DELEGATES from a climate change project based in Italy and Slovenia have visited Lake District businesses to look at ways of improving ‘sustainable’ tourism.

The Cumbria Green Business Forum hosted representatives from Climaparks to look at strategies to manage climate change in protected areas.

High on the priority list were visits to Cote How Guest House at Rydal and Glen Rothay Hotel to find what local businesses are doing to ‘go green’.

Cote How, has won awarded Gold Star award for green tourism and owner Caroline Langham showed the visitors her organic tea rooms and explained ways to encourage guests to use public transport.

Glen Rothay Proprietor, Rik Still showed delegates how to improve recycling and reduce business costs.

He said: “The delegation were particularly interested in our recycling project and our low-energy lighting which saves money and reduces climate change. It’s great to think we are helping our European neighbours find out about green tourism.”

Delegation leader Verdiana Morandi added: “We were lucky to get to know the work done in Cumbria and pleased to talk to Carol and Rik.

“I really liked the preservation of the tradition (in architecture and landscape) combined to the efficiency of energy saving, as well as the promotion of tourism and sustainable mobility and we now hope to spread the word back home in Italy and Slovenia.”