Communitybasedeco-tourisminIndawgyilake

InnChitThu(LoversofIndawgyi)Fauna&FloraInternational(FFI)

Indawgyi lake – a wetland of both cultural and biodiversity importance

BiodiversityandNatureAttractions

Myanmar’smostimportantsiteforSaruscranes

Woolly-necked storks

Cultural Values

Attractions

• PagodasandNatshrines (bk&m;ESifh ewfpifrsm;)

• Pagodafestival (bk&m;yGJawmf)

• Shanculturalfestival(&Srf;&ddk;&m,Ofaus;rIyGJawmf)

• Landscapebeauty(Indawgyilake,ShweTaung,ChaungWa,HePu (&Icif;)

• Birdwatching (iSufMunfh)

Outdoorrecreation(kayak,cycling,trekking)

Community-based ecotourism

InnChitThu(LoversofIndwagyi),Communitybasedeco-tourismgroup

GroupFormation• FollowingavillagemeetingatLontonacommunityvolunteer

groupwasfounded(self-selectedinterestedpeople)todevelopeco-tourisminIndawgyi

• Thenon-for-profitgroupwasnamed“InnChitThu”(LoversofIndawgyi),it’sobjectivesaretoprovideeco-tourismservices,supporttheconservationofIndawgyiLakeandthelivelihoodsofthelocalcommunities.

• Profitsfromeco-tourismarespentoncommunitydevelopmentprojectsandenvironmentalconservation

Activities- Wastecollection,treeplanting,plasticawareness,birdtour

guide

30.11.15

Training&supportbyFFI• InnChitThumembershiprules

(tif;cspfolzGJUpnf;yHkpnf;rsOf;rsm;)

• Englishlanguagetraining (t*Fvdyfpmoifwef;rsm;)

• Basicfirstaidtraining (tajccHa&S;OD;olemjyKoifwef;rsm;)

• Birdwatchingguidetraining (iSufMunfhoifwef;)

• Kayaktraining(u,ufoifwef;)

• Bookkeeping&financialmanagement(b@mxdef;odrf;jcif;ESifhaiGaMu;pDrHcefUcGJjcif;)

• Emergencyprocedures (ta&;ay:enf;vrf;rsm;)

• Developmentoftourismproducts:trekking,cyclingandkayakingroutes

Detailedeco-tourismmaps (tao;pdwfajryHkjyifqif)

BenefitsfortheCommunity

• Increaseinaveragelengthofstayoftouristsandincreasedtouristarrivalsresultedinmoremoneyspentatlocalshopsandrestaurantsandformotorboat/motorbikerentalinLontonvillage

MainseasonOctobertoMarch(allyeartourism)

Averagestayincreasedfrom2(2013)to3(2015)days

Domesticpilgrims30,000to100,000

Innovative conservation since 1903

DevelopmentofpackagesandactivitiesPromotiontolocalandinternationaltouroperators

IndawgyiLabel&MerchandisingIndawgyiLogoT-shirts,buttons,stickers

Training&EquipmentBirdwatchingtrainingEnglishtrainingKayaksBikesBinoculars,FieldGuides

Promotion&informationmaterialVisitormapBirdfieldguidesInformationsheetsonactivitiesandattractions

Ecotourismsupport

Innovative conservation since 1903

Visitorinterpretation&environmentaleducation

l Visitorcenterl Naturetrailsl Naturesigns

Design example from Biosphere Reserve Spreewald, Germany

Innovative conservation since 1903

Futureactivitiesl Incorporationofalltousism Activitiesin:Indawgyi WildlifeSanctuaryUNESCOBiosphereReserve&Ramsar Sitemanagementplans

l Developmentofbed&breakfast(only1guesthouse)