MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America Regional Meeting Lima, Peru 5-7 March 2002 1.0 ECOTOURISM PLANNING 1.1 Protected Areas Ecotourism in Protected Areas is part of an integrated vision of tourism development in Andean countries. Planners should support the government in seeking to harmonize the conservation of biodiversity and respect for local populations, with the economic benefits that each touristic area can offer. The following strategies should be in place: The co-development of Protected Areas together with local communities, with a clear participative strategy and the cooperation of all the involved players: federal government, local governments, communities, private sector and NGOs. The existence and effective application of guidelines to limit, supervise, and rigorously sanction the activities in Protected Areas, and to protect the legitimate rights of local people who inhabit these areas. Clear delimitation and zoning of Protected Areas with tangible protection. The clear identification of tourism potentials under criteria of economic, environmental, and social sustainability which recognize that protected areas can be planned for ecotourism under specific conditions. The endowment of human, economic and logistical resources for the responsible public institutions with responsibilities in conservation and tourism use, to allow them to carry out their functions properly. The elaboration of plans for tourism use which require environmental impact studies to establish the carrying capacities or limits of acceptable change. Entrance fee policies that help channel seasonal traffic, lower stress on infrastructure and help pay for services offered, while at the same time assuring that areas are not used over their maximum capacity. Environmental education, training, and the consultation of all stakeholders in all necessary levels for the sustainable development of ecotourism. One central point that must be reinforced, together with the protection of natural diversity, is the respect for the sociocultural values of local populations in order to contribute to the reinforcement of cultural identity and to overcome forms of racism, and the underestimation of citizens that persist in various countries. Equally important, is the recognition that rights of intellectual property of local cultures must be respected, and that such rights cannot be offered for commercial use without specific consent. The implementation of mechanisms for better distribution of benefits from natural resources, particularly for indigenous populations and colonists that inhabit these areas. Consultation with local people for the launch of microenterprises and training in all aspects, looking particularly at the promotion and support of local crafts.
1.2 Local Communities In order to work successfully with ecotourism, local communities should plan using the following basic conditions and capacities: 1.2.1 Conditions Social and political structures of a well organized community Defined cultural identity. Predisposition of interest and commitment. Cultural and natural attractions that are managed by the community without problems of ownership, in a good state of conservation. Meet the International Labor Organizations Convention 169. Achieved agreements with institutions for the professionalization of members with scholarships. Guarantee the protection of cultural heritage. 1.2.2 Capacity Local understanding of conservation and tourism. Training at different levels of society. Specialized training in the development of microenterprise and collection of funds through agreements with universities for research and via technical assistance agreements. 1.3 Ecotourism Business It is necessary to harmonize profits with ecological and social responsibility. Ecotourism should be good business, via the professional management of the environment, including strategic alliances between the business, communities, and finance organizations, with commitment to monitoring, and constant review with the goal of minimizing impacts and assuring sustainability. 1.4 National and Regional Policies Territorial protection of watersheds is required and the integrated planning of ecotourism using the participation of the multiethnic society, involving both public and civil society using a process that is decentralized and is targeted at the development of services for rural areas. It is essential that a diagnostic with a vision of the future is performed with planning tools and geographic information systems, satellite imagery, aerial photos, and national maps. Territorial delimitation for tourism activity, from which ecotourism corridors can be projected. Zoning and the existence of a database, standardized for the use of management entities. MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America 2.
2.0 REGULATION OF ECOTOURISM 2.1 Protected Areas The following proposals are suggested for improving the standards which regulate ecotourism in protected areas: Participation of all stakeholders, in order to achieve standards. Emphasis on indigenous and local community participation in decision making. Emphasis on the knowledge of the national reality: problems of land, concessions, community participation, natural resource use, idiosyncracies of local populations values, customs, and land rights. Zoning and land use planning. Incorporate scientific studies in order to elaborate a baseline which will assist with minimizing conflicts of land use. The monitoring of tourism activity in protected areas should consider: Baseline data and the definition of indicators useful for tourism such as impacts on communities or on the environment. The just distribution of taxes for monitoring according to the amount of activity taking place in each protected area. Measuring impacts from ecotourism in protected areas will only be possible if: o There is adequate personnel and budgets. o Appropriate technical support, such as geographic information systems. o There are adequate social, economic, environment and cultural indicators defined. 2.2 Local Communities Communities must have the capacity needed to participate in all aspects of the development of regulations for Ecotourism. Regulations must seek to promote positive social and cultural impacts while reducing negative impacts, and creating necessary pre-requisites for the mitigation of potential negative impacts such as training, codes of ethics, tourism development plans, and monitoring of cultural impacts. 2.3 Ecotourism Business Certification of the ecotourism activity can be an effective tool for marketing and can help to win international recognition, capture markets with social and environmental conscience, and offer a way of positioning ecotourism products. Certification must be valid, recognized and internationally promoted with standards in accordance with local, national and regional realities. Certification must be applied gradually, adequately coordinated, supervised, and adjusted according to local experience. Certification must be managed according to clear, defined governmental policies, under one authority. MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America 3.
3.0 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT 3.1 Protected Areas Among the strategies for identifying and offering ecotourism products from protected areas are the following: Create a distinctive ecotourism brand for protected areas, such as Amazonia, or the Sierra or other specific regional assets. Distribute information about protected areas at national and international markets, portals and publications using the Internet as one important tool. Create strategic alliances between governments, local communities, and NGOs. Include value added products associated with protected areas such as conservation and community projects as part of the development of the experience for tourists. Establish marketing associations that will monitor the number of beds and the carrying capacity of the destination. 3.2 Local Communities It is important to identify the activities that can be promoted as tourism experiences within local communities understanding that the process must contribute to the cultural understanding of visitors and reinforce local cultural identity. To understand the segment of the market for community based ecotourism there must be quantitative and qualitative studies using surveys and focus groups to identify potential clients using alliances with NGOs to perform the work. To build a market for community tourism programs there need to be strategic alliances with other communities, interchange with local tour operators, and familiarity trips to areas being developed for tourism. 3.3 Ecotourism Businesses There is a need for market research and identification of the appropriate niche market for Ecotourism. There is a need for the development of specialized products oriented at special interests. There is a need for quality of basic services, including light, and fresh water. There is a need for training of personnel, particularly in environmental issues. There is a need for certification of competitive products. There is a need for marketing strategies focused on niche markets. 3.4 National and Regional Policies There is a need for training, adequate legislation, consultation and promotion. There is a need for the generation of favorable conditions for investment, including accessibility, basic service, and guarantee of security. There is a need for improved forms of communications and new technologies. There is a need for incentives for green business and financial support. MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America 4.
Facilitation of business licensing and the authorization of concessions. Facilitation of information for investment. Use of the capacities of universities and business for training and research. 4.0 MONITORING the COSTS and BENEFITS of ECOTOURISM 4.1 Protected Areas The benefits include, business development such as artisan work, development of greater research capacity, opportunity for recreation, conservation of biodiversity, the incorporation of civil society in protected areas, stimulation of donations for conservation, contribution to the good image of the country. Costs include loss of biodiversity, contamination of water and erosion of soils, loss of cultural identity, and negative impacts on communities from consumerism. 4.2 Communities Costs include studies to define sociocultural baseline data, the strengthening of ethnic identity, and the training of the municipality in planning of tourism, and the training of government officials in the central government. Benefits include the understanding of ecotourism as an alternative form of development, creating strengthened organizations, assuring the participation of communities, having a clear vision of the real resources of the country and what capacities are needed to develop, and strengthening local leadership capacity recognizing the need for on-going training. 4.3 National and Regional Policies Costs include creation of regulations, certification, quality of service controls that have international validity, financing, and promotion. Other costs are security and real penalties for those businesses that do not follow the law and regulations. Benefits come from developing new employment and business opportunities for local people and conserving the environment. MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America 5.
MEETING CONCLUSIONS Andean South America 6.