The DCB Turisme i Desevolupament Local team is in contact with numerous professionals who lend us assistance with some of our projects. One of the tasks that we most enjoy is providing personalized advice to businesses in the tourism sector, which enables us to get to know a variety of different tourism professionals.
One such person is Mike Lockwood, wildlife guide and expert in many fields, who we are always delighted to work with.
Here you will find a summary of a report that he prepared for the owner of a tourist accommodation in the Ebro Delta who had contacted us to help attract more birdwatchers as clients.
1. Birdwatcher
s do not only plan to see birds in the Ebro Delta. It is important to make sure that they know that
(a) the variety in the region as a whole is great, especially if they go a few kilometres inland;
(b) and that the variety of flora and fauna in general in the Ebro Valley is immense.
2. Birdwatchers also want non-natural experiences and in this sense they should be treated like any other client. That is, it is important to offer them wildlife experiences combined with culture, food, leisure activities, etc.
3. The accommodation’s website should have a section on wildlife that includes ‘succulent’ details about the birds – and wildlife in general – that can be seen in the area. Details about which time of year is best for which species, where the best places and habitats are, whether certain species are rare or not (but without giving away too much information!) are all important.
4. The accommodation must offer a serious atmosphere in terms of wildlife and the environment. It must be committed to environmental conservation at ALL levels, from the protection of local natural areas to recycling, sustainability, etc. on a global scale.
5. Birdwatchers enjoy a truly ‘birdwatching‘ environment, which means having maps and books available, with in the mid-term the possibility of using the accommodation as a base for activities linked to natural history and conservation (talks, exhibitions, guiding services, etc.) and as a base for local birdwatchers to exchange information.
6. Otherwise, birdwatchers are like any other client — with the exception of their daily routines. Be sure that they can have a cup of coffee or tea early in the morning and that they can leave at 7 o’clock, for example, with their day’s picnic in their bags. Likewise, they may want to return to the accommodation mid-morning for a bite to eat and will probably want to have dinner well before 19.00 in the evening. Bear in mind that they will probably be out of bed the following morning at 6 o’clock!
Finally, it is worthwhile taking part in the formation for ornithological tourism that is offered by SEO BIRDLIFE.
Article: DCB Turisme i Desenvolup
ament Local @DCBTurisme