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The Consulting Service (ARC) was created at the University School of Tourism and Hotel Management with a dual purpose: to provide practical application for research projects carried out by CInERT and to specialise in all issues related to Tourism and the Environment. Services are provided to the sector's institutions and
companies in their different fields.
ARC: report of past and current activities Environment Since the year 2000 ARC has been working on the design and implementation of an officially recognised Environmental Management System (Ecomanagement and Audit System - EMAS) for the Sitges City Council (Garraf), within the framework of a Regional Agenda 21. It is an ambitious and complex project which aims to introduce the concept of continuous improvement in municipal environmental management, while fostering sustainable development and guaranteeing public participation in an open and dynamic process in this important tourist destination on the Catalan coast. So far, the initial stages of this project (technical chart and initial environmental analysis) and the Agenda 21 participative process have been completed successfully at both local and sectorial levels. ARC has been certified as a Collaborating Organisation by the Department of the Environment of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan Regional Govt) (Resolution of the 28 March 2001 by the Environmental Council) to carry out inspections leading to the award of the Environmental Quality Guarantee Label for tourism facilities (hotels, campsites, farm-residences, youth facilities). The first farm-residence to be awarded the label was Cal Carulla (Anoia, 2002). In partnership with the Natura Foundation, ARC has organised the seminar: 'Town planning, infrastructure and sustainable mobility' as part of the 'International Mountain Year' (Berga, July, 2002). In 2002 and
2003 Arc has participated in a report on the evaluation of a tourism
development model for the Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) for the
'Sustainable Development Council of Catalonia' (Generalitat de Catalunya). Hiking Trails In 1999, the ARC team, alongside Naturalea Conservació Ltd carried out a project to rehabilitate the 'Canòlic' Way (Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra). Its aim was to turn a mountain trail into an alternative access route for hikers to the 'Mare de Déu de Canòlic' sanctuary, which is the second most important in Andorra. In keeping with the project presented by ARC, the 'Comú de Sant Julià' started to rehabilitate the Canòlic Way in the year 2000. In 2000, ARC carried out the study "Trails, itineraries and land use in the Montseny National Park: Problem case study, incongruences and possibilities" within the framework of the Montseny National Park Visitor Frequency Study, coordinated by Gemma Cànoves and Gerda K. Priestley, for the 'Diputación de Barcelona' (Provincial Govt). During 2001, ARC collaborated with the company ERF (Estudi Ramon Folch) to draw up the 'Muntanya d'Alinyà Estate Management Plan' , for the Fundació Territori i Paisatge (Regional Scenery Foundation of the Caixa Catalunya savings bank). The 'Muntanya d'Alinyà', with its 5,000 hectare surface area in the Pyrenees foothills, is the biggest private estate in Catalonia and was acquired by this foundation for conservationist purposes. ARC studied the estate's pathways and drew up an access management proposal with the aim of harmonising conservationist objectives and the local community's socio-economic development concerns while promoting the estate's cultural and natural values through tourism. In 2001 ARC worked with DEPANA ('The League for the Protection of Natural Heritage) to carry out a project to establish a pathway around the Aigüestortes National Park and Sant Maurici Lake. The aim was to promote hiking as an instrument of local development through the recovery of hiking trails that have linked up the valleys around the national park area over the years. In 2001, a preliminary study was carried out followed by a signposting study during the same year. During 2001 and 2002 a pathway recovery programme was commenced at several points on the route. In 2002 the geographic information for pathways system was completed in partnership with Naturgest. The following steps will be the creation of a local entity, capable of giving impetus to and managing the planned facilities as well as continuation with the conservation work. In 2002, ARC received a grant from the Tourism Department of the 'Generalitat de Catalunya' (Regional Government) (Order ICT/107/2002, 19 March) to carry out a study called 'Green tramways as tourism facilities: functional analysis and adaptation. The tramway from Berga to the Fígols mines'. In 2003, a project to turn part of the Manresa light railway from Balsareny to Pedret into a footpath (tourist facility) commenced for the Berguedà County Council. During the same year, ARC, in partnership with Naturgest, participated in the compilation of a footpath inventory, among which figured footpath inventories in Garraf, l'Alta Ribagorça, el Berguedà, la Terra Alta, el Baix Camp, el Baix Llobregat and les Garrigues; the municipal inventory of Sabadell; and an inventory of rural trails in la Garrotxa. In 2004 the
second stage of the Garrigues and Berguedà inventories
has been carried out, thereby completing the process. Besides, in partnership
with the UAB Department of Geography, a footpath inventory of the
Montseny Natural Park and the surrounding area has been completed
through agreements with the Barcelona and Girona Provincial Governments.
Organisation,
in partnership with the Aigüestortes National Park and the Sant Maurici
Reservoir, of the International Seminar: "Rehabilitation of
footpaths and rambling trail tourism" (la Torre de Capdella, Pallars
Jussà, July 2004). Menu of services
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Consulting Service (ARC)