The relationship between ecotourism and education is one which is concerned with ensuring that agencies deliver effective interpretations of environmental, cultural and resource management values. Education in this context is more than just a one-way transfer of information. It is about explanation, stimulation, provocation, revelation and understanding in a manner that personally involves the professionals and ecotourists. However, this is the challenge of interpretation and a key goal for ecotourism, i.e., to enhance people’s attitudes and actions towards their environment. In this context and after a deep SWOT analysis made in each partner country (Romania, Portugal, Italy, Greece, France-Martinique), all of them with a great touristic potential, revealed many weaknesses and needs in the field of the ecotourism development. This situation determined the partner organisations to involve in this exchange of practices project more than 200 youngsters and adults (students, tourism workers, tourism agencies clients aged 18 to over 65 years). The project's general objective is to promote the youngsters and adults environmental education, especially ecotourism education as part of the education for an active citizenship. Specific objectives: OS1.To provide a nature-based, environmental eco-education experience for more than 100 youngsters and adults (students, tourism workers, tourism agencies clients) until August 2019; OS2.To promote a conservation and ecological ethic, in order to create stronger pro-environmental attitudes to more than 100 youngsters and adults (students, tourism workers, tourism agencies clients) until August 2019; OS3.To offer, through ecotourism practice experiences, a great opportunity for education as well as professional and personal growth for more than 100 youngsters and adults (students, tourism workers, tourism agencies clients) until August 2019; OS4.To create a space of reflection and internationalisation for ecotourism as an educational learning experience for more than 100 youngsters and adults (students, tourism workers, tourism agencies clients)in order to become more responsible professionals, tourists and citizens until August 2019. The main activities include preparation activities, research and learning activities for adult learners on the theme of ecotourism, local projects for the ecotourism promotion, transnational project meetings, monitoring, evaluation and dissemination activities. The methodology used for the project will be implemented in 4 phases: initiation phase, planning phase, execution phase and control phase. The main project results will be: Study of ecotourism development, Manual of ecotourism promotion, "Green Aula" experential learning workshop. The project will have impact at local, regional and European level, raising awareness on the natural and cultural-historical environment issues at global level and trying to improve knowledge and change attitude towards ecotourism of designated target groups (students, tourism workers, teachers, travel agencies clients, etc).
The project has developed from a partnership of 6 different organizations from 5 countries, which presented all a great touristic potential, but with many weaknesses and needs in the field of the ecotourism development: low interest to diminish the pollution by environmental legislation; insufficient investments for the development and promotion of cultural objectives; mass tourism encouraged; lack of waste, suitable and sanitary facilities in numerous tourist attractions; limited access of persons with disabilities at tourist sites; lack of tourist information; poor use of alternative energy sources; lack of public-private partnerships for ecotourism; lack of institutional structures for regional development of ecotourism; lack of marketing plans aimed at ecotourism; insufficient use of ICT to promote ecotourism development. In this context, the project main project objectives were: the promotion of environmental education among young people and adults and the development of ecotourism, as a starting point for the development of active citizenship. The participants directly involved in the learning activities (blended mobility for adult learners) were 4 for each partner organization (24 in total), selected among volunteers, students, tourism workers, travel agencies clients in each partner organisation which elaborated a specific procedure based on the their context and specific needs, considering established common criteria. We estimated to have involved at least a number of 500-600 participants in average among all the different local activities carried out by all partner orgnisations. All the activities carried out, both locally and internationally, were well illustrated in the final conference held in San Venanzo Municipal conference room at the presence of all project partners, from France (Martinique), Greece, Portugal, Romania and Italy and a good number of citizens and local authorities, who shared the results obtained.pursuing the project objectives. Project activities: after a deep SWOT analysis made in each partner country since the project application, the partner organizations developed preparation activities and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, dissemination and communication plans; since the first transnational project meeting in Romania there was the definition of the target group selection criteria the presentation of financial plan and reporting instruments in order to ensure a quality management of the project. The partnership developed a research on the awareness of ecotourism and sustainable development in each partner country (Study of ecotourism development), which revealed potential opportunities and the difficulties and needs in the field of the ecotourism development. During the project, learning activities for adult learners were developed and implemented during two blended mobilities in Portugal and in Greece, with the methodology of "Green Aula" on the theme of ecotourism. In each partner organization, local projects for the ecotourism promotion were developed, involving a large number of participants, included students and adult population. The description and results of the local project is part of the Manual of ecotourism promotion. In total 5 transnational project meetings were held, 1 in each partner country, two conferences: an opening conference to present the project objectives (in Vaslui, Romania) and a final conference to share and disseminate the project results (in San Venanzo, Italy). The main project results have been: Study of ecotourism development, Manual of ecotourism promotion, "Green Aula" experential learning workshop, local projects on the theme of ecotourism involving target groups and local stakeholders, project web site with e-learning space and 4 Newsletters describing the activities implemented during the 2 years. The web material will be on line for 5 years after the project ending, then the contents will be available in the partners' official websites. The project impact on participants was based on their improved awareness and knowledge about environmental sustainability, ecotourism and the importance to be protagonist of a change in the way of using the natural resources or the territory, also for tourism purpose, which needs to be sustainable, respectful of natural, cultural, traditional and social presence for the future development of all; the participating organizations developed new ecological educational programs based on the experience acquired during the project; they strengthened the relationship with local organizations to promote ecotourism and a responsible attitude of tourists towards the natural and cultural environment. At local level there was an increased understanding of the necessity of ecotourism promotion, development of new programs and activities for environmental education as part of the education for an active citizenship, the involvement of local stakeholders in environmental education activities.