cost effective ways to achieving sustainable tourism best practices

Cost Effective Ways To Achieving Sustainable

Tourism

Tony Charters AMPrincipal, Tony Charters and

Associates

Australia October 2014

Topics to be Covered

Trends in ecotourism

What are the key

factors

behind successful

ecotourism projects?

Approaches to assist

Case studies

Trends in Tourism

Ecotourism Features Unique

Nature and Culture – can’t be

duplicated

Small scale operations favour

developing

economies/communities and offer

more intimate tourism expereinces

Often countries with emerging

tourism industry have more intact

natural and cultural heritage –

ideal for ecotourism

Trends in Tourism

Desire for Experiences and Escape

from Routine Pressures

Doing rather than looking

Hands on involvement eg building,

habitat conservation

A desire to seek a complete change

from normal life (eg job pressures,

family pressures, stress situations)

Trends in Tourism

Putting Something Back and

Bragging Rights

Volunteer tourism

(conservation projects,

community projects,

philanthropy), operators

recognising this through social

enterprises.

Looking for something their

friends colleagues haven’t done

– creating new stories

Trends in Tourism

Consumer Desire for Authenticity

• Real exposure to culture – not

manufactured or theme park

equivalent

• Natural environments – not

manicured or exotic (imported)

• Local architecture, local customs,

local people

Trends in Tourism

Ever Expanding Frontiers for

Experienced Travellers

Seasoned travellers – looking

for more remote, less

structured, more independent

travel

Trends in Tourism

Online Presence and Social

Networking

An instant source of reviews -

nowhere to hide!

Word of Mouse

Social Enterprises

building relationship marketing efforts through social enterprise activities –indigenous projects, conservation projects

Equal footing with clever website and social media

Key factors behind successful ecotourism

projects

Destinations formed by distinctive

nature and culture, infrastructure

and services that attract visitors.

Profitable

Authenticity and uniqueness is gold

– protect at all costs

Blind to political boundaries

Scalable - from small to big

Share access and gateways

Unique destination values provide

competitive advantage

Key factors behind successful

ecotourism projects

Uniqueness

Access

Continuity – or series of seasonal events/activities

Link to community

Authenticity

Endorsement – certification, social media, awards etc

Consistency

Links to destination and adjoining destinations

Profitable

Understanding consumer demands of source markets

Achieving sustainability within a budget

Best Practice doesn’t always Require Expensive Technology

In this global environment

access to technology is pretty

universal, but the cost of

technology is often prohibitive.

In developing economies the

cost of labour is affordable –

many excellent environmental

and social outcomes can be

achieved through application of

labour instead of technology.

Achieving sustainability with low tech

solutions

People can do the job of machines

Achieving cost effective sustainability

Environmental Traditional design and construction techniques

Energy

Water conservation

Waste water

Minimal impact - landscaping

Transport

Social Use local materials, products, cuisine, music

Handicrafts and art

Facilitate micro-businesses

Apply labour instead of technology

Work with the local community – involve them

Education and training

Environmental aspects of sustainability

Issues are inter-related:

native vegetation is good for the environment and

saves water;

traditional building techniques result in less

earthmoving and disturbance;

traditional building materials are nearby and are

biodegradable

Traditional Design and Construction

Techniques

Low energy lighting

and appliances

Significant advances:

Micro-hydro

Solar

LED lighting

Biogass

Wind

Low tech, effective sewage treatment

Wetland

system

Worm farms

Creation of

fertilizer

Native vegetation landscaping

Native vegetation:

Authentic

Attracts native wildlife

Low cost, low water useage

Not introducing weeds

Self sustaining

Traditional Transport

Affordable, common

Employs local boat builders

and bus builders

Unique tourism experience

Must be balanced by safety

Social Aspects of Sustainability –

Education and Training

Local or on-site organic gardens

Local Produce and handicrafts

Local employment

Misool Eco Resort, Raja Ampat,

Indonesia

Opened in 2007/8, Misool

epitomises the use of recycled

materials and use of local skills.

Grey and black water is

treated through natural waste

water gardens attached to

each villa

Creation of organic gardens

Integration of local foods into

the menus

Significant community and

conservation contributions

Misool Eco Lodge, RaJa Ampat

Salvaged timber

used entirely –

milled by local

workforce and the

owners.

Misool Eco Resort, Raja Ampat

Salvaged wood is used in

most furnishings and all the

structures – all made by

local tradesmen.


Local grass thatching was used in all

buildings and kept a local village in

employment for more than a year.

Ongoing building and maintenance

will need continuing supplies.


Accommodation, diving and

snorkeling amongst the protected

reefs surrounding Misool now

provides a significant income for

the local community through

resort related jobs and ranger

patrols.


Bush products keep costs

down, add interest and

originality, reduce transport

needs, employs local

people.

Misool Eco Lodge, Raja Ampat

Reef monitoring and shark and

manta ray conservation are a major

focus of the Resort and it has

significant partnerships with

international conservation NGO’s.

Community development programs

including the provision of a

kindergarten, payment of teacher

salaries and

provision

of library

resources

for local

children.

Misool Eco Lodge, Raja Ampat

Shark fin and mantra ray gill rack

illegal fisherman had decimated

local populations. Misool was a

major partner in the development

of a marine reserve with a no

take zone policed by the local

community with patrol boats and

wages supplied by the

conservation including Misool.

EL NIDO Palawan, Philippines

Multi-award winning resorts

Operates sewage treatment plant

combined with native reed bed

filters.

Treated water is utilised in flushing

toilets, watering the plants, and

supplying fire hydrants.

Compost waste to the organic

farms supply resort (60% of

needs)

Locally reared livestock comprise

90% of total kitchen purchases.

EL NIDO Palawan, Philippines

Micro-financing of local community

for support operations eg tour and

transfer boats

Strong local employment into all

levels of operation

Strong support for El Nido

Foundation

Women from several barangays

(villages) in El trained in weaving to

produce native bags and slippers

that are purchased by the resort.

Andaman Discoveries, Thailand

Social enterprise, locally based

Voluntourism

Supporting 7 local villages

Training and English important

Handicrafts, guiding, homestay

Local restaurants and transport

Banana leaf sandwich wraps

Homestay offers

authenticity but

requires accurate

expectation

setting.

Feynan Ecolodge, Jordan

Integrates profit, people, nature,

education

80% of purchases within 60km radius

For 95% of staff this is their first job in

tourism

Conservation of nature a key driver

Local Bedouin woman bakes all bread

Assisting the retention of culture and

provision of jobs for young

100% solar off grid

Indigenous planting

Local clay pots for guest water

Fragipani Ecolodge, Langkawi

Wetland grey and black water

treatment

Organic farm servicing kitchen

Composting kitchen waste for

farm

Education and interpretive

commitment

95% local staff

More profitable through

energy, water, savings,

fertiliser and farm prod.

Investment appeal

Grootbos, South Africa

Organic farm supplying

lodge and lodge workers –

veggies, fruit, micro herbs,

eggs, pork

Grootbos, South Africa

Honey production

Nursery and horticulture

training

Interpretive training

Production of spa and

bathroom amenities –

soaps, natural oils

www.globaleco.com.au

Global Eco Forum 12 November 2014 –

Sydney