UNWTO Best Practices and Recommendations for Ecotourism in the Asia Pacific

Transcription

1 UNWTO Best Practices and Recommendations for Ecotourism in the Asia Pacific Leonie Bowles Ecotourism Australia Lisa Ruhanen The University of Queensland

2 Objective Utilised GSTC criteria to illustrate the practical application of sustainable tourism principles to ecotourism businesses. 26 ecotourism organizations and private companies in the Asia Pacific region

3 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) UNWTO, UN Foundation, UNEP, Rainforest Alliance & private and public sector. consulted with almost 100,000 tourism stakeholders analysed over 4,500 criteria from more than 60 existing certification schemes and voluntary sets of criteria.

4 The GSTC indicate what should be done, not how to do it. Recognising this gap, the compendium aims to provide tourism operators in the Asia Pacific with practical examples of initiatives, products, services and activities which exemplify the criteria in practice.

5 Ecotourism Australia s Ecotourism and Advanced Ecotourism levels of certification are recognised as equivalent to the GSTC Criteria and Standard

6 Method Case studies utilised in this guide were invited from each UNWTO Member State and country in the Asia Pacific region Each participating ecotourism business included in the study completed a self report questionnaire on their compliance with the GSTC

7 Context Between 1992 and 2002 there were 60 voluntary, green certification processes developed for the tourism industry.

8 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management. B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts. C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts. D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

9 Case Studies Accommodation Tour Not for Profit/ Community Based Lane Cove River Tourist Park, Australia EcoQueenslander, Australia Last Descents River Expeditions, China Hong Kong Dolphinwatch, Hong Kong Sumbiling Eco Village, Brunei Chi Phat Community Based Eco Tourism, Cambodia Singgahruai -Rainforest Lodge, Brunei Green Discovery Laos, Laos Mlup Baitong, Cambodia Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia New Guinea Eco Tours Responsible Tourism Partnership, Sri Lanka Menjangan Jungle & Beach Resort (MJBR), Indonesia Wakatobi Dive Resort, Bali, Indonesia Ulumani Treetops Rainforest Lodge, Papua New Guinea Hotel Sigiriya, Sri Lanka Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts Tiger Mountain, Nepal Nature Trail Travels & Tours, Trekking and Expeditions, Nepal Explore NZ, New Zealand Dream Nepal Travels and Tours, Nepal Socialtours.com travels, Nepal Matava Resort, Fiji Snowleopard Tours, India Koh Ra EcoLodge, Thailand Heritance Kandalama, Sri Lanka

10 Criteria A A. Demonstrate effective sustainable management.

11 Criteria A Examples A.1 The company has implemented a long-term sustainability management system that is suitable to its reality and scale, and that considers environmental, socio-cultural, quality, health, and safety issues. Matava Fiji - developed a Responsible Tourism Code of Conduct and Environmental Policy which underpins all management decision-making

12 Criteria A Examples A.6 Design and construction of buildings and infrastructure Menjangan Jungle and Beach Resort, Indonesia: All buildings were built raised above ground, so they do not reduce the ability of the soil to absorb rainwater.

13 Criteria A Examples A.7 Information about and interpretation of the natural surroundings, local culture, and cultural heritage is provided to customers, as well as explaining appropriate behaviour while visiting natural areas, living cultures, and cultural heritage sites Koh Ra Ecolodge, Thailand: offer study tours and gap year programs in addition to volunteer and educational programs for international school groups, universities and professional groups.

14 Criteria B B. Maximize social and economic benefits to the local community and minimize negative impacts.

15 Criteria B Examples B.1 The company actively supports initiatives for social and infrastructure community development including, among others, education, health, and sanitation. Tiger Mountain, Nepal: provides free treatment and medicine to villagers and is on 24 hour stand-by for emergency cases. A 2 rupee donation from patients (approximately 3 cents) is put into an emergency fund for those who require but can not afford expensive surgery or hospitalisation.

16 Criteria B Examples B.4 The company offers the means for local small entrepreneurs to develop and sell sustainable products that are based on the area s nature, history, and culture (including food and drink, crafts, performance arts, agricultural products, etc.). New Guinea EcoTours, Papua New Guinea: works with the local village to start small spin off businesses such as bush walks, canoe rides and carvings so that locals can reap greater benefits from guests.

17 Criteria B Examples B.9 The activities of the company do not jeopardize the provision of basic services, such as water, energy, or sanitation, to neighbouring communities. Wakatobi Dive Resort, Indonesia- More than half of the resort s electricity production at night goes to their neighbouring village Lamanggau.

18 Criteria C C. Maximize benefits to cultural heritage and minimize negative impacts.

19 Criteria C Examples C.4 The business uses elements of local art, architecture, or cultural heritage in its operations, design, decoration, food, or shops, while respecting the intellectual property rights of local communities. ExploreNZ, New Zealand - only use approved stories and local history in the commentary to visitors. If visitors want to find out further information they have the option of taking a Maori guided walk. The guides are from the local community and retain all proceeds.

20 Criteria D D. Maximize benefits to the environment and minimize negative impacts.

21 Criteria D Examples D.1.2 The purchase of disposable and consumable goods is measured, and the business actively seeks ways to reduce their use. Heritance Hotel, Sri Lanka - records all purchases to reflect consumption and targets are issued in certain instances to reduce consumption. The hotel has also introduced the 'Seven R principle: - Reject: products, activities, procedures and processes not essential - Reduce: always reduce consumption - Reuse: without dumping or discarding, reuse for same or different purpose - Reclaim: if 100% cannot be reused, reclaim what can - Replace: always replace with environmentally friendly alternatives where possible - Repair: before discarding, try to repair - Recycle: convert to a new raw material

22 Criteria D Examples D.3. Conserving biodiversity, ecosystems and landscapes: Mlup Baitong, Cambodia - the Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) projects are connected with community based forestry management projects and provide awareness to the local community and tourists about the sustainable use of the forests.

23 Criteria D Examples D.3.4 The business contributes to the support of biodiversity conservation, including supporting natural protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value. Lane Cove River Tourist Park, Australia- developed habitat areas throughout the park for reptilian and amphibian species and has instigated a regeneration program for local threatened plant species.

24 The Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

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