www.globalecotourismnetwork.org Writing a new chapter in sustainable Asia SUBIC ECOTOURISM FESTIVAL, MAY29-JUNE1, 2017 ASIAN ECOTOURISM NETWORK FOUNDING CHAIR: MASARU TAKAYAMA
FOCUSES OF THE TALK Experiences, challenges, and opportunities on; 1. Forming partnership in the tourism sector 2. Promoting and building technical capacity 3. Strengthening networks of stakeholders in ecotourism and related industries
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR Public Sectors: Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (DASTA), Thailand Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies (KITTS), INDIA 10YFP (UNWTO, UNEP) On demand ASEAN, MTO, South Korea, etc. Tourism Associations and MICE Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA), USA Tourism Development Society, Nepal ITB Berlin and Asia On demand PATA, WTTC Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR Academic Institutions: Silver Mountain Group, Nepal Lao National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality (LANITH), Laos The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Malaysia University of the Philippines Jahangirnagar University, Bangladesh Seoul University, Korea MOU/Agreements Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Green Destinations Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Associations Global Ecotourism Network (GEN) Thai Ecotourism and Adventure Travel Association (TEATA) Ecotourism Korea, Jeju ecotourism, Changnyeong Upo, Daebudo, etc. Ecotourism Japan, Setonaikai Ecotourism Association, Japan Ecolodge Association Indonesian Ecotourism Network (INDECON) Ecotourism & Conservation Society Malaysia Society for Sustainable Tourism & Development Inc., Philippines Ecotourism Taiwan, Taiwan Ecotourism Association Sri Lanka Ecotourism Foundation Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
EXECUTIVE BOARD BOARD Zane Smith New Zealand member C T Wu Taiwan member Johnny Orn Cambodia member Kazuhiro Arai Japan member Xiaomei Liu China member
AEN and DASTA has the best partnership in the region Designated Areas for Sustainable Tourism Administration (Public Organization) 118/1 Tipco Tower, 30th Floor, Rama VI Rd., Phayathai, Bangkok, 10400 Thailand
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR With governments, it doesn t go like B2B, B2C Often on one project base and limited time-lasting relationship Limited funds, restricted funds, or sometimes no funds Heavily dependent on the person in charge Often seeking the same goals Giving credits can be a delicate issue Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR Create a bigger platform To learn from each other To seek synergies and make action plans To voice and to be heard To compensate the weak points opportunities To share the financial burden To positively influence the policy makers Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
PROMOTING AND BUILDING TECHNICAL CAPACITY Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
PROMOTING AND BUILDING TECHNICAL CAPACITY SETTING THE GLOBAL ECOTOURISM STANDARD FOR ASIA Partnership MOU with GSTC and GD GSTC ST Training agreement Greenview, strategic partner for lodging sector Global initiative UN ST year for development Standards for Asia by Asians (ASEAN) Identify and incorporate our common issues No need to reinvent the wheel
THE 1 ST GSTC ST TRAINING IN BANGKOK JUNE, 2016 Learning about who we are, what we do, what we want to accomplish Sharing country-specific issues that can be replicated elsewhere Collecting good practices in the region Planning to disseminate the concepts Asia-wide www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
THE 2 ND GSTC ST TRAINING IN JAPAN FEBRUARY, 2017 GSTC criteria translated into Japanese Subsidized by the MOE affiliated foundation Planning to organize again in November 1-2, 2017 www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
WWW.GREENVIEWPORTAL.COM/ PARTICIPATE IN THE GREEN LODGING TRENDS REPORT 2017: Help benchmark sustainable practices Dashboard gives snapshot of progress Store date on energy, water, community, giving, etc. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
FORMING PROMOTING PARTNERSHIP AND BUILDING IN THE TECHNICAL TOURISM CAPACITY SECTOR Ecotourism? ST? RT? CBT? Legal registration of AEN to realize soon Language barrier Monitor and Demonstrate the positive changes Inviting the stakeholders and its order Relying on non-resident expertise Many are skeptical or against it Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
FORMING PARTNERSHIP IN THE TOURISM SECTOR PROMOTING AND BUILDING TECHNICAL CAPACITY Economic Leakage: Ring a bell? Foreign-owned tour operators, airlines, hotels, imported drinks and food, etc.). Estimates for other Third World countries range from 80% in the Caribbean to 40% in India. Source: Sustainable Living Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
FORMING PROMOTING PARTNERSHIP AND BUILDING IN THE TECHNICAL TOURISM CAPACITY SECTOR Improving sustainability Helping to measure and report the positive impacts Identifying the good practices regardless of size Setting the common goals Multiplying the good practices opportunities Handing the greener earth to next generation Join AEN as charter member starting from USD20
STRENGTHENING NETWORKS OF STAKEHOLDERS PROFILING THE STATE OF ECOTOURISM IN ASIA Translated into 9 languages How many of us in Asia? How do they practice? Learn about the market access Share results publicly
STRENGTHENING NETWORKS OF STAKEHOLDERS Asian Ecotourism Network board members Albert and Ary of Indecon agreeing to jointly collaborate on the Heart of Borneo HoB ecotourism program at the Malaysian Indonesia border at Ba-Kelalan Borneo.
CREATING B2B MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES AEN Portal travel site Join booth at ITBs and over IT Social media AEN conference in Asia Periodic e-newsletter distributed Working with awards WTTC, NAT GEO,WILD ASIA, etc.
Challenges we face in Asia Establish stronger public-private relationships Make all types of tourism more sustainable Green washing/false claims Lack of reliable, evidence-based information On-the-ground exchange of experience Unclear legal information Human and financial resources www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 01: Establish stronger public-private relationships Action 01: Many conscious businesses and destinations are happy to work with public sector, the industry needs a one stop window. Top-down and downup approaches. i.e. 10FYP, 2017 UNyear of STD www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 02: Make all types of tourism more sustainable Action 02: Influence all supply chains and industries. We will conduct ecotourism training. In addition with GSTC, AEN will offer more trainings to bottomup the industry starting with countries where AEN presence is stronger. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 03: Green washing/false claims Action 03: Working with the policy makers and international organizations, AEN will help identify the good guys by setting the industry standards for Asians by Asians integrating public inputs. The process will be transparent and ensure to reflect the voices of many. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 04: Lack of reliable information Action 04: First identify and list the departments in the governments of all sizes that oversee ecotourism/responsible and sustainable tourism. The on-going projects and institutions that support them also need to be identified to collect information. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 05: On-the-ground exchange of experience Action 05: B2B exchanges can happen overnight. Organize workshops with discussions help facilitate the process. Ex) With similar biodiversity and/or language, it is easy to exchange guides overcoming language barriers. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 06: Unclear legal information Action 06: Only a handful of experts know the legality of ecotourism. If it is already set on the policy level, they need to be showcased and studied how they are practiced. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Legal Implementation examples Philippines: Executive Order No. 111, s. 1999, by the President of the Republic of the Philippines - Establishing the Guidelines for Ecotourism Development in the SINCE 1999 Indonesia 1. Law 9/2010 on Tourism; not specifically mentioned as ecotourism but principles are embraced: sustainability must encompass the environment, cultural, social and economy 2. Home Affair Ministerial Decree no 33/2009 on guidelines for ecotourism development at local level Japan: Ecotourism Promotion Act enacted in June 27, 2007 www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Challenge 07: Human and financial resources Action 07: The training and education for the next generations can be achieved with centuries of experience AEN has, including site visits that reflect the true industry and are up to date. The finance will always be challenging unless the policy-makers change the order of priorities. www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
The world trends Global Ecotourism Network: AEN is the regional parter of this regionalization IUCN: motion 65 improving standards in ecotourism UNWTO, UNEnvironment, ASEAN, APEC, etc. Bruno Maia/Naturezafotos.org Bruno Maia/Naturezafotos.org
REQUEST TO JOIN AEN FACEBOOK GROUP 2,378 members As of May 25 www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
READ THE REGIONAL LATEST TRENDS! http://www.asianecotourism.org/ecotourism-e-news www.asianecotourism.org Join and engage with AEN from just USD20 a year
Asian Ecotourism Network CONTACT AEN Secretariat: asianecotourismnetwork@gmail.com or website contact form/facebook MASARU TAKAYAMA: takayama@eco-tourism.jp