Session 1: Tourism Development and Conservation of Island Resources KEY ISSUES FOR SIDS AND ALL ISLAND DESTINATIONS Richard Denman
A presentation in 2 parts Tourism and Small Island Developing States: some basic facts Tourism development and the conservation of island resources how to solve the equation NB Issues for SIDS are also issues for many other islands
Caribbean Pacific Atlantic and Indian Oceans + others Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Bahamas Barbados Belize British Virgin Islands Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guyana Haiti Jamaica Montserrat Netherlands Antilles Puerto Rico St Kitts and Nevis St Lucia St Vincent & Grenadines Suriname Trinidad and Tobago US Virgin Islands American Samoa Cook islands Fiji French Polynesia Guam Kiribati Marshall Islands Micronesia Nauru New Caledonia Niue Northern Marianas Palau Papua New Guinea Samoa Solomon Islands Tonga Tuvalu Vanuatu Bahrain Cape Verde Comoros Guinea-Bissau Maldives Mauritius Sao Tome and Principe Seychelles Singapore Timor-Leste
Variation in economic/social performance INCOME STATUS HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX Number of SIDS High High/very high 13 Upper Middle High 14 Upper or Lower Middle Lower Middle or Low Medium 10 Low 10
Tourism flows Singapore 7,995,000 Dominican Republic 4,008,000 Jamaica 1,780,000 Guam 1,166,000 Mauritius 886,000 Fiji 570,000 St Lucia 294,000 Seychelles 159,000 Vanuatu 88,000 Timor-Leste 31,000 Sao Tome and Principe 12,000 Tuvalu 1,000 Incoming overnight visitors (Average p.a. 2006 2010)
SIDS tourism supply and demand SIDS average Global average Length of stay 8.8 days 6.4 days Hotel occupancy 61% 55% Hotel bedstock: 66,000 rooms Dominican Republic 56 rooms Niue Limited hotel capacity is an issue on some islands
Trends in overnight arrivals Global average 3.6% Growth 2005-2010 Average per annum Advanced economies 2.0% Emerging economies 5.6% All SIDS 2.9% Atlantic/Indian Ocean/other 6.4% Caribbean 1.2% Pacific 0.8%
Tourism and the economy of SIDS Tourism expenditure/ all exports % Tourism expenditure/ exports in services % Anguilla 77.3 86.0 42.6 Maldives 69.3 92.6 36.0 Bahamas 64.8 85.2 28.7 Samoa 62.7 77.4 n.a. Vanuatu 62.2 75.7 n.a. Cape Verde 61.4 73.7 23.3 St Lucia 60.3 85.0 31.9 Tourism expenditure/ GDP % In 50% of SIDS Tourism expenditure > 40% of exports In 40% of SIDS Tourism expenditure > 20% of GDP
Tourism and population in SIDS Overnight visitors: resident population = 2.3:1 (Average) In eight SIDS this ratio is > 4:1
Tourism and the conservation of island resources how to solve the equation?
The sustainable tourism agenda 1. Economic viability 2. Local prosperity 3. Employment quality 4. Social equity 5. Visitor fulfilment 6. Local control 7. Community wellbeing 8. Cultural richness 9. Physical integrity 10. Biological diversity 11. Resource efficiency 12. Environmental purity
Characteristics of islands Implications Small size Pressure and competition for limited resources (land, natural resources, local produce, HR) Limited economic diversity Low ability to adapt Remoteness and isolation Maritime environment (often tropical) Difficult access to markets High cost of trading Strong cultural richness Unique biodiversity endemic species Restricted mode of access Special natural assets and visitor appeal Exposure to climate change and natural forces = Vulnerability to economic and environmental shocks
Cultural heritage and island tourism Island communities identify tourism as supporting cultural activity Types of cultural heritage Island architecture: ports, towns and villages Heritage sites: 19 UNESCO Cultural World Heritage Sites in SIDS seeking to expand Underwater cultural heritage Intangible heritage: handicrafts, arts, music, cuisine (especially seafood) Projects happening: working with young people; linking small heritage sites; promoting festivals
Biodiversity and island tourism Exceptional contribution to global biodiversity Endemic species vulnerable to extinction Forests, wetlands, beaches, reefs, oceans
Biodiversity and island tourism Opportunity and responsibility: Minimise impacts on habitats from tourism development and operations Develop sensitive wildlife-based tourism Use tourism to justify investment in conservation Raise income from visitors to support conservation Promote tourism as an alternative sustainable livelihood
Resource management Availability of fresh water Waste management liquid and solid Consumption of energy emissions and depletion Tourism adds to the pressure but can be part of the solution Coordinated projects e.g. Caribbean Hotel Energy Efficiency Action Programme
What is the answer? Much depends on the actions of private businesses, but governments must play their part 3 MAIN REQUIREMENTS Effective governance structures The right policies, strategies and plans Using a range of management tools
Collaborative governance structures Bring together the relevant Ministries (State and Island level): Tourism, culture, environment, development, planning Engage the private sector committed trade associations Involve communities and NGOs International/regional structures to foster exchange and joint initiatives between islands
Policies and plans Tourism policies that embrace sustainability and link to environment/ sustainable development policies Integrated Coastal Management plans Local tourism plans for individual destinations Strong land-use planning
Management instruments Measurement instruments Command and control instruments Economic instruments Voluntary instruments Supporting instruments Indicators and monitoring of environmental conditions Regulations; Development control linked to Environmental Impact Assessment Capital grants or tax incentives on green technology; Admission charges Business reporting on CSR; Codes of conduct; Sustainability certification schemes Capacity building; Information and promotion of good practice
Thank you Richard Denman rdenman@thetourismcompany.com