Sustaianble Tourism &

Nature Conservation

Mikael Backman

Rhodes Tourism Forum

November 10-11, 2006

The Convetion on Biologigal

Diversity (CBD)

Guidelines on Biodiversity and Tourism Development

Aim:• Make tourism & biodiversity mutually supportive;• engage private sector & local communities; and • promote infrastructure & land-use planning

on• the principles of conservation & sustainability

Guidelines on Biodiversity and

Tourism Development

”To be sustainable, tourism development in any destination requires coordinated policy-making, development planning and management”

Ten steps to follow:

• Baseline information and review;• Vision and goals;• Objectives;• Review of legislation and control measures;• Impact assessment;• Impact management and mitigation;• Decision-making;• Implementation:• Monitoring and reporting;• Adaptive management.

Travel and Tourism

• Currently the biggest industry in the world• 700 million international travelers yearly

The largest migration in mankind – every year!

Tourism will double the next

20 years

Source: World Tourism Organization, 2001

Yes, tourism can contribute to

environmental protection!

By:• Generating government revenues • Supporting conservation and

protection initiatives• Raising environmental awareness

However, there are lots of

environmental impacts to

address…

• Loss of biodiversity • Ecosystem degradation • Depletion of natural resources• Pollution, waste & littering • Contribution to climate change • Physical impacts from construction &

deforestation

Yes,tourism creates economic

growth & employment!

….mostly indirectly, through its boosting effect on other economic sectors.

0,00

1 000,00

2 000,00

3 000,00

4 000,00

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2010

Travel & Tourism Economy GDP

(1996-2010)

Indirect impact from tourism's supporting activities

Impact of T&T Industry

050 000

100 000

150 000

200 000

250 000300 000

Thousands of

Jobs

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2010

Travel & Tourism Employment

(1996-2010)

Indirect impact from tourism's supporting activities

Impact of T&T Industry

However, there are costs …

– Tourism demand & infrastructure investment grow faster than local industries capacity to supply

– Economic leakages through foreign ownership, international tour operators, and imports of tourism products

– From US$ 100 spent in a developing country stays only US$ 5! (UNEP)

– High costs for infrastructure development– Increased prices for locals

Yes, tourism can engage local

communities

• Contributes to job creation and improvement of life standards

• Educates and raises awareness of local communities on local values

• Enhance local pride & identity• Contributes to understanding between

religions & people of differend cultures

• Crime generation & drug introduction• Child labor• Prostitution and sex tourism• Loss of cultures and traditions• Social disruption• Cultural clashes

However, social impacts are

probably the most shocking!

As a result….There is a rise and fall in locals’ acceptance of tourism!

Stages Characteristics Symptoms Stage 1 EUPHORIA visitors welcomed, little formal development Stage 2 APATHY visitors taken for granted, contacts become

commercial and superficial Stage 3 IRRITATION locals concerned about tourism, efforts made

to improve infrastructure Stage 4 ANTAGONISM open hostility from locals, attempts to limit

damages and tourism flows

..and a rise and fall for tourism

destinations!

And tourism will double the next

20 years …

What about the impacts ???

Response: Sustainable Tourism

Any form of tourism development which respects the environment, ensures long-term conservation of

historical and cultural resources, and is socially and economically acceptable and equitable.

Tourism industry

Env.supporters

Local community

Sustainable tourism

development

Economical Ecological

Socio-cultural

Principles of sustaianble

tourism

• Utilize resources in a sustainable way• Reduce overconsumption and pollution• Maintain biodiversity• Integrate tourism in local and national

planning• Benefit local economies

...and more

• Cooperate with local populations• Consult with all interest groups and

stakeholders• Educate staff• Market the tourism in a responsible way• Execute and make follow up on surveys

Source: WWF

Mass tourism vs. Eco-tourism

• Mass tourism – ”consume” tourist places, but concentrated impacts can be managed easier

• Eco-tourism – small numbers create manageable impacts, but can also affect sensitive natural or cultural valuables and pave the way for mass tourism

Mass tourism must adopt ecoMass tourism must adopt ecoMass tourism must adopt ecoMass tourism must adopt eco----tourism principles!tourism principles!tourism principles!tourism principles!

Complex array of stakeholders –

who is responsible?

Sustainable Tourism

The Host Community

•Those directly or indirectly employed in

tourism,•Local business people

Governmental Org.•Supra-governmental

(EU)•National

•Regional councils•Local authorities

Tourism Industry•Tour operators

•Transport operators•Hospitality sector

•Retail travel•Entertainment facilities

Voluntary sector•NGOs

•Trusts and environmental charities

Pressure Groups•Environmental

•Wildlife•Human rights•Workers rights

Tourists•Mass market

•Niche markets (Ecotourists, religious tourists, agro-tourists)

Experts•Commercial consultants•Academics

Media•Specialised on travel

•News•Thematic media (National

Geographics)

Trends affecting progress

• Traveling patterns are changing• The emergence of a “new tourist”

• “Business as usual” is not good enough

• Industry needs differentiation

• Impacts of tourism are not acceptable anymore

• Destinations reject current forms of tourism

The DestinationThe Destination

The IndustryThe Industry

The TouristThe Tourist

The TouristThe Tourist

A “new tourist” is emerging

• Full of knowledge Full of knowledge Full of knowledge Full of knowledge • In search for memorable experiencesIn search for memorable experiencesIn search for memorable experiencesIn search for memorable experiences• The 50+ is growing fastThe 50+ is growing fastThe 50+ is growing fastThe 50+ is growing fast (“old and gold”)• Selfish Selfish Selfish Selfish

I’ve worked my entire life, my kids have everything, now is time for ME to enjoy life!

• Changing values in holiday selection!Changing values in holiday selection!Changing values in holiday selection!Changing values in holiday selection!Cost falls on the 3rd place!

• ““““The new touristThe new touristThe new touristThe new tourist”””” is not always new, the is not always new, the is not always new, the is not always new, the once young and restless tourist grow olderonce young and restless tourist grow olderonce young and restless tourist grow olderonce young and restless tourist grow older

What satisfies “the new tourists”?

• Clean environment • High quality services• Unique & authentic products• Other cultures & local identity • Memorable experiences & intellectual

activities• Value for time & value for money

The IndustryThe Industry

What used to be…

• Mass tourism dominated by 10 large tour operators;

• disconnected from local reality;• with commitments to sustainability as nice

statements; and• fighting on price

will change to…

• individual destinations capitalizing on industry's

possibility to innovate and differentiate

Innovation and differentiation...

• A fast growing market for thematic products:- Culture tourism - Agro-tourism- Nature tourism- Health tourism- Adventure tourism- Etc.

The DestinationThe Destination

Destination trends

• Access to destinations constantly improving

• Product & service diversification

• Experience & knowledge development

• Public-private partnerships

• Environmental awareness & innovation

• Competition

Enough is Enough!

move away from mass tourism & “McDonaldization”

Destinationsprotecting

nature&culture, promoting local

identity and seeking

individual recognition

Customersdemanding

clean environment, high quality services &

unique experiences

Industry

looking for innovation and

differentiation in partnership with local community and public sector

Conservation of resources for

regional sustainability

Plugging Economic Leaks

Applying Sustainable Tourism Principles

In sum - What used to be..

an industry that:• Exploits local people and their natural &

cultural assets for short term profits• Leads to environmental & cultural

degradation and social disruption• Eventually kills itself

...has to become...

an industry that contribute to:• Economic sustainability• Biological diversity• Nature conservation • Protection of culural heritage• Understanding between people• Peace on Earth

…. thank you for listening