Croatia has received its first camp awarded with the prestigious European recognition for ecology and sustainability in camping
Camp Glavotok near Malinska on the island of Krk is the first camp in Croatia to boast the prestigious European ecological label ‘Ecocamping’, which is awarded for quality management of camps in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and ecology. It is awarded and the certification process is carried out by the eponymous association based in Germany, whose primary goal is to promote ecology and sustainable development, safety, and the quality of European camps in the broadest sense – and thus one of the main tasks of Ecocamping is to introduce a management system that guarantees operations with strict adherence to ecological criteria (including savings, etc.) and principles of sustainable development, which is encouraged precisely through the certification of camps. Only 242 camps in Europe can boast such a system and certification, and now the Croatian camp Glavotok joins this elite company.
The award was presented to the director of Camp Glavotok, Milena Dunato-Dombaj, by Marco Walter, the director of the Ecocamping association, and the ceremonial event was attended by representatives of the Camping Association of Croatia and the German branch of the Croatian National Tourist Board, as well as ADAC and others. It was emphasized that the recognition also means a commitment to further development and improvement of ecological aspects with joint professional support – and there was a desire expressed that other Croatian camps will soon follow the example of Glavotok.
The award ceremony took place immediately after the opening of CMT, one of the most important camping fairs in Europe, which is currently being held in Stuttgart (January 12-20, 2013). Its importance is underscored by the figure of 60,000 visitors during the first weekend, while more than 230,000 visitors are expected by its closing, with around 2,000 exhibitors from about 90 countries presenting.
Camp Glavotok has been making significant efforts and financial investments for many years to improve quality and reduce harmful environmental impacts. The camp received the Blue Flag and the international quality management certificate ISO 9001 back in 2010. Among other things, the camp uses a biological water purifier, which is then reused for flushing toilets, while drinking water is obtained through a special seawater desalination device, making it independent of the water supply network and cisterns. It is surrounded by a protected oak forest, and great attention is paid to additional facilities that allow direct contact with nature, while the diving club located in the camp also serves as an educational center for biological marine research.
