Background As a result of the ongoing peace process, the Middle East is experiencing unprecedented growth rates in the tourism sector. Jordan in particular is witnessing unparalleled growth, with the number of tourists exceeding one million in 2004 alone. Jordan is famous for its diverse historical, archaeological and religious attractions. However, uncontrolled conventional tourism often puts a strain on natural resources, which can create competition with the needs of local populations. For example, the tourism industry has a tendency to overuse water resources. This can result in water shortages, degradation of water supplies and generation of greater volumes of waste water. It is well known in Petra that access roads and intensive hotel construction have damaged the peripheral landscape and affected ground water quality. The demand for water supply for the Dead Sea hotels has threatened to deplete the river systems of the Mujib Nature Reserve and coral reefs in Aqaba have suffered serious attrition from tourism development. However there is little quantitative data and analysis of the impact of tourism on biodiversity, water consumption, noise and the environment in general in Jordan. Nor is there good understanding of the economic viability of any measures to improve environmental performance. Objectives The project aimed to ensure sustainable development in the tourism sector in Jordan, by developing strategies and instruments to pro-actively address the problems caused by increasing tourism. Pilot measures and studies were to be implemented in two hotels to improve their environmental performance and thus directly involve the tourism industry in the project. The economic viability of the measures would be assessed against their performance. The project aimed to be groundbreaking in promoting the use of environmental performance measures in Jordan. The findings, strategies and instruments developed during the project were to be presented to all stakeholders. This aimed to encourage implementation of environmental management elements in the tourism sector in Jordan, but also in other sectors and other countries. Results The project succeeded in introducing an Environmental Management and Audit Scheme into the hotel sector in Jordan. It is hoped this will have a direct impact in that sector over the coming years and also demonstrate good practice to other tourism industries and to other countries. The project analysed the hotel accommodation sector in Jordan and gathered best practice from Europe and beyond on sustainable environmental management. It carried out the very first Environmental Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) in Jordan. It did this through pilot studies on two Mövenpick hotels at the Dead Sea and Petra (MP). Environmental assessments were conducted to identify the major environmental impacts arising from their operations in their different contexts of the mountains and the coast. Environmental management measures were carried out based on the findings of the initial studies and the changes monitored. The specific management of these hotels improved their environmental performance. Both hotels successfully passed EMAS verification making them the very first EMAS organisations in the Middles East. An economic analysis of the application of EMAS at the hotels demonstrated that long-term economic benefits would arise from improving energy efficiency - for example by replacing diesel burners and installing automatic air-conditioning cut-off systems - and installing water-saving irrigation and toilet-flushing systems. Waste separation improved environmental performance for very little economic cost, while in the long-run obtaining an eco-label could be an effective marketing instrument. This first attempt at EMAS in Jordan showed good co-operation between the experts, the relevant authorities and the Movenpick hotel chain. It also took good advantage of exchanges of knowledge between institutions in Cyprus and Jordan and with German hotel inspectors. Overall the project has helped promote European environmental policies in third countries, while enhancing the environmental priorities set out in the European Neighbourhood Policy. Looking to the future, the two hotels will need to submit annual Environmental Declarations - with revised environmental targets and progress reports - to retain their EMAS verification. Their achievements have also set benchmark indicators for assessing the environmental impact of other hotels in Jordan and provided a basis for the implementation of a long-term environmental action plan. A guiding tool and an e-training module to ensure further implementation of environmental management and sustainability procedures in hotels were disseminated among hotel managers and other stakeholders in the Jordanian tourism industry. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).