a canadian study of indicators relating to sustainable tourism and ecotourism: the case study of...
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A CANADIAN STUDY OF INDICATORS RELATING TO SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
AND ECOTOURISM:THE CASE STUDY OF
NORTHERN CAPE BRETON
Denisa Georgescu, Canadian Tourism Commissionand
Per Nilsen, Parks Canada
The 7th International Forum on Tourism StatisticsStockholm, June 9-11, 2004
Project Purpose:
To alleviate the confusion between ecotourism and sustainable tourism.
Objectives:
• To clarify the relationship between sustainable tourism and ecotourism using a case study built on an indicators development process;
• To test the utility of a participatory process to develop indicators of sustainability.
Partners and Stakeholders• Founders: the Canadian Tourism Commission and
Parks Canada• Consultants: Consulting and
Audit Canada• Stakeholders:
- Local tourism operators
- NGO’s
- Cape Breton Highland National Park
- Provincial Government
- Regional/Municipal Organizations
Project Methodology
Task One: Methodological Definition
Task Two: Destination Selection
Task Three: Pre-workshop Site Study
Task Four: Workshop Organization
Task Five: Workshop Facilitation
Task Six: Analysis
Task Seven: Conclusions and Recommendations
Task One: Methodological Definition
What is the relationship between sustainable
tourism and ecotourism?
Sustainable Tourism: “development that meets the needs
of present tourists and hosts regions while protecting and
enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as
leading to management of all resources in such a way
that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled
while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological
processes, biological diversity and life support systems”
(World Tourism Organization).
Task One: Methodological Definition – cont.
Ecotourism (first coined by Hector Caballos-Lascurian in 1983):
“tourism that consists in travelling to relatively
undisturbed or uncontaminated areas with the specific objective of
studying, admiring, and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants and
animals as well as any existent cultural manifestations found in these
areas”.
Task One: Methodological Definition – cont.
Ecotourism as a Sustainable Tourism Concept
Task Two: Destination Selection
Criteria
• Size & location• Mix and range of tourism• Proximity to stakeholders• Destination popularity• Parks Canada presence and support• Utility/contribution to ongoing work
Task Three: Pre-workshop site study
• Examination of current natural and cultural assets
• No integrated planning organization• Opportunity for conducting workshops:
- Identification of stakeholder values
- Identification of sources of information for indicators
- Identification of workshop participants
Task Four: Workshop Organization
Date: October 8 and 9, 2003
Location: Ingonish, Cape Breton
Objectives:• To identify key issues relevant to sustainable tourism
and ecotourism• To develop a short list of practical indicators to
measure impact of tourism
Task Five: Workshop Facilitation
• Identification of main risks to values
• Development of long list of potential indicators and responses
• Management of collaborative process to determine priority indicators
• Preliminary validation
Task Six: Analysis – Areas of Concern
• Threats to ecosystem• Protection of key
assets from overuse/ abuse
• Pollution• Perception of limited
opportunities• Image as a summer
driving destination
• Loss of access to traditional areas of use (National Park)
• Infrastructure• Sustained vs.
seasonal employment• Willingness to invest
given location
Strengths Weaknesses
Physical beauty and varietyIntact natural systemsProximity to US market (northeast)Picturesque houses and boatsLow Canadian dollar valueCultural distinctnessFriendliness of communityPresence of formally protected land
Short summer seasonPosition at “end of line”Lack of some infrastructure /services Image as drive-by destinationHigh turnover rate/retention of staffFor ecotourism, lack of longer, more challenging, hiking trails Lack of directed tourism management plans
Opportunities Threats
Integrated marketing of sustainable product(s)Better coordination of planning, marketing, product developmentLengthening of the season and length of stay of visitorsCoordinated protection of key assets to mutual benefit
Uncontrolled influx of more tourists or tourists seeking inappropriate experiencesDamage to ecosystem from misuseResentment from communities due to lack of benefits or due to impact on key community valuesDeterioration of key infrastructure
SWOT Analysis
SWOT Analysis – cont.
Strengths• Physical beauty and variety• Intact natural systems• Proximity to US market (northeast)• Picturesque houses and boats• Low Canadian dollar value• Cultural distinctness• Friendliness of community Presence of formally
protected land
SWOT Analysis – cont.
Weaknesses• Short summer season• Position at “end of line”• Lack of some infrastructure /services • Image as drive-by destination• High turnover rate/retention of staff• For ecotourism, lack of longer, more challenging,
hiking trails • Lack of directed tourism management plans
SWOT Analysis – cont.
Opportunities• Integrated marketing of sustainable product(s);• Better coordination of planning, marketing,
product development;• Lengthening of the season and length of stay of
visitors;
• Coordinated protection of key assets to mutual benefit
SWOT Analysis – cont.
Threats• Uncontrolled influx of more tourists or tourists
seeking inappropriate experiences• Damage to ecosystem from misuse• Resentment from communities due to lack of
benefits or due to impact on key community values
• Deterioration of key infrastructure
Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB)
A)Control of Environmental Impacts:• Perception of level of cleanliness of areas frequented
by tourists (measure: survey of tourists and locals’ perception of beach contamination);
• Clean image of the region (measure: exit questionnaires)
• Water quality in beach/river/stream areas (measure: laboratory analysis by sampling);
• Environmental practices and attitudes of tourists (measure: entrance or exit surveys).
Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB)
B) Economic Benefits to the Region:• Employment Statistics (measure: total number and the %
from census and EI sources);
• Amount spent per day per tourist (by season as well) (measure: exit questionnaires).
C) Marketing the Region:• Opinion of quality/value (measure: survey of tourists
re:quality of accommodation);
• Price of accommodation (measure: average cost/night);
• Repeat visits to same accommodation (measure: numbers and %)
Key Issues and Indicators for North Cape Breton (NCB)
D) Community Impacts:• Local attitudes and perception on tourism benefits or
non-benefits) (measure: survey of residents-specific questions re: attitude towards tourists);
E) Infrastructure:• Road condition;• Percentage of pull-offs per km of highway;• Length of maintained trail system
Effectiveness of Indicators Selection Process
Partially successful • Did not succeed in focusing on clarifying the
difference between ecotourism and sustainable tourism
• No focus on indicators of environmental awareness or education
• Indicators linked to priority regional issue areas• Focused on ecological and economic aspects• Need locally-based, specific management
objectives to guide indicator selection process
Success of Pilot
• Pre-workshop meetings• Combination of plenary plus small working group
sessions• Expertise & experience of third party consultants• Location/participation of stakeholders• Discovery of common objectives by disparate
groups• Provides a basis for park management plan
update and tourism regional strategic plan
Task Seven: Recommendations
Agreement on 7 Keys Issue Areas:• Control of environmental impact• Economic benefits to region• Marketing the region• Stability and Seasonality• Community Impacts• Planning and Control• Infrastructure
Task Seven: Recommendations – cont.
• Coordinating body representing stakeholders from Northern Cape Breton required that could lead to:
- tourism strategy development
- improved interagency coordination and cooperation
- integrated management
- reconciling of conflicting resource issues
( UNEP Principles for Sustainable Tourism)
Task Seven: Conclusion
• The relationship between ecotourism and sustainable tourism is difficult to define;
• There is little agreement on the exact definitions and applications of these terms.
• The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) argues that all forms of tourism and related activities should incorporate the principles of sustainable development (economic, environmental and social)
Thank you!
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