ecotourism - what does it mean in fiji?
TRANSCRIPT
Stuart Gow
TS309 Tourism Business Operations
Monday February 23rd 2015
What IS the International definition? Many different
definitions over the years
Fiji made their own up for a while and hoped it would ‘stick’...
Many think is all about going GREEN and stuff
What does it mean to you?
Ecotourism is defined as
"responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."
Principles of Ecotourism Minimise impact
Build environmental & cultural awareness & respect in both visitors & hosts
Provide :
positive experiences for both visitors & hosts
direct financial benefits for conservation
financial benefits and empowermentfor local people
Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.
1. Conservation
2. Communities
3. Interpretation
Conservation Offering market-
linked long-term solutions
Provides effective economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-culturaldiversity
Helps protect the natural and cultural heritage of our beautiful planet.
Communities Increasing local capacity
building & employment opportunities
An effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the world to:
fight against poverty
to achieve sustainable development
Interpretation Emphasis on
enriching personal experiences
Environmental awareness
Promotes greater understanding and appreciation for nature, local society, and culture.
BenchmarkLife is now
EASIER
We have a standard test/benchmark!
Just ask the 3 questions about:
1. Conservation
2. Communities
3. Interpretation
Simply check 3 Ingredients Conservation
Does it actively conserve environment and culture?
Communities Is there real capacity building and are they
empowered?
NOT just hiring employees… ?
Interpretation Directly ‘teaching’ environmental awareness and
allowing personal experiences ?
Appreciation for nature, local society, and culture?
Important?
Viable?
Sustainable?
Which One? Fiji did try to set up own
based on Australian NEAP
Australia ECOCertification ?
Green Globe?
Planeta?
STI STEP Eco-Certification?
Ecotourism AwardsUsed more than
Certification...
Industry recognition
Major marketing asset
Should we ALL be Ecotourism?
Ecotourism vs. Sustainability Often confused as same
thing
NOT! Non ecotourism
companies can be sustainable (and should be with good CSR)
Being GREEN is not it!
vs.
Who’s “Doing it Right?”
Namena Marine Reserve Kubulau Management
Resource Committee
NGO supported
Rivers Fiji A local Fijian ecotourism
company dedicated to sustainability and specialising in adrenaline rushes.
One or two-day rafting trips on the Luva or Upper Navua Rivers are guaranteed to get your blood pumping and your heart racing, without a detrimental impact to the environment
Bouma National Heritage Park Actually 4 coordinated
Ecotourism Products
Tavoro Falls
Waitabu Marine Park
Vidawa Rainforest Hike
Lavena Coastal Walk
NZAID initial support
bnhp.org
Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Savusavu
Award winning LUXURY eco-resort
Ecotourism does NOT mean roughing it!
Waitabu Marine Park
Part of Taveuni’s BoumaHeritage Park
NZAID and private sector initial support only
Sustained fully internally since 2000
Helen’s Case Study next…
Matava Resort Award winning eco-resort
Matava Foundation
52 plot organic farm & training
Community honey
Chickens part of farm
100% Solar Power Solution
MPA formation & support
Bagata Village Tour Wailevu, Cakaudrove
Village Eco Tour
handicrafts
3 other sites in development:
Magic Waterfall
Rock Pool Bathing
Hot Springs
Assisted by NGO (WCS)
Turtle Island Resort Eco-Luxury
Largest Solar Plant in tourism
5 acres local produce farm
Local village tourism support (Oarsman’s Bay)
What is Not Ecotourism...
Common misbelieves and confusions
Village Based Tourism? NOT all village or
community based tourism is Ecotourism...
Nature-destructive tourism in villages:
Lomawai Village: Sea Salt making by clearing & burning mangroves...
Forest clearing for village plantations
Anchoring
Reef walking
Poling boats
Non-sustainable Marine Tourism activities
Non-sustainable Tourism activities
Local handicrafts
Shell Markets
Shell Collecting
Non-sustainable Marine Tourism activities
Handling corals & other marine animals
Use of endangered species in decoration and advertising
Non-sustainable Marine activities
Not all Resorts CAN be Ecotourism Aim at environmental
sustainability
Good CSR would “lean” many toward term ecotourism
Careful not to dilute or “wash” the term Ecotourism
Voluntourism?Voluntourism Companies Ecotourism?
GVI
Projects Abroad
Coral Cay Conservation
I.C.E.
School helpers?
Hospital helpers?
Kindergarten builders?
Education Program Volunteer?
NONE HAVE DIRECT NATURE!
These do...
Marine Science?
Scuba diving assistant?
What we need to be careful of...
We all CANNOT all be Ecotourism Aim at environmental
sustainability
Good CSR with environmental sustainability
Careful not to dilute or “wash” the term Ecotourism
Don’t claim to be something you are not…
Follow international StandardsFiji does not need to re-invent the
wheel
Stick to the Internationally recognised Benchmark as a guide:
1. Conservation
2. Communities
3. Interpretation
Fiji has GREAT EcotourismWe are good at Ecotourism in Fiji
But must be careful to know what is & isn’t
Entire industry is not Ecotourism & never will be
Assist new projects aiming to be Ecotourism to achieve the 3 benchmarks
References Honey, M. (1999) Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who
Owns Paradise? Island Press: Washington, DC Harrison, D. (1998) Ecotourism and village-based tourism: a policy and
strategy for Fiji. Government Print, Suva, Fiji. TCSP (1990) Guidelines for the integration of tourism development
and environmental protection in the South Pacific. Tourism Council of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.
Ayala, H. (1995) From quality product to Eco-product: will Fiji set a precedent? Tourism Management 16(1): 39-47
King, R. and Weaver, S. (1993) The impact of the environment on the Fiji tourism industry: a study of industry attitudes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 1(2): 97-111
Weaver, S. (1992) Nature Tourism as a means of protecting indigenous forest resources in Fiji Journal of Pacific Studies 16: 63-73.
(1999) Fijian Ecotourism Gets NZ Govt Aid. Travel Trade April 16 1999, p 1.