Tourism as a tool of Management
Experiences of NGOs dealing with
protected area management on
areas focused by tourism
Stephanie Roth
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
Tourism as a tool of management
1. Tourism in protected areas
1.1 Dimension of tourism in PAs
1.2 Stakeholders of tourism in PAs
1.3 Tourism and Natura 2000
2. The need for tourism management
2.1 Goals of tourism management
2.2 Basis for tourism management planning
3. The praxis of tourism management
4. The role of NGOs
4.1 Motivation
4.2 Possible approaches
4.3 Cooperation with other stakeholders
5. Examples
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
1. Tourism in protected areas
Problems/ conflicts between:
• Different stakeholders / interest groups
• Nature conservation / tourist industry / local population
Advantages:
• Tourism is a source of income => strengthening of
regional economy
• Revenues can be used for nature protection
• Protected areas as an instrument of sensitizing visitors
for nature concerns
=> Tourism in protected areas requires holistic management!
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
1.1 Dimensions of tourism in protected areas
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Tourism infrastructure and activities
Tourism product development
Impacts of tourism / Use of resources
Nature protection
Legal framework
Visitor regulations
Other uses
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1.2 Stakeholders of tourism in protected areas
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National bodies
Park authorities
Communities
Tourism authorities/associations
Private tourism sector
Tourism developers (public and private)
NGOs
Tourists
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
1.3 Tourism and Natura 2000
• Tourism is very compatible with the Natura 2000
scheme
• European tourism is largely based on the variety
of unspoilt cultural landscapes, which is why
tourism is to be considered a strategic partner of
Natura 2000
• Tourist regions will benefit most from Natura
2000
• Tourists themselves are willing to pay special
contributions for the conservation of nature
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
2. Tourism management
Increasing demand of the tourism sector for nature areas
Increasing interest in tourism as a sustainable way of development
Increasing need for management of tourism and its impacts
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2.1 Goals of tourism management
• Decrease the threats to the natural and
cultural environment
• Increase the benefits of tourism
• Support nature conservation
• Provide sustainable alternatives
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
2.2 Basis for tourism management planning
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CSD Work Programme (CSD 7/1999)
CBD Guidelines (2004)
Management of PAs
Initiatives for “Making tourism more
sustainable”
Politics, tourism industry and NGOs
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3. The praxis of tourism management planning
Baseline
Information
Notification
Stakeholder
Involvement
Decision
Making
Tourism
Management
Plan
Evaluation
Monitoring
Implementation
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
Approval
STEP 1 / Getting started
A tourism management and development plan...
... is a written document created in a consultative process
... describes possible threats and opportunities for the region
... needs to be approved by all stakeholders and people
affected
... creates a common vision of regional development, which
helps to avoid conflicts and strengthens committment
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 1 / Getting started
A tourism management and development plan...
... is never complete, but needs continuous updating
... is in line with other existing regional plans
... Should be as short as possible without loosing its coherence,
credibility or practical use
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 2 / Stakeholder Involvement
 Integrative management envisages the participation
of the local population as a very important part of
promising development planning
 Stakeholder involvement serves the purpose of:
• building new capacities
• creating a „common issue of concern“
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STEP 3 / Baseline Information
Baseline information…
… assesses the current situation and predicts the future
working environment for regional and tourism management
… includes existing and potential threats to the environment
… considers potentials for sustainable (tourism) development
 The whole development plan will be based on this
compilation of information; therefore this step is of vital
importance for the success of the development process!
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 3 / Baseline Information
Baseline Information is divided into three essential parts:
• ecological, economic, social and historic characteristics of
the region
• regional and tourism management conditions
• legal framework for conservation of biodiversity and
for regional / tourism development
 Data compilation via: surveys, studies, existing plans…
 Maps, GIS, further visualised material advantageous
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STEP 4 / Vision and Goals
Visioning
… is a creative process, that
… allows broad participation of local communities
A Vision
… describes a desirable state in the future
… helps people to stay focused on a common goal during
the process
… should be linked to the region and reflect the region’s
economical, environmental and social needs
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program
Vision
Idealistic
Goals
General enough to to reflect
the vision and precise enough
to be achievable within a
realistic timescale
Identified in a multistakeholder process
Realistic
Objectives
Each objective represents a detailed task
which needs to be accomplished within a
given timescale
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Realistic
STEP 5 / Goals, Objectives and the work program
Agreement on goals and objectives
+ information of all
stakeholders and the public
(transparency in decisions)
Work Program
Describes goals, objectives and each
single task necessary to achieve them
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 6 / Impact Assessment and Impact
Management
Impact Assessment
• Identifying and addressing of existing and future impacts
(positive & negative)
• development of coping strategies for negative impacts
 Subjective matter: needs to be accomplished in consultation
with the local public
Impact Management
Relates to the management plan and describes concrete measures
to avoid or mitigate existing and potential negative impacts
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 7 / Monitoring and Adaptive Management
Three consecutive steps of monitoring:
Data collection
Evaluation
Reporting
Due to local knowledge, the involvement of local communities
is again a decisive aspect!
Based on constant monitoring, the management plan can
be flexibly adjusted wherever changes are necessary
(= adaptive management)
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and
Implementation
Decision-Making has to be:
• transparent
• always in consultation with relevant stakeholders and local
communities
• referring to baseline information, impact assessment and
specific information for the prevailing activity
Approval
The success of the development plan will only be guaranteed if it
finds the approval of all participants of the project as well as of
all local stakeholders and people affected, although not
directly involved in the planning process
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
STEP 8 /Decision-Making, Approval and
Implementation
Implementation
• after the management plan is being approved, stakeholders
need to be informed about its implementation in a broad
and comprehensive way
• stakeholders should have an ongoing opportunity to express
their wishes and concerns about activities
• for successful implementation the responsibilities for each
activity have to be stated clearly in the plan
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
4. The role of NGOs in tourism management
• Motivation of NGOs to engage in tourism management
• Possible approaches
• Cooperation with other stakeholders
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
4.1 Motivations for tourism management
• NGOs is responsible for/involved in PA management
• Actual tourism development has negative impacts on the
environment / for the local population
• Experience in project management, stakeholder
involvement and regional development
• NGOs are asked in the international resolutions to
promote sustainable tourism development and to support
the efforts undertaken to make tourism more sustainable
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4.2 Possible approaches
• Initiative
• Overall coordination
• Mediation
• Expertise
• Parts of the work programme
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4.3 Cooperation with other stakeholders
• Non-governmental: establish and facilitate the
participation of stakeholders
• Non-profit: promote sustainable use of biodiversity
• Expertise & experience: ecology, regional development,
socioeconomic and political structures
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5. Examples of tourism management
Special Nature Reserve Zasavica (Serbia)
Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (Switzerland)
Sumava Nationalpark (Czech Republic)
Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany)
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
5.1 Special Nature Reserve Zasavica
Main goal of the project:
Development of a methodology for tourism management planning
Need for tourism management:
 development of a holistic adaptive
management approach
 long-term, regionally based and
multi-stakeholder learning-by-doingprocess
Steps:
• SWOT on tourism
• Stakeholder involvement
• Development of the methodology
• Elaboration of the TMP
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5.1 Special Nature Reserve Zasavica
Vision of the TMP:
Conservation of biodiversity through sustainable tourism development
Objectives:
• Preservation of unique ecosystems
• Development of a quality management system for the PA
• Establishment of partnerships with local stakeholders
• Development of sustainable tourism
• Support of the local economy
• Development of training and awareness-raising for the PA staff and local communities
• Development of concept of organic farming
• Utilization of diverse funding for development projects
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5.2 Bioshere Reserve Entlebuch (CH)
Regional / Direct Marketing
Promotion of regional marketing through tourism:
=> Quality brand “Echt Entlebuch Biosphärenreservat”
• Assuring regionality, specification and quality of products
• Strengthening the identification of products with the region
• Preserving or creating new added value and new workplaces
=> Marketing group:
"Promotion of Regional Products”
=> Working groups for milk, meat,
niche products and wood
=> Marketing events (product presentation,
"Cheese-Festival”, etc.)
=> Cooperation between the producers and
consumers (e.g. trade and tourism)
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
5.3 Sumava Nationalpark
(Czech Republic) - Visitor guidance
11 information centers
System of tourist tours and information
stands common with the Bavarian NP
Bicycle trials (246 km of path-marks)
X-country ski trails (path-marks on 313 km)
Walk trails (407 km of paths)
Boat trails (59 km)
“Green Wagon”
“Green Bus“ (bio-diesel driven tourist busses)
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
5.3 Sumava Nationalpark
Visitor guidance
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
5.4 Alpen nationalpark Berchtesgaden (Germany)
Visitor monitoring
Project:
“Monitoring of modern forms of land-use in protected areas”
Monitoring by installation of cameras
Recording the number of visitors
Monitoring of different activities
(hiking, biking, etc.)
Description and presentation by computer
=> Better knowledge about impact of tourism
=> Useful decision support for management activities
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany
Thank you very much for
your attention!
Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE), Germany