Who the Sustainable Giants are and how they operate:
Purpose:
The AND Sustainable Giants are a collaborative group of tourism businesses and organisations that demonstrate commitment to providing a sustainable choice to visitors to Ards and North Down, helping to make it climate-ready*. They work together to encourage visitors to come to the area more often, stay longer and spend more, whilst helping to enrich communities, improve the environment and see our businesses flourish.
*Climate-ready (minimal greenhouse gas emissions and resilient to severe weather events)
What they are working towards:
Vision:
Ards and North Down becomes recognised as a sustainable destination, to live, work and play.
The principles they commit to:
1. Nourishing the Landscape
They actively participate in protecting and enhancing our natural environment, helping it to thrive.
2. Collaboration
They collaborate and support each other to collectively contribute to the development of Ards and North Down, as a sustainable destination.
3. Vibrant Communities
They work to ensure that sustainability makes a positive social contribution so that their business and joint working benefits all communities.
4. Telling their story
They seek to tell the authentic stories of Ards and North Down, connecting visitors to our culture, heritage, communities and businesses.
5. Economic Development
They support the local economy by employing local people, sourcing local, ethical products and services wherever possible.
6. Environmental Management
They commit to produce and work to an Environmental Action Plan, which includes targets for improvement that are reviewed annually. They have effective systems for monitoring and adequately managing their waste, water, energy and action on climate change.
A Sustainable Borough - The Corporate Plan
The Ards and North Down Sustainable Giants operate within a wider context of Ards and North Down Corporate Plan.
Our vision of a Sustainable Borough is the heart of the Corporate Plan. The identification of priorities, outcomes, commitments, and measures of success are based on putting in place the conditions needed for Ards and North Down to be A Sustainable Borough. A Sustainable Borough is one where economic, environmental, and social wellbeing are interdependent and decisions that are taken are well-balanced and equitable. Putting sustainability at the core of our Corporate Plan means considering the implications of a changing climate alongside shifting economic and social needs.
Read more about the Ards and North Down Corporate Plan.
The Big Plan
In Ards and North Down, lots of organisations are involved in providing services that contribute to the wellbeing and lifestyle enjoyed by individuals and communities. Community planning is about planning holistically for the area to ensure greater collaboration between statutory agencies and to achieve better outcomes for local people.
The Community Plan is the first plan of this nature for Ards and North Down.
We have called our Community Plan 'The Big Plan for Ards and North Down'. This is because it is ambitious and takes a holistic approach to what we want to achieve by 2032. It provides a clear long-term vision stating the outcomes we want to achieve within the geographical area of Ards and North Down. It is the umbrella plan that other plans and public agencies should look to for guidance and direction.
Find out more about The Big Plan.
Sustainable Tourism Group
The Sustainable Tourism Group (a workstream of the Big Plan for Ards and North Down) is a partnership of organisations (including a representative from the AND Sustainable Giants) committed to working together to make Ards and North Down a sustainable tourism destination.
The group have a passion for operationalising sustainable tourism practice. Members of the Sustainable Tourism Group are committed to:
- Supporting the active development of the Steering Group and Ards and North Down as a sustainable tourism destination.
- Being active and taking shared responsibility for the delivery of a shared action plan.
- Attending Steering Group meetings once per quarter.
Sustainable Tourism Communications Framework
Agreed Communication Principles
The Sustainable Tourism Group partners are committed to taking full account of our current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.
The goal of AND’s Sustainable Tourism Group is to make AND a sustainable tourism destination
- The Sustainable Tourism Group (a workstream of the Big Plan for Ards and North Down) is a partnership of organisations committed to working together to make Ards and North Down a sustainable tourism destination.
- A sustainable tourism destination empowers tourism stakeholders, communities and individuals to understand the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism and enabling more sustainable choices.
- A sustainable tourism destination is one where local communities are integral to the story and appearance of their areas and where they benefit from tourism activities
- A sustainable tourism destination is one where operators consider how to mitigate against and adapt to a changing climate in all tourism initiatives and help tourism stakeholders to do the same.
- A sustainable tourism destination has lots of stories to share and experiences about the positive impact that this approach is having in Ards and North Down and the people who live and work here.
#ANDsustainabledestination
