The system, to be applied in this town and 100 more European destinations, will be used by those destinations to monitor, manage, measure and enhance their sustainability performances, without the need of any specific training.
"Along with obligatory indicators, Losinj has already been monitoring optional indicators as well... and we have been working for years on sustainability on the island, with 44.4% of the local tourism facilities using sustainability certificates; the percentage of visitors who are satisfied with their experience in Losinj is a high 96.3%," the local tourism board said, adding that for a long time it had been developing products and services under the slogan "Island of Vitality", taking care of visitors' satisfaction and tourism innovations and creativity.
"Participation in the ETIS project is a logical result of our activities so far; our efficient management and socially responsible business operations make us a positive example of a destination which knows how to develop its potential," Mali Losinj Mayor Gari Cappelli said.
The contribution of tourism to a destination's economic sustainability is measured by indicators of economic value. In that regard, Losinj has daily consumption per tourist of EUR 66.36 euros; the ten biggest local tourism companies participating in destination management dedicate 77.7% of their activities to cooperative destination marketing, while 70% of tourism companies procure at least 25% of the food and drinks they offer from local/regional producers.
ETIS indicators of social and cultural impact measure the effects of tourism on a destination's residents and cultural heritage - the population density in Losinj is 35.9 people per square kilometre and 95% of local residents are satisfied with the local tourism industry in which women account for 59.6% of all employees and hold 33% of managerial positions.
The other indicators relevant for tourism and destination sustainability show that 56% of attractive locations in Losinj can be accessed by people with disabilities, 57% of the most important events focus on traditional/local culture, 77.7% of local companies are involved in programmes designed to protect the nature and alleviate the effect of climate change, 89% of companies have switched to low-energy lighting, 13.8% of all waste is recycled, and 47% of the local population participates in local strategies and programmes designed to reduce noise and light pollution.
An important element that has helped Losinj join ETIS is the fact that the island has an exceptional climate and unique flora and fauna (247 dolphins and 1,150 plant species).