MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Certificate Award Ceremony of the Project on ‘Empowering Tourist guides for
Sustainable Tourism Development and Environment Protection’ funded by the
ReCoMaP on behalf of the IOC and Launching of Website of Association of
Inbound Operators (Mauritius).
Address by Hon. Devanand Virahsawmy
Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Honourable Nandcoomar Bodha, Minister of Tourism and Leisure
Mrs Cecile Tassin-Pelzer, Head of Regional Coorperation Section at EU Delegation,
Representative of ReCoMaP,
Mr Peter Goldsmith, President of Association of Inbound Operators (Mauritius)
Mr Christian Angseesing, Manager of Association of Inbound Operators
(Mauritius)
Mr Sanjay Mungur, Chief Executive of Empretec Mauritius
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
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Good evening,
I am really pleased to be amongst you for this certificate award ceremony on
capacity building under the project ‘Empowering Tourist Guides for Sustainable
Tourism Development and Environment Protection’ and the launching of the
Association of Inbound 0perators Website.
I understand that the Association of Inbound Operators Mauritius (AIOM) has
organized a series of workshops this year to provide tourist guides with the skills,
knowledge, and tools to help them in their role as Eco-Tourist Advocates and to
sensitize them on responsible utilization of our coastal resources.
A few weeks back, I was present in another forum, hosted by Empretec Mauritius,
on the empowerment of small and medium hotels to implement ‘Environment
Management System Best Practices’. Empretec Mauritius has made use of its rich
experience and competencies in project management and Integrated Coastal Zone
Management to support AIOM in organising the capacity building program under
this project ‘Empowering Tourist Guides for Sustainable Tourism Development
and Environment Protection’.
In fact, these two programs, are complementary and aim at putting in place the best
environmental practices to enhance pollution control, save valuable resources, so
as to sustain the Tourism Industry.
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I am sure that this type of program has provided an excellent opportunity for
tourist guides and the resource persons to meet and exchange views, to establish
partnerships, to share good experiences and to learn from each other. It has also
been a wonderful occasion for all those concerned to raise the visibility of tourism
as a major economic sector for the country and at the same time obtain recognition
for their commitment towards sustainable development. Implementation of best
practices in the tourism industry is critical, hence the need to strengthen the
knowledge and understanding of eco-friendly practices that link sustainability and
competiveness in a mutually reinforcing way.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is important to note that one of our main challenges is to avoid exceeding the
carrying capacity of our unique tourist destination. This is not an easy task as the
island is already under stress because of immense pressure on land as a result of
development and high population density. This situation is being exacerbated from
the increasing impacts of climate change. Natural disasters such as floods, storm
surges, droughts, as well as cyclones are likely to be more frequent and more
intense during the coming decades putting additional pressure on all sectors of our
economy more specially the tourism sector.
We therefore have to take all
precautions to prevent erosion of our beaches, coral reef degradation, salt water
intrusion and degradation of the lagoon water quality.
In order to have a holistic approach in the sustainable management of the coastal
zone, a study on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Framework has just
been completed. The recommendations made therein will be implemented and
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Government will develop policies based on environmental limits, sustainable
economy, good governance, equitable access and use of resources. Necessary
legislative and institutional reforms will be undertaken to ensure a functional and
operational ICZM plan.
The ICZM Framework has recommended that the main policy for tourism should
be to encourage quality rather than quantity, through the judicious and effective
application of the EIA process and the Planning Policy Guidelines for coastal
development. In addition, the country needs to institute high standard of physical
planning and consider placing a ‘green’ ceiling to restrict the number of hotels
being constructed on the dynamic beach zone to prevent further “coastal squeeze”.
Hence it is imperative to develop ecotourism inland.
One of the major recommendations of the ICZM study also concerns the
involvement of the local community through NGOs and Community Based
Organisations (CBO’s) in coastal zone management, not only in implementation of
activities but also in the decision making process. NGOs and CBOs are well
placed to drive projects and activities at grassroot level in order to educate and
mobilize communities to pursue the path of sustainable development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Let me seize this opportunity to congratulate the Association of Inbound Operators
and Empretec Mauritius for their initiatives to empower tour operators, tourists
guides and front liners in their endeavour to promote a sustainable and eco-friendly
tourism.
May I also thank the Regional Programme on the Sustainable
Management of the Coastal Zone of the Western Indian Ocean (ReCoMaP project)
for providing necessary funds for these initiatives.
D.V
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