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Partners and Stakeholders

To alleviate the confusion between ecotourism and sustainable tourism. ... To identify key issues relevant to sustainable tourism and ecotourism ...

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Partners and Stakeholders

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  1. A CANADIAN STUDY OF INDICATORS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AND ECOTOURISM:THE CASE STUDY OF NORTHERN CAPE BRETON Denisa Georgescu, Canadian Tourism Commission and Per Nilsen, Parks Canada The 7th International Forum on Tourism Statistics Stockholm, June 9-11, 2004

  2. Project Purpose: To alleviate the confusion between ecotourism and sustainable tourism. Objectives: To clarify the relationship between sustainable tourism and ecotourism using a case study built on an indicators development process; To test the utility of a participatory process to develop indicators of sustainability.

  3. Partners and Stakeholders • Founders: the Canadian Tourism Commission and Parks Canada • Consultants: Consulting and Audit Canada • Stakeholders: - Local tourism operators - NGO’s - Cape Breton Highland National Park - Provincial Government - Regional/Municipal Organizations

  4. Project Methodology Task One: Methodological Definition Task Two: Destination Selection Task Three: Pre-workshopSite Study Task Four: Workshop Organization Task Five: Workshop Facilitation Task Six: Analysis Task Seven: Conclusions and Recommendations

  5. Task One:Methodological Definition What is the relationship between sustainable tourism and ecotourism? Sustainable Tourism: “development that meets the needs of present tourists and hosts regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems” (World Tourism Organization).

  6. Task One:Methodological Definition – cont. Ecotourism(first coined by Hector Caballos-Lascurian in 1983): “tourism that consists in travelling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and animals as well as any existent cultural manifestations found in these areas”.

  7. Task One:Methodological Definition – cont. Ecotourism as a Sustainable Tourism Concept

  8. Task Two: Destination Selection Criteria • Size & location • Mix and range of tourism • Proximity to stakeholders • Destination popularity • Parks Canada presence and support • Utility/contribution to ongoing work

  9. Task Three: Pre-workshop site study • Examination of current natural and cultural assets • No integrated planning organization • Opportunity for conducting workshops: - Identification of stakeholder values - Identification of sources of information for indicators - Identification of workshop participants

  10. Task Four: Workshop Organization Date: October 8 and 9, 2003 Location: Ingonish, Cape Breton Objectives: • To identify key issues relevant to sustainable tourism and ecotourism • To develop a short list of practical indicators to measure impact of tourism

  11. Task Five: Workshop Facilitation • Identification of main risks to values • Development of long list of potential indicators and responses • Management of collaborative process to determine priority indicators • Preliminary validation

  12. Threats to ecosystem Protection of key assets from overuse/ abuse Pollution Perception of limited opportunities Image as a summer driving destination Loss of access to traditional areas of use (National Park) Infrastructure Sustained vs. seasonal employment Willingness to invest given location Task Six: Analysis – Areas of Concern

  13. Strengths Weaknesses Physical beauty and varietyIntact natural systemsProximity to US market (northeast)Picturesque houses and boatsLow Canadian dollar valueCultural distinctnessFriendliness of communityPresence of formally protected land Short summer season Position at “end of line” Lack of some infrastructure /services Image as drive-by destination High turnover rate/retention of staff For ecotourism, lack of longer, more challenging, hiking trails Lack of directed tourism management plans Opportunities Threats Integrated marketing of sustainable product(s) Better coordination of planning, marketing, product development Lengthening of the season and length of stay of visitors Coordinated protection of key assets to mutual benefit Uncontrolled influx of more tourists or tourists seeking inappropriate experiences Damage to ecosystem from misuse Resentment from communities due to lack of benefits or due to impact on key community values Deterioration of key infrastructure SWOT Analysis

  14. SWOT Analysis – cont. Strengths • Physical beauty and variety • Intact natural systems • Proximity to US market (northeast) • Picturesque houses and boats • Low Canadian dollar value • Cultural distinctness • Friendliness of communityPresence of formally protected land

  15. SWOT Analysis – cont. Weaknesses • Short summer season • Position at “end of line” • Lack of some infrastructure /services • Image as drive-by destination • High turnover rate/retention of staff • For ecotourism, lack of longer, more challenging, hiking trails • Lack of directed tourism management plans

  16. SWOT Analysis – cont. Opportunities • Integrated marketing of sustainable product(s); • Better coordination of planning, marketing, product development; • Lengthening of the season and length of stay of visitors; • Coordinated protection of key assets to mutual benefit

  17. SWOT Analysis – cont. Threats • Uncontrolled influx of more tourists or tourists seeking inappropriate experiences • Damage to ecosystem from misuse • Resentment from communities due to lack of benefits or due to impact on key community values • Deterioration of key infrastructure

  18. Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB) A) Control of Environmental Impacts: • Perception of level of cleanliness of areas frequented by tourists (measure: survey of tourists and locals’ perception of beach contamination); • Clean image of the region (measure: exit questionnaires) • Water quality in beach/river/stream areas (measure: laboratory analysis by sampling); • Environmental practices and attitudes of tourists (measure: entrance or exit surveys).

  19. Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB) B) Economic Benefits to the Region: • Employment Statistics (measure: total number and the % from census and EI sources); • Amount spent per day per tourist (by season as well) (measure: exit questionnaires). C) Marketing the Region: • Opinion of quality/value (measure: survey of tourists re:quality of accommodation); • Price of accommodation (measure: average cost/night); • Repeat visits to same accommodation (measure: numbers and %)

  20. Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB) D) Community Impacts: • Local attitudes and perception on tourism benefits or non-benefits) (measure: survey of residents-specific questions re: attitude towards tourists); E) Infrastructure: • Road condition; • Percentage of pull-offs per km of highway; • Length of maintained trail system

  21. Effectiveness of Indicators Selection Process Partially successful • Did not succeed in focusing on clarifying the difference between ecotourism and sustainable tourism • No focus on indicators of environmental awareness or education • Indicators linked to priority regional issue areas • Focused on ecological and economic aspects • Need locally-based, specific management objectives to guide indicator selection process

  22. Success of Pilot • Pre-workshop meetings • Combination of plenary plus small working group sessions • Expertise & experience of third party consultants • Location/participation of stakeholders • Discovery of common objectives by disparate groups • Provides a basis for park management plan update and tourism regional strategic plan

  23. Task Seven: Recommendations Agreement on 7 Keys Issue Areas: • Control of environmental impact • Economic benefits to region • Marketing the region • Stability and Seasonality • Community Impacts • Planning and Control • Infrastructure

  24. Task Seven: Recommendations – cont. • Coordinating body representing stakeholders from Northern Cape Breton required that could lead to: - tourism strategy development - improved interagency coordination and cooperation - integrated management - reconciling of conflicting resource issues ( UNEP Principles for Sustainable Tourism)

  25. Task Seven: Conclusion • The relationship between ecotourism and sustainable tourism is difficult to define; • There is little agreement on the exact definitions and applications of these terms. • The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) argues that all forms of tourism and related activities should incorporate the principles of sustainable development (economic, environmental and social)

  26. Thank you!georgescu.denisa@ctc-cct.ca Business to Business site: www.canadatourism.com Consumer site: www.travelcanada.ca

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