EU FLOWER
Omagh hostel is very pleased to announce that we have been awarded the prestigious EU Flower Ecolabel in the tourist accommodation category. Defra, the UK Competent Body for the European Ecolabel scheme, bestowed this celebrated and respected award to the Omagh Hostel following our application and recent inspection of the property in January 2008. Omagh hostel is the first hostel in Northern Ireland to receive this environmental distinction. We have implemented a number of changes in the day to day operation of our business to fulfill and maintain both the mandatory and optional criteria necessary to achieve the EU Flower status.

Frequently Asked Questions about The EU Flower and Ecotourism

 So What is the EU Flower all about ?

 What is the Need for EU Flower Certification?

 What is Ecotourism?

 How does Omagh Hostel Meet these Principles?

So what is the EU Flower?
The EU flower is a voluntary scheme designed to encourage businesses to market products and services that are kinder to the environment and for European consumers - including public and private purchasers -allowing easy identification .You can find the Flower throughout the European Union as well as in Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland. The European Eco-label is part of a broader strategy aimed at promoting sustainable consumption and production.

What is the Need for EU flower certification?
It is widely recognised that there is a need for a certification programme to identify the genuine ecotourism experience from ‘greenwashing’ – that is, where ecotourism is used as a marketing tool for operations that are not adhering to the principles of ecotourism. Certification provides an assurance of commitment to best practice in this regard.This label has been designed to guide visitors travel choices and help them to choose promoters of ecotourism products and the experiences they have on offer. It is also designed to act as a framework for operators who wish to adapt existing products to ecotourism or create new ecotourism products.

Omagh Hostel and Ecotourism Principles
Here at Omagh Hostel we believe in encouraging responsible tourism, to do this we have adapted environmentally friendly practises e.g. careful planning as to the use of energy & water and promotion of sustainable (eco-labelled) accommodation. Production of waste and involvement in “green purchasing “ are also considered, as is eco friendly transport. A range of minimal impact codes have been included in our planning programme. Lastly but not least we have undertaken a series of activities so that the community and the environment will benefit from the guests arriving here at the hostel.

So what is Ecotourism?
Ecotourism is travel which is small scale, low impact, culturally sensitive, community orientated, primarily nature based, educational and capable of broadening peoples minds and enlivening their souls but providing a unique experience, firmly grounded in sustainable principles and practices. Here at Omagh Hostel we try to adhere as closely as possible to these principles not always an easy job to do!!!

Reducing our Environmental Impact

We use 'green' electricity via Eco Energy NIE.

Extensive recycling, reusing and reduction in packaging from our suppliers

Composting, we compost everything that is possible to compost.

Where possible, use of low energy lighting and LED technology

Investment in highly efficient central heating system (Biomass boiler)

Wide ranging use of environmentally friendly cleaners, soap powders etc.

Carbon Neutrality our CO2 output for the hostel has been measured to be about 16.5 tonnes per year, which is about half the UK equivalent (primary use) to reduce our carbon footprint and offset this, we plant at least 22 trees per year(and often many more) We are continually looking at ways to make even more reductions.

New Reed beds to be installed in Spring 2008 for waste/wetland system

Vegetables and fruit grown according to organic principles seasonally available

We have in place an environmental impact management system

We have a green purchasing policy

We encourage our guests to arrive by bus (we offer free pick up and leave back to the local bus station 3 miles away) We also provide a locked security area for cyclists

Community Activities
We support our local community by offering the hostel grounds free of use at certain times of the year for guide and scout groups.

We are members of Ulster Wildlife Trust, The Organic Centre ROI and Garden Organics (HDRA) in the UK

Omagh Community Arts has free use of the hostel facilities for community activities

We vigorously support our local charity shops and are members of Freecycle.org

Conservation Activities
We organise at least one local conservation event per year

We have used conservation volunteers to put up 17 bird, bat and owl boxes

This year we will be planting over a thousand 1000 indigenous trees in our new woodland area.

We invite guests to donate 50p(voluntary) to local conservation work.

Re: Interpretation and Education
We provide Interpretation and Education for our guests in the form of our hostel blog, for which we offer free internet access in the hostel.
www.bananarambles.blogspot.com

Our newsletter for 2008 will be out at the end of June , its about cultural and environmental activities at the hostel and in the area.

We frequently run environmental education classes

We give guided tours to our guests explaining about Omagh hostel and ecotourism principles

We have volunteers from around the world on a cultural exchange programme (Wwoofer providers)

We provide non-personal interpretation in the form of leaflets and an information corner

We are currently developing a leave no trace code of conduct for our guests

We use local guides for our guests

We ensure visitors spend time in nature