Tourism as a tool of Management

1. Tourism as a tool of Management Experiences of NGOs dealing with protected area management on areas focused by tourism Stephanie Roth

2. 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

3. 1. Tourism in protected areas • Problems/ conflicts between: • Different stakeholders / interest groups • Nature conservation / tourist industry / local population • 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 => Tourism in protected areas requires holistic management!

4. 1.1 Dimensions of 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

5. 1.2 Stakeholders of tourism in protected areas • National bodies • Park authorities • Communities • Tourism authorities/associations • Private tourism sector • Tourism developers (public and private) • NGOs • Tourists

6. 1.3 Tourism and Natura 2000 • 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

7. 2. Tourism management 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

8. 2.1 Goals of tourism management • Decrease the threats to the natural and cultural environment • Increase the benefits of tourism • Support nature conservation • Provide sustainable alternatives

9. 2.2 Basis for tourism management planning • CSD Work Programme (CSD 7/1999) • CBD Guidelines (2004) • Management of PAs • Initiatives for “Making tourism more sustainable” • Politics, tourism industry and NGOs

10. Baseline Information Notification Stakeholder Involvement Decision Making Evaluation Approval Monitoring Implementation 3. The praxis of tourism management planning Tourism Management Plan

11. STEP 1 / Getting started A tourism management and development plan... ... is a written document created in a consultative process ... describes possible threats and opportunities for the region ... needs to be approved by all stakeholders and people affected ... creates a common vision of regional development, which helps to avoid conflicts and strengthens committment

12. STEP 1 / Getting started A tourism management and development plan... ... is never complete, but needs continuous updating ... is in line with other existing regional plans ... Should be as short as possible without loosing its coherence, credibility or practical use

13. STEP 2 / Stakeholder Involvement • 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“

14. STEP 3 / Baseline Information 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!

15. 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

16. STEP 4 / Vision and Goals Visioning … is a creative process, that … allows broad participation of local communities A Vision … describes a desirable state in the future … 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

17. STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program Vision Idealistic Goals General enough to to reflect the vision and precise enough to be achievable within a realistic timescale Identified in a multi-stakeholder process Realistic Objectives Each objective represents a detailed task which needs to be accomplished within a given timescale Realistic

18. STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program Agreement on goals and objectives + information of all stakeholders and the public (transparency in decisions) Work Program Describes goals, objectives and each single task necessary to achieve them

19. STEP 6 / Impact Assessment and Impact Management Impact Assessment • Identifying and addressing of existing and future impacts • (positive & negative) • development of coping strategies for negative impacts • Subjective matter: needs to be accomplished in consultation with the local public Impact Management Relates to the management plan and describes concrete measures to avoid or mitigate existing and potential negative impacts

20. STEP 7 / Monitoring and Adaptive 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)

21. STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and Implementation 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 Approval The 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

22. STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and Implementation 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

23. 4. The role of NGOs in tourism management • Motivation of NGOs to engage in tourism management • Possible approaches • Cooperation with other stakeholders

24. 4.1 Motivations for 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

25. 4.2 Possible approaches • Initiative • Overall coordination • Mediation • Expertise • Parts of the work programme

26. 4.3 Cooperation with other stakeholders • 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

27. 5. Examples of tourism management Special Nature Reserve Zasavica (Serbia) Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (Switzerland) Sumava Nationalpark (Czech Republic) Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany)

28. 5.1 Special Nature Reserve Zasavica Main goal of the project: Development of a methodology for tourism management planning Need for tourism management:  development of a holistic adaptive management approach  long-term, regionally based and multi-stakeholder learning-by-doing-process Steps: • SWOT on tourism • Stakeholder involvement • Development of the methodology • Elaboration of the TMP

29. 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

30. 5.2 Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (CH) Regional / Direct Marketing • 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 => 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)

31. 5.3 Sumava Nationalpark (Czech Republic) - Visitor guidance • 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)

32. 5.3 Sumava Nationalpark Visitor guidance

33. 5.4 Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany) Visitor monitoring Project: “Monitoring of modern forms of land-use in protected areas” • Monitoring by installation of cameras • Recording the number of visitors • Monitoring of different activities (hiking, biking, etc.) • Description and presentation by computer => Better knowledge about impact of tourism => Useful decision support for management activities

34. Thank you very much for your attention!