The Dolphin Space Programme to launch new website
The Dolphin Space Programme (DSP) is an accreditation scheme for wildlife tour boat operators in the Moray Firth. It is an innovative, co-operative approach to sustainable wildlife tourism, launched on World Oceans Day, 8 June 1995. The aim of the DSP is to encourage people who go out to observe dolphins and other marine wildlife to "watch how they watch" and to respect the animals' need for space.
With the instigation 18 months ago of a DSP project officer, a suite of developments are underway to improve the benefits of DSP membership for tour operators and ensure that the DSP is still an example of best practice for marine wildlife tourism. As a part of this package, a new DSP website is being launched on 7 December 2006.
Until recently the DSP website was hosted by the Tourism and Environment Forum (www.greentourism.org.uk/dsp) With the transition of the TEF into VisitScotland’s newly formed Sustainable Tourism Unit (STU), the old DSP website will be gradually phased out with the DSP Project Officer being responsible for the new website.
The new website has up to date listings of DSP accredited operators, information on the DSP and why responsible wildlife watching is so important, sightings information, news and events, an open forum for members of the public and DSP associates to ask questions and hold discussions, an enquiries form to help visitors plan their eco-friendly wildlife watching trip and much more!
The new website will be an excellent tool for helping visitors to choose a responsible, high quality wildlife tour operator in Scotland. It will also help DSP accredited operators to market their businesses to a wider audience. The site will be very dynamic and frequently updated with useful and relevant information. Over the coming months more content and pages will be added and ideas and feedback from everyone using the site is welcome. The new website can be viewed at www.dolphinspace.org
Feedback on the website can be passed on by using the feedback and enquiries form on the site, or by contacting Deborah Benham, the Project Officer, by email at projectofficer@dolphinspace.org Alternatively, telephone 07921 106144.
|
