tourism as a tool of management

Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany

Tourism as a tool of Management

Experiences of NGOs dealing with protected area

management on areas focused by tourism

Stephanie Roth


Tourism as a tool of management

1. Tourism in protected areas 1.1 Dimension of tourism in PAs 1.2 Stakeholders of tourism in PAs 1.3 Tourism and Natura 2000

2. The need for tourism management 2.1 Goals of tourism management 2.2 Basis for tourism management planning

3. The praxis of tourism management

4. The role of NGOs 4.1 Motivation 4.2 Possible approaches 4.3 Cooperation with other stakeholders

5. Examples


Advantages:• Tourism is a source of income => strengthening of regional economy• Revenues can be used for nature protection• Protected areas as an instrument of sensitizing visitors for nature concerns

Problems/ conflicts between:• Different stakeholders / interest groups • Nature conservation / tourist industry / local population

=> Tourism in protected areas requires holistic management!

1. Tourism in protected areas


• Tourism infrastructure and activities• Tourism product development• Impacts of tourism / Use of resources• Nature protection• Legal framework• Visitor regulations• Other uses

1.1 Dimensions of tourism in protected areas


• National bodies• Park authorities• Communities• Tourism authorities/associations• Private tourism sector• Tourism developers (public and private)• NGOs• Tourists

1.2 Stakeholders of tourism in protected areas


• Tourism is very compatible with the Natura 2000 scheme

• European tourism is largely based on the variety of unspoilt cultural landscapes, which is why tourism is to be considered a strategic partner of Natura 2000

• Tourist regions will benefit most from Natura 2000

• Tourists themselves are willing to pay special contributions for the conservation of nature

1.3 Tourism and Natura 2000


Increasing demand of the tourism sector for nature areas

Increasing interest in tourism as a sustainable way of development

Increasing need for management of tourism and its impacts

2. Tourism management


• Decrease the threats to the natural and cultural environment

• Increase the benefits of tourism • Support nature conservation• Provide sustainable alternatives

2.1 Goals of tourism management


• CSD Work Programme (CSD 7/1999)

• CBD Guidelines (2004)• Management of PAs• Initiatives for “Making tourism

more sustainable”Politics, tourism industry and NGOs

2.2 Basis for tourism management planning


Stakeholder Involvement

Baseline Information Notification

Decision Making

Approval

Implementation

Monitoring

Evaluation

Tourism Managemen

t Plan

3. The praxis of tourism management planning


A tourism management and development plan...

... is a written document created in a consultative process... describes possible threats and opportunities for the region

... creates a common vision of regional development, which helps to avoid conflicts and strengthens committment

... needs to be approved by all stakeholders and people affected

STEP 1 / Getting started


A tourism management and development plan...

... is never complete, but needs continuous updating

... Should be as short as possible without loosing its coherence, credibility or practical use

... is in line with other existing regional plans

STEP 1 / Getting started


Integrative management envisages the participation of the local population as a very important part of promising development planning Stakeholder involvement serves the purpose of:

• building new capacities

• creating a „common issue of concern“

STEP 2 / Stakeholder Involvement


Baseline information…

… assesses the current situation and predicts the future working environment for regional and tourism management… includes existing and potential threats to the environment … considers potentials for sustainable (tourism) development The whole development plan will be based on this compilation of information; therefore this step is of vital importance for the success of the development process!

STEP 3 / Baseline Information


Baseline Information is divided into three essential parts: • ecological, economic, social and historic characteristics of the region • regional and tourism management conditions

• legal framework for conservation of biodiversity and for regional / tourism development

Data compilation via: surveys, studies, existing plans… Maps, GIS, further visualised material advantageous

STEP 3 / Baseline Information


… describes a desirable state in the future

Visioning

… allows broad participation of local communities

… is a creative process, that

A Vision

… helps people to stay focused on a common goal during the process… should be linked to the region and reflect the region’s economical, environmental and social needs

STEP 4 / Vision and Goals


Vision

Goals

Objectives

Identified in a multi-stakeholder process

General enough to to reflect the vision and precise enough to be achievable within a realistic timescale

Each objective represents a detailed task which needs to be accomplished within a given timescale

Idealistic

Realistic

Realistic

STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program


Work Program

Describes goals, objectives and each single task necessary to achieve them

Agreement on goals and objectives

+ information of all stakeholders and the public (transparency in decisions)

STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program


• Identifying and addressing of existing and future impacts (positive & negative)

Impact Assessment

• development of coping strategies for negative impacts Subjective matter: needs to be accomplished in consultation with the local publicImpact Management

Relates to the management plan and describes concrete measures to avoid or mitigate existing and potential negative impacts

STEP 6 / Impact Assessment and Impact Management


Three consecutive steps of monitoring:Data collection

Evaluation

Reporting

Due to local knowledge, the involvement of local communities is again a decisive aspect!

Based on constant monitoring, the management plan can

be flexibly adjusted wherever changes are necessary

(= adaptive management)

STEP 7 / Monitoring and Adaptive Management


Decision-Making has to be: • transparent

• always in consultation with relevant stakeholders and local communities • referring to baseline information, impact assessment and specific information for the prevailing activity ApprovalThe success of the development plan will only be guaranteed if it finds the approval of all participants of the project as well as of all local stakeholders and people affected, although not directly involved in the planning process

STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and Implementation


• after the management plan is being approved, stakeholders need to be informed about its implementation in a broad and comprehensive way• stakeholders should have an ongoing opportunity to express their wishes and concerns about activities • for successful implementation the responsibilities for each activity have to be stated clearly in the plan

STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and Implementation

Implementation


• Motivation of NGOs to engage in tourism management

• Possible approaches

• Cooperation with other stakeholders

4. The role of NGOs in tourism management


• NGOs is responsible for/involved in PA management

• Actual tourism development has negative impacts on the environment / for the local population

• Experience in project management, stakeholder involvement and regional development

• NGOs are asked in the international resolutions to promote sustainable tourism development and to support the efforts undertaken to make tourism more sustainable

4.1 Motivations for tourism management


• Initiative

• Overall coordination

• Mediation

• Expertise

• Parts of the work programme

4.2 Possible approaches


• Non-governmental: establish and facilitate the participation of stakeholders

• Non-profit: promote sustainable use of biodiversity

• Expertise & experience: ecology, regional development, socioeconomic and political structures

4.3 Cooperation with other stakeholders


Special Nature Reserve Zasavica (Serbia)

5. Examples of tourism management

Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (Switzerland)

Sumava Nationalpark (Czech Republic)

Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany)


Main goal of the project:

Steps:

• SWOT on tourism

• Stakeholder involvement

• Development of the methodology

• Elaboration of the TMP

Need for tourism management: development of a holistic

adaptive management approach

long-term, regionally based and multi-stakeholder learning-by-doing-process

Development of a methodology for tourism management planning

5.1 Special Nature Reserve Zasavica


Vision of the TMP:

Conservation of biodiversity through sustainable tourism development

Objectives:

• Preservation of unique ecosystems

• Development of a quality management system for the PA

• Establishment of partnerships with local stakeholders

• Development of sustainable tourism

• Support of the local economy

• Development of training and awareness-raising for the PA staff and local communities

• Development of concept of organic farming

• Utilization of diverse funding for development projects

5.1 Special Nature Reserve Zasavica


=> Marketing group: "Promotion of Regional Products”

=> Working groups for milk, meat, niche products and wood

=> Marketing events (product presentation, "Cheese-Festival”, etc.)

=> Cooperation between the producers and consumers (e.g. trade and tourism)

Promotion of regional marketing through tourism:=> Quality brand “Echt Entlebuch Biosphärenreservat”

• Assuring regionality, specification and quality of products• Strengthening the identification of products with the region • Preserving or creating new added value and new workplaces

5.2 Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (CH) Regional / Direct Marketing


11 information centers

System of tourist tours and information stands common with the Bavarian NP

Bicycle trials (246 km of path-marks)

X-country ski trails (path-marks on 313 km)

Walk trails (407 km of paths)

Boat trails (59 km)

“Green Wagon”

“Green Bus“ (bio-diesel driven tourist busses)

5.3 Sumava Nationalpark (Czech Republic) - Visitor guidance


5.3 Sumava Nationalpark Visitor guidance


Monitoring by installation of cameras

Recording the number of visitors

Monitoring of different activities (hiking, biking, etc.)

Description and presentation by computer

Project: “Monitoring of modern forms of land-use in protected areas”

=> Better knowledge about impact of tourism

=> Useful decision support for management activities

5.4 Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany) Visitor monitoring


Thank you very much for your attention!

tourism as a tool of management

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