Activity Concept Note:

Transcription

1 Activity Concept Note: Summary Provide a short summary of the proposed Activity including indicative New Zealand funding level and note whether this is a New Zealandled or partner-led process. Why: Rationale and Analysis Origin of the concept Problem definition Cambodia has undergone rapid tourism growth over the last 10 years. While the tourism sector still remains one of the country s strongest growth sectors, that growth has also come at a cost both environmentally and socially, with economic figures indicating that poor people are not benefiting from the industry. Cambodia is currently a single-product destination, meaning the majority of tourists visit the Angkor complex in Siem Reap with little extension to secondary destinations. With the majority of the country's poor working and residing in the rural areas of the country and hence secondary destinations, it is these destinations which have the capacity to drive rural economic development through tourism activities. The contribution of the tourism sector to the livelihoods of the rural poor can be determined through increasing the awareness of, and demand for, secondary tourism destinations through improving the opportunities to enhance the quality of products and services in these destinations to respond to market demand. Alignment with partner development plans/priorities Background Analysis According to the Ministry of Tourism's Tourism Development Strategic Plan : tourism earnings for Cambodia in 2010 were US$1,700 million, with total tourism revenue increasing to US$3000 million dollars. Activity Concept Note Page 1 of 7

2 There was a 25% leakage factor in the importation of goods and services in the same year. The tourism industry created around 30,000 direct jobs and several thousands of indirect jobs in 2010 Priority sites for tourism development identified the Great Lake peri-zone focusing on the potential for ecotourism along with cultural and traditional livelihoods. A community-based tourism supply chain analysis of Cambodia, carried out jointly by SNV the Netherlands Development Organisation and the Cambodia Community-Based Ecotourism Network, revealed the following: Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) sites located close to the major tourist gateways of Siem Reap and Phnom Penh are more easily accessible due to better infrastructure and public transportation Roughly 60% of the CBET sites offer home stays. With no minimum standard requirements for home stays, the level of comfort and services are very basic. Communities typically prepare food for visitors with type of food and hygiene levels very basic. Most CBET sites have English speaking guides. However, the level of English is very basic and therefore tour groups bring their own guides from Phnom Penh/Siem Reap to assist in communication and in interpreting the site and its values. Activities at CBET sites are mainly developed based on natural features of the sites and village life. Shopping opportunities at the CBET sites are almost nonexistent. The variety of handicrafts is limited and the design is more targeted to the domestic markets than to international markets. CBET sites should be creative to develop more products based on its existing resources and within its capacity, create products that are non-seasonal, and create unique products. As report by the WWF Greater Mekong Cambodia Country Programme on the feasibility of ecotourism in Cambodia's north-east found that: Tour operators in Cambodia felt that interest and hence demand for ecotourism experiences in Cambodia is increasing. As tourists are becoming increasingly interested in being involved both in the environment and the communities they visit, there was an emphasis on smaller, more specialised tours. Most operators and their clients were very satisfied with the current ecotours on offer throughout the country. Activity Concept Note Page 2 of 7

3 Dissatisfaction generally arises from a lack or quality of the facilities, such as old boats or hotels, rather than with the ecotour experience itself. Tour operators felt it was important to invest in local resources, such as hiring local people and local guides, and linking more with community-based products. The findings suggest a strong commitment by the Government to support the development of community-based ecotourism opportunities in Cambodia. The private sector perceives a greater demand for ecotourism products and services in the future, and are willing to support communities to realise this. Products and services offered by CBET sites are basic and require improvement, with greater linkages to other products and service underdeveloped e.g. handicrafts. With the majority of the poor working and residing in rural areas, there is a real opportunity to maximise their skills and surrounding resources to bring better livelihood opportunities and prosperity. The emphasis on the promotion of secondary destinations and their assets improves the competitiveness of the tourism industry in Cambodia, increasing the average length of stay and average daily expenditure. The abundance of natural resources in these rural, secondary destinations creates real livelihood opportunities for the people who live near them. However, the greatest gap currently existing is the competitiveness of the CBET product remains the level of quality of the products and services on offer. Targeted training in a variety of skills categories will improve this situation greatly. What: Activity Purpose and Description Activity purpose and expected results To assist the poor communities of Kompong Preang District, in Battambang Province to access employment opportunities and benefit from tourism development in their area. Goal To improve the livelihoods of the rural poor Kompong Preang District through improving the opportunities to enhance the quantity and quality of products and services in these rural destinations. Activity Concept Note Page 3 of 7

4 Outcomes The improvement of community livelihoods and prosperity through the creation of employment opportunities through CBET. CBET products and services are offered, and meet with market demand through aspects of quality and diversity. The creation of small and medium enterprises as a result of tourism development in the area. Better understanding and enforcement of natural resource and tourism regulations and laws by the local community. Outputs Increased public awareness of the regulations and laws for natural resource management and CBET management. CBET Committee formed and empowered to make decisions and operationalise tourism development. Two seminars completed on the corresponding regulations and laws. Needs assessments conducted with training, trainees, and providers identified. Training courses conducted. Products developed and tested in the market. Secure access to markets for products and services developed, and secure access to finance for identified local entrepreneurs. Evaluation of training courses conducted. Funding implications Risks and mitigation Outline indicative funding level and how value for money has been or will be taken into consideration. Include: - Indicative NZ funding for the lifetime of the Activity - Percentage of programme allocation, implications for other current or proposed programme expenditure and opportunity costs. - Financial contributions by other partners, and how these might change over the life of the Activity. Risk Risk Identified Mitigation Strategy Activity Concept Note Page 4 of 7

5 Development of tourism is not driven by the community Participants are busy with their own business Low participation by the community. Limited success in improving livelihoods. Low participation rates. Identify local entrepreneurs and local champions to drive the development forward. Work with these people to identify additional training they need to improve. Provide training where identified. Identify further training opportunities that can help participants better integrate into tourism. Identify access to finance opportunities for participants to better participate in tourism. No financial support to develop and upgrade product Limited finances of community Access to finance difficult Conduct feasibility studies on particular products and their requirements for development or upgrading. Identify access to finance issues in the community and remediate. How: Activity Design and Implementation Governance / coordination arrangements and engagement with partners - Who will lead on design/implementation will this be a NZ-led Activity; a joint Activity; or led by another partner and if so how will NZ engage? - Outline existing governance/coordination arrangements in the sector/area and how this activity would be integrated to maximise local ownership. - Other major activities or Programmes currently active in the sector or thematic area of focus (this can be a bulleted list). - Potential complementarity with other Activities / donors working in the sector, and how harmonisation will be promoted in design. Activity Concept Note Page 5 of 7

6 Consultations and discussions Outline the key discussions which have already taken place in relation to the proposed Activity including - Who was consulted (eg other donor, Govt department, NGO etc) and what was discussed. - Advice provided by the Contracting Team to date (e.g. contracting requirements and strategy) - The views of other key stakeholders, including partners. The design process: Approach, resources and costs Outline the proposed feasibility/design process. Include: - How this design process will be governed and managed including how partners, key stakeholders and beneficiaries will engage or outline the process for establishing this - Timeframes for the design process; including the development of the results framework and the procurement plan - Which division or Post is proposed to manage the Activity s design - Resource needs (consultants, MFAT staff Post/WLN support services) - Cost estimate and level of New Zealand s contribution. Cross-cutting issues The nature of tourism is that it is a cross-cutting sector, impacting and integrating with a broad range of other sectors. With respect to NZAIDs cross-cutting issues and tourism, the following is considered: Women make up an important percentage of the tourism workforce, but the wealth and skills gap between men and women employed in tourism is wide. This project can specifically identify and target women to ensure these gaps are narrowed. Developing community-based tourism based on the natural resources as a source of wealth in the community can contribute to sustainable use and protection of the environment. Educating the local community on the laws and regulations of the protection of natural resources will also help to strengthen the sustainability of the local resources. It has been widely documented that tourism can be based on existing unequal, exploitative relationships and consequently, the poorer and more vulnerable groups in the country of destination suffer disproportionately from the negative impacts of tourism. This project has the opportunity to deliver equitable benefits to the local community by placing the responsibility and implementation in the hands of the local community themselves. Activity Concept Note Page 6 of 7

7 Prepared by: Ministry of Tourism Status Date: 16 March 2012 Activity Concept Note Page 7 of 7