favor of more sustainable alternatives), efficient routing (to minimize fuel consumption) and certification standards (to evaluate environmental performance and ahere to international standards).
While progress is made in a lot of different areas, real sustainable will not be reached and there will always remain some challenges. Besides, the desires of the passengers for comfort and convenience have to be taken in account.
After the workshop in the university we had lunch. In the afternoon, we visited the “Klimahaus Bremerhaven”, a kind of interactive museum leading its visitors through the different climatic zones along the 18th longitude degree east.
Thursday 11/05
In the morning of the fourth project day, we directly meet in the village of Tossens at the northern see because we were supposed to have a mudflat hike with a local guide there. It’s a funny and informative activity that involves exploring intertidal mudflats during low tide. For most students who have never done this kind of “hike” before, it was a unique and fascinating experience. Mudflats are sensitive ecosystems that provide vital habitats for various marine species. During the mudflat hike you should take of your environment and try not to cause harm. Its important to follow the rules of the guide, not to disturb the animals, not to let trash in the mudflats and take care of the tides for your own safety. A responsible behavior is of big importance in this habitat!
Mudflat hikes in the northern sea have a big importance for tourism in this region. They offer tourists a chance to engage in authentic and off-the-beaten-path experiences, to connect with nature and to appreciate the beauty of coastal environments. Besides, mudflats are very rich in biodiversity, making them attractive for wildlife enthusiasts and birdwatchers. In a guided tour, tourists can observe a variety of birds, marine life and unique plant communities. Being part of the UNESCO Natural Heritage, mudflats have a special cultural importance. By the way, when managed responsibly, mudflat tourism can promote sustainable tourism practices by raising awareness about the importance of conserving these ecosystems.
After the mudflat hike, we went to the Center Parks Nordseeküste in Tossens where we had lunch. Afterwards, we had a guided tour not only through the hotel complex itself, but also around the area around where apartments are rent. Center Parks Nordseeküste offers a variety of accomodations, inclu-ding comfortable cottages and apartments. A lot of indoor and outdoor activities are offered, for example there is an enormous subtropical water park, but also golf, bowling and other activities. The Center Park Nordseeküste belongs to a big network of holiday villages known for their focus on nature, sustainability and outdoor recreation. They have made efforts to incorporate sustainable practices into their operations and promote environmental stewardship.
Friday 12/05
In the morning of the fifth project day, we met in school to present our work of the week / the results of the assignments we got on the first day of the project.
Afterwards, we got our certificates by the headmaster of the German school.
Around noon, we took the train to go to the city of Bremen where the german students had prepared a tour through the city center, showing and explaining the most importants monuments like the dome of the figure of the musiciens of Bremen to their guests. In the afternoon, there was freetime in Bremen.
Saturday 13/05
As on the sixth and last project day, some groups already had to leave during the day, there was no fix program. Nearly all students met during the day, either in the city center or at the beach of Nordenham or they had a trip to the villages of the northern sea to have a walk along the coastline.
As the meeting in Germany was the last meeting of our project, it was the last time the students of the participating countries got the chance to see each other. For all of us it was a great experience to be part of this project and we want to say thank you not only to the german teachers but to the teachers of all countries!