Transcript Assessing Tourism’s Environmental & Social Impacts

Understanding Tourism’s
Footprint?
Kristin M. Lamoureux
Director, International Institute of Tourism Studies
The George Washington University
Washington, DC
[email protected]
How Big is the Issue?
• Here are some facts:
• In the USD, LOHAS (“Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability”)
estimates that ecotourism, including eco-travel networks, green
tourism, eco-volunteering trips, active sports trip programming, and
environmentally responsible tourism, are among the fastest growing
travel trends, and are estimated to be a $77 billion market. (TIES)
• 80 percent of adult travelers have participated in a cultural activity
while traveling (TIES)
• In the Grand Canyon National Park, park rangers have shot wild
deer because they became so used to eating junk food handed out
by tourists that they lost their natural ability to digest vegetation.
(Associated Press, 7/1/95)
• A tourist in Spain uses 880 liters of water a day, compared with 250
by a local. (WWF)
• Green is in!
Assessment Process for Sustainable Tourism
Destination Review
I. Pre-Assessment
Physical
Policy
II. The Focus Area (Field Work)
Social Context
Market Structure
Local Stakeholder Participation in Assessment
Public Meeting
Workshop/Training
Consultations
Assessments
Market Demand
Supply &
Competitive
Attractions Inventory
Site &
Infrastructure
Tourism
Eco Footprint
Socio-Cultural &
Conservation
Capacity
Cost Benefit
III. Presentation of Results
Reporting and Feedback
Conclusions
Recommendations
Next Steps
Benefits of Understanding
Tourism’s Impact
• Financing for Conservation: park fees,
lease fees, concessions, taxation, grants
and donations
• Economic alternatives: jobs
• Constituency Building: motivation to
conserve
• Impetus for Private Conservation: demand
for natural areas
Benefits of Understanding
Tourism’s Impact
• Uncover potential for negative impacts or
costs
• Discover opportunities/benefits for tourism
to address social & environmental issues
and help in conservation
• Key Issue: Optimization vs. Utility
Maximization
• Go ahead, make changes, or just go?
Eco Footprint & Social Impacts
• What are we assessing?
– Water use
– Energy use
– Waste Management
– Habitat conservation
– Invasive species
– Value of land
– Guest – Host interactions
Conducting an Assessment
• Get the right Information
• Gather available information
– Local conservation organizations
– Government information (park plans, city
plans, etc)
– Resident attitude surveys
• Experts (cultural and environmental)
– Expert Interviews
• Establish Baseline Data Needs
• Don’t allow bias! Don’t sell.
Guidelines for Assessing Results
• Compile Information
• Supplement with any additional
information
• Draw conclusions (impacts/opportunities)
• Make decisions but consider this:
– Controllability of impacts
– Likelihood of occurrence
– Likely duration and magnitude
– Breadth, depth and diffusion
Information Organization
Type of
Issue
Potential
Impacts
(what would
tourism do?)
Potential
Opportunity
and Key
Assumptions
Key Groups
Stakeholders
Expert /
Contact
person
Local
farms
losing
market
outlets
Sustainable
tourism might
increase
demand for
agricultural
products
Tourism may
provide
rational for
sustainable
agriculture,
less
development
Community
members,
farmers, local
government
Local
agricultural
organizations,
Potential
impact
+, 0, -
+
Managing Impacts of Tourism
• Policy/ Planning (Zones, Regulations, Economic
Mechanisms)
• Development/Construction of Facilities (Project)
• Management of Resources (Audits, Green
Technologies)
• Management of Visitors (Controlling Visitor Flows)
• Adapting the Environment (Hardening Sites)
• Marketing & Promotion (Capacity Controls)
• Education (Codes of Conduct, Interpretation,
Educating Staff)
• Research & Monitoring (Environmental Quality)
Resources
Tools
• Linking Communities to Conservation: A Tourism
Assessment Process (GW Univ. & Cons. International)
– http://www.gwutourism.org/images_comm/TAPmanual_2meg.pdf
• Developing Naturally: A Handbook for Developing Naturebased Tourism (Clemson Univ.)
– http://www.strom.clemson.edu/publications/Potts/devnat.html
Examples
• National Trust: Heritage Tourism Assessment
Recommendations for St. Augstine, Fl.
– http://www.nationaltrust.org/heritage_tourism/ht_staugustine.pdf