Lecture responsible tourism unit 15 responsible tourism good practices for protected areas in vietnam

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_a_Douc.jpg... OVERVIEW OF PROTECTED AREAS AND TOURISM IN V

UNIT 15 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD

PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_a_Douc.jpg

Unit outline

Objectives

By the end of this unit, participants will be able to:

importance of responsible tourism

protected area planning

protected area infrastructure and services

management in protected areas

protected areas

responsibly

planning and management

3 Responsible tourism considerations in infrastructure & services

4 Responsible tourism approach to visitor impact management

5 Responsible financing of protected areas

6 Responsible communication

& interpretation

7 Protected area monitoring

& evaluation for sustainability

TOPIC 1 OVERVIEW OF PROTECTED

AREAS AND TOURISM IN VIETNAM

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD

PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Van_Long_natural_reserve_03.jpg

Defining protected areas

A clearly defined

geographical space,

recognised, dedicated and

managed, through legal or

other effective means, to

achieve the long term

conservation of nature

with associated

ecosystem services and

cultural values Source: Dudley, N (ed.) 2008, Guidelines for Appling Protected Areas Management Categories, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland

The six IUCN categories of protected areas

E Protect biodiversity and geological / geomorphical features or natural

condition

1 Strict Nature Reserve

(a) & Wilderness Area

F Protect a specific natural monument

C Protect a particular species or

habitats

A Protect significant areas characterised by the interaction of

people and nature

D Protect ecosystems, habitats and associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems

?

The six IUCN categories of protected areas

E Protect biodiversity and geological / geomorphical features or natural

condition

1 Strict Nature Reserve

(a) & Wilderness Area

F Protect a specific natural monument

C Protect a particular species or

habitats

A Protect significant areas characterised by the interaction of

people and nature

D Protect ecosystems, habitats and associated cultural values and traditional natural resource management systems

!

Vietnam’s natural environment at a glance

protected areas

15 marine protected

areas

of the land under some form

of environmental protection

diversity &

Bio-ecology

Poverty reduction

Fresh water &

food security

Medicines

& genetics

Natural barriers

Regulates climate change

Recreation

al, spiritual

Traditional lifestyles

Social capital & solidarity

The benefits of protected areas

The key administrators of Vietnam’s

(MARD)

Ministry of Fisheries (MOFI)

Provincial People’s Committees (PPCs)

The growing importance of tourism in

protected areas

Protected areas play an

important role in tourism

by offering visitors places

for:

healing and renewal

FINDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL

ECOTOURISM SOCIETY

• Ecotourism has been growing 34% per year since the 1990s

20%-• In the international market

nature-based tourism has been growing at 10-12% per annum

• Indications that tourism is expanding

most in and around the word’s

remaining natural areas

• Eco-resorts and hotels are expected

to boom faster than traditional

forms of accommodation

Source: The International Ecotourism Society 2006, Fact Sheet:

Global Ecotourism, Available [online]:

content/uploads/downloads/2011/02/Fact-Sheet-Global-

http://mekongtourism.org/website/wp-Ecotourism-IETS.pdf (accessed May 2013)

The three key tourism market segments to

• Visit protected areas for

soft leisure activities

• Growing demand for

excursions

Adventure tourism

• Growing segment

• Involves strenuous outdoor activities

• Often in protected areas

• Adventure rather than nature

• Potentially damaging activities

Ecotourism / based tourism

Nature-• Want to see attractive natural environments and their wildlife

• Undertake specific nature based activities

• Relatively high social bracket, well-educated, over 35, more women than men

• A key segment that can benefit conservation

International vs domestic markets to

protected areas in Vietnam

INTERNATIONAL MARKET

DOMESTIC MARKET

Travel independently, any

group size

Motivation is soft leisure

activitiesPopular with ‘Phot’

High visitation rates

Travel in small groups and / or organised tours

Motivation is adventure and eco-tourism

Stronger for first time

visitorsMainly stick to 5H’s

Source: Grunz, S 2012, Responsible Tourism in and Around Protected Areas in Vietnam – Opportunities and Challenges for Businesses and

Protected Areas [unpublished], GIZ/MARD Project “Preservation of biodiversity in forest ecosystems in Vietnam”, GIZ

The benefits of tourism in protected areas

Selling of local productsDiversified livelihoodsFunding for protected areas managementOthers?

Selling of local productsDiversified livelihoodsFunding for protected areas managementOthers?

ENVIRONMENT

Supports conservation of biodiversity

Awareness raising for tourists and locals on importance of

conservationOthers?

ENVIRONMENT

Supports conservation of biodiversity

Awareness raising for tourists and locals on importance of

conservationOthers?

Negative environmental impacts of

tourism in protected areas (example)

1 Vegetation

removal

Tourists picking flowers to take home

Interrupts reproduction processes

of plants; Removes a food source for insects and other animals;

Diminishes aesthetic values of protected area…

Negative environmental impacts of tourism in

• Changes to drainage patterns

• Firewood over exploitation

• Trampling / damage to vegetation

• Introduction of alien species

• Destruction of flora and fauna

• Animal “road kills”

• Changes to geological processes

• Others?

-VE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Negative economic impacts of tourism in

protected areas

• Conflict over control of land

• Conflict over control of resources

• Conflict over tourism profits

• Others?

-VE ECONOMIC IMPACTS

Negative social impacts of tourism

in protected areas

• Threats to indigenous culture

• Changes to social values

• Changes to traditional livelihood practices

• Loss of access to resources

• Degradation of cultural sites

• Visitor-host cultural conflict

• Others?

-VE SOCIAL IMPACTS

Responsible tourism: Building a sustainable

future for protected areas

Uses natural resources

optimally whilst still conserving the natural heritage and biodiversity

Ensures viable, long

term economic

benefits to all stakeholders including fair distribution of benefits

The responsible tourism approach

ENVIRONMENT

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM

1 BEACCOUNTABLE

3 TAKEACTION

2 HAVECAPACITY

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

We must accept that every decision and action we make

in our daily lives has an

impact

We must take

responsibility

for our actions

and acquire the

morals

More satisfied

visitors

The benefits of adopting a responsible tourism

approach in protected areas

Picture source: Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Greater ownership

and accountability

Enhanced biodiversity &

ecosystem health Empowerment of

local residents

Enhanced contribution

for conservation

TOPIC 2 INTEGRATING

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM INTO PLANNING

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD

PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM

Picture source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phong_Nha-K%E1%BA%BB_B%C3%A0ng_National_Park

What is the issue?

not have comprehensive and

up to date master plans

retain their values and benefits

environmental compatibility,

product quality and business

aspects

The importance of effective PA planning and

implementation

“If there is no general management plan, preservation, development and use

activities in a park will occur in a haphazard basis,

often in response to political pressures with little consideration as to the implications for the future The

result is likely to be lost opportunities and irreversible

damage to park resources and values.”

Young & Young, 1993

Source: Young, C & Young, B 1993, Park Planning: A training manual

(Instructors Guide), College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, Tanzania

The challenge in protected area planning

CONSERVATION Goal: Preserve biodiversity

LOCAL PARTICIPATION Goal:

Empowerment, poverty alleviation

TOURISM BUSINESS Goal: Customer satisfaction, profitability

- Preventing local development

- Loss of financial resources

- Environmental degradation

- Exploitation

- Unprofessional enterprises

- Unsustainable

use of natural

resources

+ Joint product development &

marketing

+ Joint ventures

+ Sustainable use of natural resources

Source: Strasdas, W 2002, The Ecotourism Training Manual for Protected Area Managers, German Foundation for

International Development (DSE) & Centre for Food, Rural Development and the Environment (ZEL), Germany

Benefits of PA plans that follow responsible

tourism principles

• Better ensures objectives of all stakeholders can be met and funded

• Fosters greater respect, co-operation and support

• Creates a common understanding for the PA set within the broader framework of plans and policies

• Fosters transparency and public accountability

• Enables continued improvement

PROTECTED

AREA PLANNING

1 Be guided by a comprehensive

PA management

participation

3 Adopt a regional ecosystem approach

4 Plan zones for effective management

Principles of good practice in PA planning and

responsible tourism approaches

Principle 1: Be guided by a comprehensive PA

management plan

Develop a PA management plan

that contains as a core:

Key inclusions in protected area management

plans

Description Summarises natural, cultural, historical and socio-economic features, how it is used, and its

legal and management framework

Evaluation Identifies why the protected area is important Explains the values associated with it

Zoning plan A summary of the more detailed Zoning Plan that illustrates the boundaries, classification and

management and other activities allowed or prohibited in areas of the reserve

Management

actions

The specific actions to be carried out in order to achieve the objectives including: list of management actions required; action / activity plan (what, who, when), priority activities, and; staff and finances required

Monitoring &

review

Outlines how implementation of the plan will be monitored (including indicators and targets), and when and how a review of the plan will be carried out

Agency policies, strategiesRegional plans, broad-scale land management plans

Management plans for protected areas / reserves

• The plan will not be sustainable

unless it fits in with relevant

higher level plans and policies

• Critical to review legislation /

formal agreements

designating the area (e.g

IUCN category) and

confirm their meaning

• These set the overriding

purpose and goals of

the management

plan

Protected area management plans fit here

Principle 2: Embrace participation

• Involving key stakeholders critical

to success of PA plans

• Key stakeholders may be external

(local people, visitors, others) or

internal (staff involved in

implementation of the plan)

• Participation creates sense of

ownership and is more likely to

generate action

• The opportunity for the general

public and stakeholders to review

the draft Management

Picture source: Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Key stakeholders in protected area planning

STAKEHOLDERS

Government authorities

Protected area planners

Businesses

Community leaders &

groups

Nearby residentsOccupiers Researchers

Methods for involving stakeholders in PA

planning

Publication of specialised pre-planning pamphlets / brochures which provide

detailed discussion on specific issues

Informing

Pre-arranged meetings of special interest groups to resolve conflicting

requirements

Deciding together

Referral of public submissions to external advisory groups e.g committees

comprising community leaders / representatives

Consulting

Formal involvement of independent statutory advisory committees in assessing

plans and public submissions

Deciding together

Source: Thomas, L & Middleton, J 2003, Guidelines for Management

Planning of Protected Areas, IUCN Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK

Guidelines for consultation on PA management

plans

Adapted from: Phillips, A 2002, Management Guidelines for IUCN Category V Protected

Areas Protected Landscapes/seascapes, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland, & Cambridge, UK

Record and document all

comments and contacts

Produce materials that are

informative, clear and

user-friendly

Obtain comments using a variety

of culturally appropriate methods

Be open to revisiting any

proposal

Identify all stakeholders and

approach them on the basis of

equality and transparency

Promptly respond to all

requests for meetings, materials etc

Consider every view

-whether it is adopted or not

Give stakeholders adequate time for input

Feedback the results of

consultation to all

Treat stakeholders as respected and essential

partners

Picture source:

Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Involving the local community

• PA authorities have a responsibility to support local

communities because of socio-economic restrictions PA

often place on them

• Moreover, helping local communities in and around PAs can

also help PA management by:

damaging effects of natural

resource extraction / use

of the environment for planning

sustainable tourism products

Picture source: Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Tips for involving the local community in PA

Types of local participation for consideration in

PA planning

Type of participation Level of skill

required

Level of empowerment

Security of return (risk)

Direction of benefits Contribution to

local development

Reception of PA user

fees

None None Secure Community as a whole Low

Sale of land to investor None Low Very secure Individuals or community as a

whole

Low

Rent of land or

delegation of user rights

None Low Secure Individuals or community as a

Low Fairly secure Individuals (can include

Low to moderate

Fairly secure Individuals (favours more

High High Insecure Active individuals High

Source: Strasdas, W 2002, The Ecotourism Training Manual for Protected Area Managers, German Foundation for

International Development (DSE) & Centre for Food, Rural Development and the Environment (ZEL), Germany

7 tips for increasing “ownership” of PA

management plans among staff

1. Secure a strong public

commitment from senior

activities identified in the plan

2. Ensure real and visible linkages

between plan and budgetary

3 Hold meetings to inform staff about the plan at the outset

and identify how staff can

performance assessments

4 Involve staff at key stages in the

formulation of the plan

Source: Thomas, L & Middleton, J 2003, Guidelines for Management

Planning of Protected Areas, IUCN Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK

Picture source:

Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Principle 3 Adopt a regional ecosystem

approach

external decisions, activities and ecological

processes

consider resource use and

impacts outside its

boundaries

other administrations manage

outside areas

itself as aiming to build more sustainable

patterns of development in general

Picture source: Pixabay, www.pixabay.com

Three focus areas for regional integration

Integrate or link PA

management plans with

local development

processes and the activities

of other agencies and

organisations working in

the area

Identify and address the aspirations and needs of the local communities around the protected area (as well as those living in it)

in the PA management plan

Incorporate regional stakeholders in the planning of buffer zones and compatible uses, and

in educational, interpretive and community

involvement programmes

Principle 4 Plan zones for effective

management

cannot occur in different areas

of a PA including:

– Natural resource management

– Cultural resources management

– Human use and benefit

– Visitor use and experience

– Access

– Facilities and park development

– Maintenance and operations

acceptable use and

development

Picture sources: Pixabay, http://pixabay.com/