Transcript Overcoming the Challenges to the Sustainability of Tourism in

WHAT IS REQUIRED
FOR SUSTAINABILITY
AND THE Challenges to
Sustainability of Tourism
INTRODUCTION
 Lecture looks at what is required for the
“Sustainability of Tourism” and the challenges
to achieving this in the Caribbean
 Contends that tourism is an industry in which
region has competitive advantage
 Identifies significant threats to sustainability
 Need for simultaneous action at all levels
to strengthen resilience of the industry and the
wider economies of SIDS.
Theoretical Constructs
 Vulnerability: proneness to damage from
external forces.
 Economic: risks faced by economies from
exogenous shocks to systems of production,
distribution and consumption;
 Social: degree to which societies or socioeconomic groups are affected by stresses and
hazards (internal/external) that negatively
impact social cohesion;
 Environmental: risk of damage to natural ecosystems.
Theoretical Constructs (Cont’d)
 Sustainable Tourism Development - an
approach that:
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Develops tourism to the fullest extent possible;
Promotes rational use of local, natural, cultural and
man-made resources;
Diversifies the tourism product;
Is responsive to changes in market demand;
Uses a planning/implementation process that is
integrated, equitable, participatory, and
consensual.
Economic O/view of Caribbean
 Since 80s, built around, agriculture,
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manufacturing and tourism;
Since mid-1990s new focus on services
Robust growth in first half of 1980s (avr.7.4%)
to avr. 2% in second half of 1990s;
Contraction in 2000s due to 9/11 fall out and
Iraq war; fiscal restraint; structural adjustment;
lower aid flows etc.
Downturn underscores vulnerability of region.
Nature of Global Tourism
 Most competitive industry in world
 Complex/composite with many parts and many
actors
 World’s largest industry – by end of ‘03 will
generate 67.4 m jobs (2.6% of global
employment); US$1280.4b of GDP.
 TT Economy – by end of 2003 will generate
194.5m jobs (7.6% of global); US$3,526b of
GDP;
 Forecast demand – 3% real growth in ’03; 5.5%
per year between ’03 and 2013.
Major trends in Global Tourism
 Industry evolving and growing
 Sustained growth in “quality” tourism;
 Move from “mass” to more diverse and
specialized industry based on natural and
cultural environment – “alternative” “eco-”;
“green”; “nature”; and “heritage”
 Influence of changes in preferences,
demographics, values, lifestyles;
 Emphasis on value for money;
 More information-intensive
Major trends cont’d
 Impact of 9/11
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Fear of travel; preference for close
destinations; premium on safety; more,
shorter trips;
Strong growth in family values
Still strong interest in Caribbean
Good long-term future for Caribbean but
shortfall in revenue in short to medium
term
CH4: Nature of Caribbean
Tourism
 Equitable climate, hospitable people,
outstanding scenic beauty, sandy
beaches, proximity to major travel
markets, political and social stability;
 Variation in maturity of destinations
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DR, B’dos, JA and Bah at high end;
SLU, A&B, T&T and Bel at middle;
SHN, D’ca, and SVG at lower middle;
Strong similarities but Variations in product
Nature of C’bbean Tourism (2)
 Accommodation sub-sector
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Hotels, apartment hotels, guest houses, self catering
apartments, luxury villas
Growth in accommodation behind growth in stay-over
visitors
High number of All Inclusives (AI) – debate on AIs - The
Sandals Effect
Cruise tourism
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Stronger growth than land-based
Strong competition among ports
Debate over economic rents of CT.
Yachting Sector
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Substantial growth
Significant for G’da, SVG and SLU
Economic Impacts of Tourism
Positive Impacts
 Contribution to GDP
 Employment Generation
 Source of Foreign Exchange
Negative Impacts
 Leakage from the economy
 Large importation of goods
CH6: Social Impacts
 Positive –
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job creation; improved standard of living;
opportunities for linkage; increase in critical mass
for viability; subsidization of infrastructure costs in
remote areas; stronger appreciation of local culture
and heritage;
Negative
 Weak/slow distribution of benefits; tensions
among local populace; over-consumption of
resources; potential to engender crime,
prostitution and spread of communicable diseases
Environmental Impacts of
Tourism
 Impacts on coastal and marine environment –
coastal erosion; destruction of coastal and
marine assets hence induced vulnerability to
natural disasters
 Land based impacts – high energy/water
demand/use; untreated effluent; noise pollution;
 Advances in Tourism Planning and
Administration
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Jamaica Tourism Master Plan; CAST, St. James
Club, Green Globe Standard.
summary
 Caribbean Tourism is highly vulnerable
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economically, socially and environmentally;
Clear recognition that further initiatives need to
be taken to build the resilience of industry;
Financial, HR and technical constraints to be
overcome;
Innovative investment mechanisms needed;
Backward/forward linkages to be strengthened
capability for sustained tourism research to be
strengthened; especially in EIA
Cooperative approach to strengthening air
access and distribution needed.
The four pillars of sustainability
Economic sustainability – that is profitable in both the
immediate and long term.
 Form partnerships throughout the entire supply chain from
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micro-sized local business to multinational organizations.
Use internationally approved and reviewed guidelines for
training and certification.
Promote among clients an ethical and environmentally
conscious behaviour.
Diversify the products by developing a wide range of tourist
activities.
Contribute some of the income generated to assist in training,
ethical marketing and product development.
Provide financial incentives for businesses to adopt
sustainability principles.
Ecological sustainability – development that is compatible with the maintenance
of essential ecological processes, biological diversity and biological
resources.
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Codes of practices should be established for tourism at all levels.
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Guidelines for tourism operations, impact assessment and monitoring of
cumulative impacts should be established.
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Formulate national, regional and local tourism politics and development strategies
that are consistent with overall objectives of sustainable development.
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Institute baseline environmental impact assessment studies
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Ensure that the design, planning, development and operation of facilities
incorporate sustainability principles.
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Ensure tourism in protected areas, such as national parks, is incorporated into and
subject to sound management plans.
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Monitor and conduct research on actual impacts of tourism.
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Identify acceptable behaviour among tourist.
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Promote responsible tourism behaviour.
Cultural sustainability – increase people’s control over their
lives and is compatible with the culture and values of those
affected and strengthens the community identity.
 Tourism should be initiated with the help of broad based
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community input.
Education and training programs to improve and manage
heritage and natural resources should be established.
Conserve cultural diversity.
Respect land and property rights of traditional inhabitants.
Guarantee the protection of nature, local and the indigenous
cultures and especially traditional knowledge.
Work actively with indigenous leaders and minority groups to
insure that indigenous cultures and communities are depicted
accurately and with respect.
Strengthen, nature and encourage the community’s ability to
maintain and use traditional skills.
Educate tourists about desirable and acceptable behaviour.
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Local sustainability – that is designed to benefit local
communities and generate/retain income in those
communities
 The community should maintain control over tourism
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development.
Tourism should provide quality employment to community
residents.
Encourage business to minimize negative effects on local
communities and contribute positively to them.
Ensure an equitable distribution of financial benefits
throughout the entire supply chain.
Provide financial incentives for local business to enter
tourism.
Improve local human resource capacity
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
 Establish national tourism objectives that reflect the
unique character, opportunities and constraints in the
Caribbean.
 Develop a shared vision of what type of tourism is wanted
and how to achieve that goal.
 Establish a policy framework to achieve those
objectives.
 Developing, in collaboration with others, guidelines,
policies and practices for both new tourism projects and
the management of ongoing tourism activities
 Providing a long term commitment to develop a
sustainable product.
WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR
SUSTAINABILITY (CONT’D)
What products do I want to offer?
 High quality, ethical and sustainable that benefit local
communities.
What products do I not want to offer?
 Low quality, mass exploitative products that do not benefit local
communities.
Which markets do I want to target?
 Up market, affluent, educated, aware tourist. Target exclusivity
and quality.
Which markets do I want to avoid?
 High volume. Low yield markets?
Who do I choose to compete with?
 Other quality special interest tourism destinations.
Who do I choose not to compete with?
 Mass market, low quality destinations.
CHALLENGES TO
SUSTAINABILITY
 A lack of strong regional and national sustainable development
framework in the Caribbean
 Inadequate tourism planning and development
 Focus on economic development rather than conservation of
the natural environment
 Tourism and particularly mass tourism is pursued because of
the foreign direct investment and infrastructural development it
facilitates
 Lack of commitment by tourism operators to safegaurd the local
environment and host cultures
What products do I want to offer?
 High quality, ethical and sustainable that benefit local
communities.
What products do I not want to offer?
 Low quality, mass exploitative products that do not benefit local
communities.
Which markets do I want to target?
 Upmarket, affluent, educated, aware tourist. Target exclusivity
and quality.
Which markets do I want to avoid?
 High volume. Low yield markets?
Who do I choose to compete with?
 Other quality special interest tourism destinations.
Who do I choose not to compete with?
 Mass market, low quality destinations.
Reference
 UNCD (2012). United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development .
 Romero, Simon ( 2012), Brazil’S leader Faces
Defining Descision on Bill Relaxing Protection
of Forests.
 Gerhardt, Tina, (2012) A Crisi is a Terrible
Thing to Waste.
 (http;//www.uncsd2012.org/rio/newsletter.html).