KEY PRINCIPLES FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

Transcription

1 KEY PRINCIPLES FOR TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Tourism is one of the world s largest industries and one that heavily depends on the natural resource base. Attractive coastal landscapes such as sandy beaches, dune areas, estuaries and coastal lakes are preferred sites for tourism development. The coastal tourism industry makes significant contributions to the economies of many small islands developing nations particularly to foreign exchange earnings, employment and GDP. Uncontrolled and ill planned tourism significantly degrades the coastal environment. The more severe impacts of tourism however, stem from the infrastructure and construction activity it entails rather than the recreational activities themselves. Wetlands have been drained and reclaimed and the coastline significantly altered to make way for marinas and other mooring facilities. Hotels have been built too close to the beach necessitating the construction of prohibitively costly erosion management structures that often lead to habitat destruction. Increased sediment mobilisation, turbidity and deterioration in water quality during construction and operation can be significant. Recreational activities, if not well managed, can lead to destruction of coral reefs and sea grass beds. The dynamic nature of the industry, the severity of the consequences of incompatible development and the potential for environmental and social benefits from planned development demand that governments, the tourism industry and all stakeholders assume proactive roles and implement a mix of management strategies to shape and guide the industry in an environmentally suitable manner. In guiding tourism development, self-regulation is likely to be more effective than statutory regulation because the industry is more likely to take the responsibility and ownership for self-regulatory approaches. The key principles and the checklists as elaborated below are developed to increase understanding and recognition of actions necessary to minimise the impacts of tourism development on the coastal zone within an economically and socially sound structure. The principles are generic and thus do not cover approaches designed for a particular regional setting. 1. Sustainable tourism development largely depends upon well defined national tourism strategies and tourism development plans at national and local levels. 1

2 Governments must ensure that tourism development is balanced with broader economic, social and environmental objectives at national and local levels. Well-defined national tourism strategies that recognise the importance of a sustainable resource base and are integrated with national and regional development plans will lend to maximised economic, social and environmental benefits. Tourism development strategies will define the objectives of tourism development, form, scale and location of development and roles and responsibilities of the government and the private sector. Local level planning is required to limit cumulative impacts, undesirable forms of development, such as ribbon development, and to protect vulnerable areas Has a National or regional Tourism Development Plan that establishes policies and plans for the sector been prepared? Is it regularly updated? 1.2. Does the plan identify tourism development areas; types, scale and intensity of tourism development; and recommended growth rates for tourism taking into account the carrying capacities of the different areas, biophysical parameters of the coastal environment, the recreational experience, and potential cumulative impacts? Are these plans regularly updated? 1.3. Is the plan easily accessible to the prospective developers, and are they easily understandable? 1.4. Does the plan promote protection of sensitive areas, encourage development in nodes and discourage ribbon development? 1.5. Does the plan recognise that there should be equitable sharing of benefits arising out of tourism? 1.6. Does the plan reflect the responsibilities of all parties concerned and is it regularly updated? 1.7. Does the plan recognise the importance of and define mechanisms for collaboration among government, industry and local communities? 2. Tourism industry must endeavour to develop tourism in an environmentally responsible manner recognising that the maintenance of the natural resource base which supports the industry is the ultimate responsibility of the industry. Corporate policies reflecting a high level of commitment to environmental management, including strategies to effectively limit social and environmental impacts both in short-term as well as in longterm and to ensure equitable sharing of benefits among the community, are of central importance. Strategies to comply with national regulations, development plans and national environmental standards must be adopted. In addition, the industry is encouraged to adopt self-regulatory techniques and voluntary management procedures such as environmental guidelines and codes of conduct rather than be strictly regulated. When the facility is located near a protected area, corporate policies must aim for the mutual longterm benefit of protected areas, the tourism industry, local communities and visitors Has a corporate policy on environmentally sustainable tourism with defined goals been developed and adopted? 2.2. Does the corporate policy identify specific strategies and actions to comply with national environmental standards and regulations? 2.3. Does the developer co-operate with the local community, involve them and ensure that they benefit from tourism? 2.4. Does the corporate policy recognise the need for responsible use of natural resources? 2.5. Does the corporate strategy recognise and adopt voluntary initiatives and self-regulatory approaches? 3. Integration of tourism development into ICZM programmes ensures that development is within the environmental carrying capacity of the area and conflicts with other coastal activities are minimised. 2

3 Adoption of integrated management approaches will prevent ad hoc and incompatible coastal development and yields many benefits. In addition, inter-sectoral coordination and cooperation among different levels of government and different stakeholders in the industry and the community will be facilitated. Integrated approaches can augment the environmental, economic and social benefits of tourism and enable identification and resolution of conflicts over resource use Is the tourism project consistent with local/district ICZM plans and located away from ecologically sensitive and physically unstable areas? 3.2. Are existing infrastructure facilities available in the area (waste and sewage disposal, electricity and water supply, roads) adequate to support the proposed development? 3.3. Is there coordination and consultation between agencies responsible for coastal tourism planning and the agencies responsible for planning and implementation of ICZM projects? 3.4. Is the coastal tourism sector identified as a major stakeholder in ICZM projects? 3.5. Do the coordinating mechanisms established for ICZM include a representative of the coastal tourism sector? 3.6. Does the tourism project respect the continued access of artisanal fishers to the beach and continued livelihoods of local communities? 3.7. Does the tourism project operate so as to not displace and marganalize traditional communities that depend on coastal resources? 4. Environmental assessment provides a structured approach to predict potential impacts and incorporate mitigation measures during design, construction and operation phases. Environmental assessment both at policy level (strategic environmental assessment (SEA)) and at project level (EIA) is essential in view of the widespread nature and significance of potential impacts. An important feature of SEA is that it addresses cumulative and cross-sectoral impacts. EIA is a participatory project level process that can augment project planning, minimise environmental and social impacts at the project level and maximise project benefits. An EIA is not a mere regulatory tool but must be a part of the planning mechanism and should be integrated into the project cycle from the initial planning stage through feasibility, design, construction and operation. The environment management plan (EMP) and the monitoring plan developed, as a component of the EIA will guide operation and management Does the existing legislation call for an EIA to be prepared for new coastal tourism projects? 4.2. Is there adequate guidance to assist coastal tourism developers to prepare an effective EIA? 4.3. Are there formal opportunities for the local community and other interest groups to express their views on the project proposal? 4.4. Has a detailed assessment of the site according to recognised EIA guidelines been carried out? 4.5. Does the site evaluation survey the existing flora and fauna, endangered/threatened species, and the use of the site by migratory birds or other species during nesting, reproductive, or other critical life stages? 4.6. Does the evaluation also examine the long-term climate record to determine the risk of storms, flooding, storm surges, and droughts? 4.7. Does the EIA assess alternatives to the proposal which could mitigate the adverse and unavoidable environmental and social impacts? 4.8. Has an environmental management plan (EMP) and a monitoring plan been prepared as a component of the EIA process? 5. Tourism developers and national and local authorities must cooperate in developing and implementing measures to minimise physical alteration and its impacts during the construction phase. Coastal tourism development leads to a variety of impacts including loss of habitat, and landscape, degradation of water quality, erosion of beaches and loss of beach access and income by traditional resource users. Many of these impacts can be controlled through appropriate siting, the use of improved engineering designs and appropriate construction management practices that respect the 3

4 dynamic nature of the coastal areas and ecosystem function. Construction setbacks are one of the most appropriate proactive means of reducing erosion and flood damage. Construction of maritime structures such as marinas and erosion management measures should strictly follow internationally recognised guidelines. National and local authorities must support the industry through public sector planning, development control and provision of construction standards Are guidelines for construction of coastal tourism facilities available and accessible to the developers? 5.2. Do the design and construction methods recognise and respect the dynamic nature of the coastline and coastal processes? 5.3. Does the development avoid damage to the dunes and maintain their protective functions? 5.4. Does the development avoid degradation of the coastal habitats in the area? 5.5. Is the development consistent with the setback requirements applicable for the area? 5.6. Is the development designed so as to minimise risks from storms and flooding? 5.7. Are the plans for the construction of erosion management structures and marine structures such as marinas consistent with recognised guidelines? 5.8. Does the construction of erosion management structures and marinas avoid increased coastal instability or unacceptable levels of sediment mobilisation? 6. A range of management measures and technologies should be utilised to limit negative impacts of coastal tourism during the operational phase. Coastal tourism generates a range of waste products, which if not managed properly, can lead to significant degradation of coastal habitats and the coastal environment in general. The sustainability of the industry itself can be threatened. Various technologies, treatment standards and discharge options must be carefully evaluated to determine the most appropriate system for each facility. Reduction, reuse and recycling options for solid waste must be encouraged. Clear ambient environmental quality standards conforming to national and international standards should be established and achieved. Pollution impacts and waste disposal should be monitored routinely and early remedial measures implemented when required. A second imperative is to manage recreational activities and promote appropriate behaviour by tourists to minimise impacts on the natural environment. Particular attention to boating, diving, reef walking and other water sports activities and recreational fishing is required to ensure that these activities are within the environmental carrying capacity. In general, extractive use should be discouraged Does the development utilise the best available technologies and practices to minimise the degradation of water quality in the adjacent areas? 6.2. Are measures used for effluent treatment and disposable consistent with national standards? 6.3. Have water quality standards for coastal waters and recreational waters been developed and made available to the developer? 6.4. Has the developer taken necessary measures to minimise runoff to wetlands, lagoons and other coastal waters during construction and operation? 6.5. Are there adequate mechanisms in place for local government oversight of the development during the construction phase? 6.6. Is there consultation between the developer and agency responsible for managing marine and coastal protected areas (MPA) to ensure that the development and associated recreational activities are consistent with the management measures implemented within the MPA? 6.7. Has the developer and the local government taken all possible actions to promote responsible behaviour by tourists? 6.8. Are the tourists well informed regarding prohibited activities such as damaging the reefs, collection of coral, littering, etc.? 6.9. Are recreational activities such as boating, diving, snorkelling, etc. adequately regulated and controlled? 4

5 7. Long-term monitoring and assessment provides a mechanism for detecting adverse environmental and social effects that may arise, and to facilitate appropriate mitigation measures in a timely manner. Both the government and the industry need to make stronger commitments to monitoring and assessment by developing indicators, investing in sustained monitoring programmes and incorporating the results into their decision making processes. Long-term programmes that monitor the environmental and social impacts at the project level and at local and national levels are crucial to ensure that the industry develops in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. Where appropriate, monitoring programmes should adopt participatory approaches Is monitoring of the impacts on the natural environment and socio-economic impacts an essential part of the operational procedures? 7.2. Is the monitoring plan submitted with the EIA being implemented? 7.3. Are the results of the monitoring programmes incorporated in the evaluation and reporting procedures? 7.4. Do mechanisms exist at the national and regional levels to monitor and evaluate individual development projects and their cumulative impacts on the environment? 7.5. Do the national or provincial agencies responsible for planning and management of the sector utilise the results of monitoring of individual projects to evaluate the performance of the sector? 8. Effective consultation with all primary stakeholders including the local community contributes significantly to long-term success of coastal tourism projects. Community support of tourism projects is crucial and will depend upon the extent to which it disturbs or enhances the livelihoods of the local residents and their environment. It is important to be responsive to the needs of the local community and to earn their confidence to generate a positive attitude towards the project. The developers must seek to ensure community participation and community benefits and establish mutually beneficial relationships with the local community and liaison with local environmental groups Has the developer established a meaningful dialogue with the local community from the initial stages? 8.2. Has the developer taken all possible measures to minimise any negative impacts on the livelihoods of the local communities? 8.3. Has the developer explored possible ways and means of involving the local community in the development and associated recreational activities so that the economic benefits of tourism are adequately distributed? 8.4. Have the local authorities taken necessary action to enable local communities to participate effectively in addressing tourism development issues in the area? 8.5. Do local environmental groups have a role in tourism planning at the local level? 8.6. Are programmes aimed at enhancing community awareness on coastal tourism issues and community benefits of tourism being implemented? 5

6 9. Sustainable tourism development requires strengthening of human resources, and institutional capacities amongst all sectors involved and at several levels. Capacity building programmes should involve the government sector at national and local levels, the tourism sector and the local communities. Transfer of know-how and training in areas related to environmental and social sustainability such as planning legal framework, standard setting and application of EIA are important capacity building imperatives. They should also promote and facilitate the transfer and application of new environmentally sound, socially acceptable and appropriate technology. The local communities must be enabled to participate in tourism planning and secure benefits from the industry Is there adequate institutional capacity at national, provincial and local levels to oversee the planning and development of coastal tourism? 9.2. Has the capacity building needs within the state and private sector organisation at national and local level been identified? 9.3. Are there regular training programmes aimed at enhancing skills within the state and the private sector on environmentally sustainable coastal tourism development? 9.4. Have networks, newsletters, publications and other mechanisms for promoting the sharing of information and expertise been established? 9.5. Are adequate financial resources allocated on a long-term basis for capacity building and development of innovative technologies? 9.6. Do national and regional authorities provide advice and guidance to prospective developers to ensure that the project is environmentally, socially and economically sustainable? 10. Governments, international and regional organisations, industry and tourism related NGOs should cooperate in development and transfer of environmentally sustainable tourism methodologies and technologies. Creation of and broad participation in open networks for research, dissemination of information, available guidelines and environmentally sound technologies should be encouraged at all levels. International and regional agencies should promote the development of appropriate methodologies and technologies including indicators needed to measure and monitor their successful implementation and support the application of self-regulatory techniques such as environmental certification programmes Do the international and regional organisations assist and support governments in the development of national strategies for sustainable tourism development? Do international and regional programmes support the development, application and transfer of guidelines, indicators for sustainable tourism development, best management practices and voluntary self-regulatory measures such as Codes of Conduct? Do the international and regional organisations and NGO actively facilitate the dissemination of information and guidance already available to governments and the tourism industry? Do international and regional organisations facilitate capacity building in sustainable tourism development? 6

7 For additional information, contact Dr. Anjan Datta Programme Officer UNEP/GPA Coordination Office Kortenaerkade 1,2518 AX The Hague The Netherlands Tel: ; Fax: Website: 7