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Unit 15: Responsible Tourism Good Practice For Protected Areas In Vietnam
1. UNIT 15. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD
PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Portrait_of_a_Douc.jpg
2. Unit outline
Objectives
By the end of this unit, participants will be able to:
• Understand the impacts of tourism in protected areas and the
importance of responsible tourism
• Explain how to integrate responsible tourism principles into
protected area planning
• Explain how responsible tourism principles should be considered in
protected area infrastructure and services
• Describe responsible tourism principles in visitor impact
management in protected areas
• Identify financing mechanisms for economic sustainability in
protected areas
• Explain how to communicate and interpret natural heritage
responsibly
• Identify how to involve local communities in protected area
planning and management
• Explain how to monitor and evaluate protected areas for
sustainability
Topics
1. Overview of protected areas
and tourism in Vietnam
2. Integrating responsible
tourism into planning
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
3. 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
4. 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
5. The six IUCN categories of protected areas
E. Protect biodiversity and geological /
geomorphical features or natural
condition
1. Strict Nature Reserve
(a) & Wilderness Area
(b)
2. National Park
3. Natural Monument or
Feature
4. Habitat / Species
Management Area
5. Protected Landscape
/ Seascape
6. Protected Area with
Sustainable Use of
Natural Resources
B. Protect large scale-ecological
processes, species and ecosystems
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
?
6. The six IUCN categories of protected areas
E. Protect biodiversity and geological /
geomorphical features or natural
condition
1. Strict Nature Reserve
(a) & Wilderness Area
(b)
2. National Park
3. Natural Monument or
Feature
4. Habitat / Species
Management Area
5. Protected Landscape
/ Seascape
6. Protected Area with
Sustainable Use of
Natural Resources
B. Protect large scale-ecological
processes, species and ecosystems
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
!
7. Vietnam’s natural environment at a glance
128
More than
forested
protected
areas
15
marine
protected
areas
of the land
under some form
of environmental
protection
18%
wetlands of national
importance
68
10%
about
of the world’s
species
9. The key administrators of Vietnam’s
protected areas
Ministry of
Planning and
Investment (MPI)
Ministry of
Agriculture and
Rural Development
(MARD)
Ministry of
Fisheries (MOFI)
Ministry of Natural
Resources and
Environment
(MONRE)
Ministry of Culture
& Information
Vietnam National
Administration of
Tourism (VNAT)
Provincial People’s
Committees (PPCs)
10. The growing importance of tourism in
protected areas
Protected areas play an
important role in tourism
by offering visitors places
for:
• Outdoor recreational
• Education and learning
• Solace, spiritualism,
healing and renewal
FINDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL
ECOTOURISM SOCIETY
• Ecotourism has been growing 20%-
34% per year since the 1990s
• 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]:
http://mekongtourism.org/website/wp-
content/uploads/downloads/2011/02/Fact-Sheet-Global-
Ecotourism-IETS.pdf (accessed May 2013)
11. The three key tourism market segments to
protected areas
Mass tourism
• Largest component of
international tourism
market
• Seek ‘sun, sea, sand’
and entertainment
• Often on holiday
packages
• Take excursions to local
attractions
• 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 / Nature-
based tourism
• 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
12. International vs. domestic markets to
protected areas in Vietnam
INTERNATIONAL
MARKET
DOMESTIC
MARKET
Travel independently, any
group size
Motivation is soft leisure
activities
Popular with ‘Phot’
High visitation rates
Travel in small groups and
/ or organised tours
Motivation is adventure
and eco-tourism
Stronger for first time
visitors
Mainly 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
13. The benefits of tourism in protected areas
SOCIAL
Supports revival and
maintenance of local
culture
Supports cross cultural
empathy
Promotes preservation of
historical heritage
Training for communities
Others?
ECONOMIC
Economic incentives for
habitat protection
Revenue raising for
community projects
Employment for local
people
Selling of local products
Diversified livelihoods
Funding for protected
areas management
Others?
ENVIRONMENT
Supports conservation of
biodiversity
Awareness raising for
tourists and locals on
importance of
conservation
Others?
14. Negative environmental impacts of
tourism in protected areas (example)
ACTIVITY ISSUE RESULT (WHY IT’S A PROBLEM)
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…
2. Trekking … …
3. … … …
4. … … …
5. … … …
15. Negative environmental impacts of tourism in
protected areas
• Vegetation removal
• Animal disturbance
• Elimination of animal habitats
• Pollution
• 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. Responsible tourism: Building a sustainable
future for protected areas
Uses natural resources
optimally whilst still
conserving the natural
heritage and biodiversity
Respects and
conserves socio-
cultural authenticity
including built and
living cultural
heritage and
traditional values
Ensures viable, long
term economic
benefits to all
stakeholders
including fair
distribution of
benefits
19. The responsible tourism approach
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL ECONOMIC
SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
1. BE
ACCOUNTABLE
3. TAKE
ACTION
2. HAVE
CAPACITY
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
knowledge,
skills and
resources to
make change.
Being responsible is
not just an intent. It
requires action. And
that action must be
for good - based upon
the law, our ethics and
morals.
20. 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
21. 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
22. What is the issue?
• Many PAs in Vietnam have do
not have comprehensive and
up to date master plans
• PA plans help ensure areas
retain their values and benefits
• PA plans address
environmental compatibility,
product quality and business
aspects
23. 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
24. 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
25. 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
26. PROTECTED
AREA
PLANNING
1. Be guided by a
comprehensive
PA management
plan 2. Embrace
participation
3. Adopt a
regional
ecosystem
approach
4. Plan zones
for effective
management
Principles of good practice in PA planning and
responsible tourism approaches
27. Principle 1: Be guided by a comprehensive PA
management plan
Develop a PA management plan
that contains as a core:
• Conservation targets
• Vision, management
objectives, and principles
• Opportunities and
constraints
• Management zones
• Monitoring and evaluation plan
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Vietnam
28. 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.
Issues &
problems
Analyses the constraints and opportunities affecting the area, in particular focusing on
principal internal / external threats to conservation, management and maintenance
Vision &
objectives
The broad, long-term vision for the protected area. May take the form of goals, and a vision
statement. Objectives should be listed as specific statements outlining what is to be achieved
within the plan’s timeframe. Objectives can be Limits of Acceptable Change (LACs).
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.
29. Legislation
Agency
policies,
strategies
Regional plans,
broad-scale land
management plans
Management plans for
protected areas / reserves
Subsidiary plans
Operational / action plans, work
programmes
Ensure plan is integrated into broader context
to ensure sustainability
• 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
30. 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
31. Key stakeholders in protected area planning
STAKEHOLDERS
Government
authorities
Protected
area planners
Businesses
Community
leaders &
groups
Nearby
residents
Occupiers
Researchers
32. Methods for involving stakeholders in PA
planning
METHOD TYPE OF INVOLVEMENT
Press releases /advertisements inviting submissions Informing
Radio / TV appearances to discuss planning issues Informing
Publication of specialised pre-planning pamphlets / brochures which provide
detailed discussion on specific issues
Informing
Publication of draft plans of management Informing
Open forum public meetings to present and discuss planning documents Consulting
Pre-arranged meetings of special interest groups to resolve conflicting
requirements
Deciding together
Consultations between planners and individuals / organisations Consulting
Analysis of written public submissions by agencies and third parties 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
Input through political processes, particularly in regard to more difficult issues Deciding together
Source: Thomas, L. & Middleton, J. 2003, Guidelines for Management
Planning of Protected Areas, IUCN Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK
33. 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
34. 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:
– Decreasing destructive or
damaging effects of natural
resource extraction / use
– Drawing on their local knowledge
of the environment for planning
– Promoting the development of
sustainable tourism products
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
35. Tips for involving the local community in PA
planning
Implement a participatory assessment of socio-
economic development needs
Ensure the local community is fairly
represented in stakeholder forums
Assist the local community develop a formal
destination management organisation
Train key community representatives in PA
management and conservation
36. 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
whole
Low
Employment by outside
investor
Low to
moderate
Low Fairly secure Individuals (can include
poorest)
Moderate
Supply of goods and
services
Low to
moderate
Low to
moderate
Fairly secure Individuals (favours more
active members)
Moderate
Community – private
sector joint venture
Moderate Moderate to
high
Fairly secure Active individuals and
community as a whole
High
Independent community
enterprise
High High Insecure Active individuals and
community as a whole
High
Individual local
enterprise
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
37. 7 tips for increasing “ownership” of PA
management plans among staff
1.
Secure a strong public
commitment from senior
personnel 5. Allocate members of staff with
activities identified in the plan
2.
Ensure real and visible linkages
between plan and budgetary
allocations 6. Provide work plans for staff
3.
Hold meetings to inform staff
about the plan at the outset
and identify how staff can
participate
7. Link the plan to annual
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
38. Principle 3. Adopt a regional ecosystem
approach
• Protected areas are impacted upon by
external decisions, activities and ecological
processes
• PA management plans must
consider resource use and
impacts outside its
boundaries
• Particularly important when
other administrations manage
outside areas
• For success, PA planning see
itself as aiming to build more sustainable
patterns of development in general
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
39. 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
40. Principle 4. Plan zones for effective
management
• Zoning defines what can and
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
• Zones establish limits of
acceptable use and
development
Picture sources:
Pixabay, http://pixabay.com/
41. Typical functions of zones
Separate conflicting
human activities
Enable damaged
areas to be set
aside to recover or
be restored
Provide protection
for critical habitats,
ecosystems and
ecological
processes
Protect the natural
and / or cultural
qualities while
allowing a range of
reasonable human
uses
Picture sources:
Pixabay, http://pixabay.com/
42. Types of protected area zones
Non-use zones
•Extremely sensitive eco-systems
•Closed to visitors or use not encouraged
Backcountry / wilderness
•Pristine, sensitive ecosystems
•No infrastructure except for primitive trails
•Low visitor numbers
•Guides may be required
Moderate / quiet zone
•Moderately sensitive ecosystems
•Basic infrastructure possibly including
improved trails, viewpoints and simple
campgrounds at some places
•Moderate visitor numbers
Intensive use zone
•Less sensitive ecosystems
•Hardened surfaces and improved
infrastructure including roads, trails,
viewpoints and rest areas
•High visitor numbers, adjacent to
infrastructure zone
Infrastructure zone
•Less sensitive ecosystems
•Concentrating buildings, services, parking
lots and general park maintenance
•Located on the periphery or outside of
parks and not too close to non-use or
wilderness zones
Sports fishing and hunting zones
•Fishing may be allowed through a special
licence in some of the zones (except for
non-use zones)
•Hunting is not compatible with other types
of tourism and has to be restricted to
specially managed hunting blocks, often in
buffer zones adjacent to the actual PA
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
43. Example of a protected area zoning
plan
Ocean
Attraction
Guard post
Walking trail
Ocean
Ocean
There are 4 zones in
this plan. What are
they?
Ocean
Road, entrance
1.
2.
4.
3.
45. Guiding principle: Keep zoning plans simple
1. Don’t create too
complex a pattern
of zoning
2. Using multiple
zones with only
slight differences
between them can
be confusing to the
public and
management
3. The aim is to use
the minimum
number of zones
needed to achieve
the management
objectives
4. Zones should be
able to be easily
identified by
visitors and enable
them to know what
zone they are in and
therefore what
constraints apply
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
46. TOPIC 3. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM
CONSIDERATIONS IN INFRASTRUCTURE &
SERVICES
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD
PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Timber_Trail_at_Parwanoo,_Himachal_Pradesh.jpg
47. What is the issue?
• Many PA’s in Vietnam lack, or have
insufficient or low quality infrastructure
and services
• Trails, signs, roads, and services are
generally limited or low quality
• As a result:
– More adverse environmental impacts
from limited visitor and business controls
– Compromises to visitor health and safety
– Low visitor satisfaction resulting in less
revenue from entrance fees and use of
services
48. Poor / limited
infrastructure &
services
Visitor has
unsatisfactory
experience
Unlikely to return;
Negative word of
mouth
Less visitors and
revenue from
visitor fees
Less finance for
conservation and
management
The effect of poor infrastructure and services in
PAs
VICIOUS
CYCLE
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
49. The link between infrastructure and services
and responsible tourism in PAs
SOCIAL
•Compromises visitor
health and safety
•Less ability to inform
and educate visitors
on importance of PAs
ENVIRONMENTAL
•Restricted controls
over visitor and
business impacts on
the environment
ECONOMIC
•Less revenue for
conservation and
management – PA is
not economically
sustainable
RESPONSIBLE
TOURISM
Impact of limited
or inadequate
infrastructure &
services =
Compromised
social, economic
& environmental
sustainability
RT Pillars
50. The importance and benefits of providing
adequate infrastructure
Visitor satisfaction,
referrals, repeat visitation
Reduced health and
safety incidents
Healthier
ecosystems
Better
managed
tourism
behaviour
Opportunities to
increase fees and
revenue
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
51. INFRASTRUCTURE
& SERVICES
1. Reflect PA
values and
policies
2. Situate
strategically
3. Design
appropriately
Principles of good practice in infrastructure &
service provision in PAs
52. Principle 1: Reflect PA values and policies in
infrastructure and services
• Infrastructure and services
must be consistent with
protected area values
• Infrastructure and services
must also be appropriate to
the zone it is situated in
• General principle: All
facilities
must provide a net benefit
for conservation
54. Attractiveness of protected areas as perceived
by visitors
Natural attractions
•Grand / diverse landscapes (mountains,
lakes, rivers, waterfalls etc)
•High biodiversity
•Interesting flora and fauna
•Pristine ecosystems
Accessibility
•Proximity to major transport hubs
(airport, bus, train, highway)
•Ease of travel (e.g. condition of roads)
Accommodation and F&B
•Adequate lodgings
•Adequate quality meals
Recreation
•Opportunities for:
•Swimming
•Hiking
•Climbing
•Kayaking
•Picnicing and camping
Cultural attractions
•Archaeological or historic sites
•Traditional cultures
•Paleontological sites
•Complementary attractions nearby
Ancillary services
•Information centre
•Emergency services
•Medical care
•Toilets
What infrastructure and services are required to help meet the visitor needs above?
55. Principle 2: Situate infrastructure and services
strategically
• Infrastructure must be
situated appropriately in order
to not compromise the
ecological processes and to
have best use and effect
• Zoning system should provide
guide on what should go
where
• The location of infrastructure
and services can also be a
strategy to manage visitor and
business impacts
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Vietnam
56. Infrastructure and service types, functions,
impacts and location considerations
INFRASTRUCTURE /
SERVICE
FUNCTION IMPACTS LOCATION
Paved roads Enables good accessibility
Should be kept to a minimum
Impacts on peace and tranquillity,
safety, harm wildlife / habitats
Intensive use zone
Trails Provide a range of trails to facilitate visitor enjoyment
Requires careful grading, maintenance, careful siting,
supported by good and available maps and directional
signs
Impacts on safety, harm wildlife /
habitats, litter, fires
Intensive use zone,
Wilderness zone (more
basic, difficult trails)
Waterway facilities Piers and jetties facilitate enjoyment of water areas
and are needed for boating
Should only be provided in accessible transport hub
locations
Impacts on peace and tranquillity,
safety, harm wildlife / habitats
Intensive use zone
Information and
interpretation
Facilitate learning about the PA values, and
communicates rules and regulations
Should be located beside various attractions /
features
Large facilities can impact on peace and
tranquillity, effective use and impact if
located in high traffic areas
Entrance to PA, Buffer
Zone, at attractions
Recreational
facilities
Facilitates leisure needs of visitors, toilets, picnic
areas, taps, shelters etc
Should be located away from wilderness areas
Impacts on peace and tranquillity,
safety, harm wildlife / habitats, litter,
fires
Intensive use zone
Accommodation,
F&B
Hotels, resorts, restaurants, cafes etc increase length
of stay, visitor spend, and increase enjoyment
Should be situated away from sensitive areas
Impacts on peace and tranquillity, harm
wildlife / habitats in construction,
environmental, affects visual aesthetics
Outside the PA or in
Buffer Zone
57. Principle 3: Design infrastructure and services
appropriately
• The objective in the design of infrastructure is to:
– Provide a variety of attractive opportunities to experience nature
– Respect the natural environment
– Be practical and user-friendly
• Should also be continually improved according to visitor feedback
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_areas_of_Vietnam
58. Good design principles for trails in PAs
Should access the PA’s
most interesting features
Should avoid
highly sensitive
ecosystems /
habitats
Should use good design
to reduce impacts (e.g.
boardwalks, steps)
Should incorporate loops /
circuits to manage traffic and
maintain interest
Should have a range of
difficulty levels and
durations Should be kept simple,
natural and easily
identified
Should be
widened and
hardened in
high use areas
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
59. Good design principles for buildings in PAs
Siting should consider construction impacts
on ecosystem processes and wildlife habitats
Should create a ‘sense of
place’, reflect the
surrounding nature and
create a unique
experience
Should reflect local
culture / architecture
Should incorporate green
principles
Should be open to the
natural environment
Should not be higher
than surrounding trees
Should use colours that
blend with surrounding
environment
Should involve respectfully
preserving, restoring or
repairing any existing built
heritage
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
60. Good design principles for gardens and grounds
Should use natural
materials for any
constructed facilities
Should integrate
prominent trees, rocks,
waterways
Gardens should
use native plants
Should use natural
barriers rather than
man-made barriers
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
61. TOPIC 4. RESPONSIBLE TOURISM APPROACH
TO VISITOR IMPACT MANAGEMENT
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD
PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM
Picture source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:TOURISTS_COOL_OFF_AT_HAVASU_CREEK._OWNED_BY_THE_NATIONAL_PARK_SERVICE,_THOUGH_IT_IS_ON_THE_HAVASUPAI_RESERVATION_THIS..._-_NARA_-_544334.jpg
62. What is the issue?
• Protected areas can only achieve
their purpose if the natural
features and processes of the
reserve remain in good condition
• However, impacts on the natural
environment can occur even
under relatively low levels of use
• Effective tourism impact
management is therefore critical
to the sustainability of PAs
Picture source:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Damage_to_All_Ability_Trail_caused_by_logging._-_geograph.org.uk_-_1192344.jpg
63. Managing visitor impacts is also about
managing visitor safety
Recreation
Personal
injury
Potential
claims and
pay outs
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
64. Causes of tourism impacts in PAs
• Visitor activities
and associated
infrastructure
• Transportation
• Operation of
tourism service
providers
• Accommodation,
F&B operation
• Associated
infrastructure
• Indirect
developments
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
65. Factors which affect the level of tourism impact
Characteristics of
the site
Intensity
and type of
use
Interactions
of PA
management
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
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
66. Benefits of effective tourism impact
management
Safeguards the
health of
important
ecosystemsGains the
support and
participation of
the public
Controls and
contains visitor and
tourism business
activities
Reduces the
number and extent
of health and
safety incidents
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
67. Impacts of tourism in PAs
TYPE ACTIVITY ISSUE IMPACT
Tourist activities
Hiking / walking Construction of trails,
trampling
Destruction of vegetation, damage to vegetation, soil erosion and
compaction
Boat / canoe / kayak trips
Camping / picnic
Sale / extraction of souvenirs
Mountaineering / trekking
Diving
Hunting
Sport fishing
Tourism services
& infrastructure
Infrastructure construction
Vehicles
Boats
Accommodation,
F&B
Building construction
Accommodation & F&B operation
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
68. Impacts of tourism in PAs
TYPE ACTIVITY ISSUE IMPACT
Touristactivities
Hiking / walking Construction of trails, trampling Destruction of vegetation, damage to vegetation, soil erosion and compaction
Boat / canoe / kayak
trips
Physical presence Disturbance to sea life, damage to aquatic vegetation
Camping / picnic Construction of camp sites, noise, litter, fires, trampling Soil erosion and compaction, damage to vegetation, disturbance to wildlife, pollution, risk of
bush fires
Sale / extraction of
souvenirs
Sale of animals / animal parts, extraction of coral, shells
etc
Decimation of rare species, damage to reefs, species decimation
Mountaineering /
trekking
Physical presence, trampling, spike fixing Trample damage to vegetation, disturbance to animals, damage to rocks, visual pollution
Diving Breaking coral, underwater hunting Damage to reefs, decimation of certain species
Hunting Infringing ethical hunting principles Decimation of certain species, disturbance, affect food chain
Sport fishing Over fishing, fishing with dynamite, cutting new trails Decimation of species, disturbance, affects food chain, destruction of entire ecosystems
Tourismservices&
infrastructure
Infrastructure
construction
Land consumption, logging Deforestation, damage to vegetation, splitting up integral ecosystems
Vehicles Driving off road, noise, pollution Soil erosion and compaction, damage to vegetation, road kills, air / soil / water
contamination
Boats Noise, pollution, wave impacts Disturbance to wildlife, air and water pollution, shoreline erosion and damage to vegetation
and nests
Accommodat
ion,F&B
Building construction Logging, noise, drainage, exposed sites, inappropriate
architecture
Deforestation, animal disturbance, impairment of landscape
Accommodation & F&B
operation
Presence of people, power use, water consumption,
poor waste disposal, untreated sewage
Animal disturbance, land / water / air contamination, lowering of water table, litter
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
69. TOURISM
IMPACT
MANAGEMENT
1: Enforce PA
zones
2: Offer
incentives
and enforce
regulations
3: Inform
and educate
4: Implement
visitor safety
provisions
Principles of good practice in tourism impact
management in PAs
70. Principle 1: Enforce PA zoning system
• Ensure the PA zoning plan is effectively
implemented
• The zones will allocate geographical
areas for specific levels and intensities
of activities and of conservation
• Zones can also be implemented
temporally
• Further formalise zones by developing
and implementing policies
• The policies should detail:
– Use of natural and cultural resources
– Access
– Facilities
– Protected area development
– Maintenance and operations
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pendjari_National_Park
71. Principle 2: Offer incentives and enforce
regulations
INCENTIVES
Encourage appropriate
behaviour in PAs by
offering rewards
REGULATIONS
Enforce acceptable
behaviour in PAs by
giving penalties for
doing the wrong thing
72. Regulations to minimise impacts by reducing
tourism volume
Access
Number of
visitors
Length of stay
Tour group
size
Skills and / or
equipment
Extent of
facilities
Timing
Barriers
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
73. Regulations to minimise impacts by changing
tourism behaviour
Types of
activities
Frequency
of use
Impact
appraisals
Travel
Conditions
of use
Park rangers
Guides
Information
and education
Qualifications
and standards
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
74. Incentives to minimise impacts
• Offer specific benefits for communities and businesses
operating in the protected area to behave in an
environmentally / socially / economically sensitive way.
• Two examples are:
VISITORS
• Provide a gift /
souvenir for visitors
who donate to a PA
environmental project
• What else can you
think of?
SERVICES
• Develop a “preferred supplier” scheme for
suppliers that meet sustainability goals which
offers benefits such as: higher rates, longer-
term contracts, committed guarantees, joint
marketing agreements, more brochure space,
joint promotional activities
• What else can you think of?
75. Principle 3: Inform and educate to minimise
tourism impacts
• “Soft” management tools
• Aim to reduce negative impacts of tourism by:
– Educating tourists and tourism businesses
– Influencing behaviour
• Two key options are:
A. Educating visitors
about importance of the
natural environment and
ecosystem processes
B. Communicating
expected codes of
conduct on visitor and
business behaviour in the
PA
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
76. A. Educate visitors about the importance of the
natural environment
• Most visitors mean well but simply do not know
what the problem is
• Providing simple information about the values of
the protected area, important species, and
important ecological processes can be enough to
encourage sensitive behaviour in PAs
• Communicating PA values, and management’s
goals and policies can be achieved through well-
placed signs, brochures, posters and flyers
• Visitor information centres / interpretation
centres are also very effective
78. Good practice tip:
Interpretation should engage
1. Visitors enjoy
activities requiring some
form of participation
2. People remember
activities with
interactive elements
3. Make the experience
more meaningful by
enabling visitors to smell,
taste, feel, explore, lift, push
4. Provide field guides,
photographs of local events
or interesting people; or
plant and animal specimens
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
80. B. Communicate tourism codes of conduct
• Voluntary principles and
practices that visitors are
requested to follow
• Codes of conduct can be
developed to both limit
negative impacts of tourism
activities and also enhance
positive impacts
• Codes of conduct must be well-
communicated in order to be
effective
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
81. Example of a visitor code of conduct 1/2
Source: VNAT, Do’s and Don'ts in Vietnam for Community-based Tourists, VNAT, Vietnam
82. Example of a visitor code of conduct 2/2
Source: VNAT, Do’s and Don'ts in Vietnam for Community-based Tourists, VNAT, Vietnam
83. Good practice in developing effective
tourism codes of conduct
Sustainability. Do the criteria consider
the environment, economy and
people?
Equity. Do the criteria reflect the
interests of everyone?
Efficiency & effectiveness. Are the
criteria practical and follow best
practice in sustainable management?
Relevance. Do the criteria directly
connect to the destination’s own
sustainability goals?
84. Responsibilities of businesses and host
communities in local tourism destinations
AS THE HOST COMMUNITY WE AGREE TO:
•Provide quality tourist products and
experiences
•Provide a safe and secure environment for tourists to
visit
•Be welcoming and friendly to visitors
•Protect local cultures and traditions
•Raise local awareness about the importance of
balancing conservation and economic development
•…what else?
AS A TOURISM ORGANISATION WE AGREE TO:
•Employ local staff and local guides
•Patronise small locally owned businesses
•Discourage our customers offering money to beggars
•Discourage our customers from littering
•Discourage our customers from damaging the natural
environment
•Discourage our customers from purchasing protected
animals
•Support local social and environmental projects
•Respect local and provincial laws, rules and regulations
affecting business operation
•Interpret the environment and culture authentically
and accurately
•…what else?
85. The responsibility of visitors in local tourism
destinations
As a visitor I agree to:
Help the local economy by…
• Using accredited operators
• Buying locally made souvenirs
• Eating at local restaurants
• Staying in locally-owned places
• Purchasing fair trade products
• Supporting responsible tourism
operators..
Help the local environment by…
• Not littering
• Avoiding excessive waste
• Leaving nature as it is
• Not disturbing wildlife
• Putting out cigarettes properly
• Carbon offseting
• Saving energy
• Not purchasing or eating endangered species…
Help the local people by…
• Being considerate of the communities I
visit
• Donating via reputable institutions
• Not giving money to children and
beggars
• Respecting cultural difference
• Not supporting the illegal drug or sex
trade
• Using responsible travel providers
• Using operators with responsible
tourism policies.
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
86. Principle 4: Implement visitor safety provisions
• Recreation carries risks to the
health and safety of the visitor
and may indirectly impact on
the PA authority
• Visitor safety, accidents,
liability and search and rescue
must be considered
• Staff should be trained in how
to react to accidents and other
emergency situations
• A risk and emergency
management plan should be
developed
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
87. What is a risk?
Risk
Frequency of
incident
Severity of
consequences
88. Guidelines for the risk management process
Is the process working effectively to identify and manage risks? - Develop a list of risks
associated with an area or activity; Develop checklists to use when inspecting the area;
Inspect the area and talk to visitors; Record all risks identified
Have the control measures eliminated or reduced the risks to an acceptable level? Have
the control measures introduced any new risks? - Gather information about each risk
identified; Think about the likelihood of an event (e.g. frequency of exposure to risk and
probability that an accident will occur); Assess probable consequences (number of
people at risk and likely severity of an injury); Use exposure, probability and
consequence to calculate level or risk
Determine control measures - Eliminate risk; Transfer risk; Reduce risk probability;
Reduce risk impact; Accept risk
Assess effectiveness of control measures - Review proposed measures; Apply control
measures; Monitor effectiveness through regular assessments and documentation
1. IDENTIFY THE RISKS
Identify all risks associated with an
area or activity
2. ASSESS THE RISKS
Assess the level of each risk
3. MANAGE THE RISKS
Decide on and use the appropriate
control measures
4. MONITOR & REVIEW
Monitor residual risks and review
Source: Eagles, P., McCool, S. & Haynes, C. 2002, Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK
89. TOPIC 5. FINANCING PROTECTED
AREAS FOR ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD
PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greater_Rufous-headed_Parrotbill_(Paradoxornis_ruficeps).jpg
90. What is the issue?
• Around the world government funding of PAs is
becoming increasingly limited
• With out adequate funding for PAs:
The ability of authorities to maintain the
PA’s natural values is compromised
Alternative land uses and even destructive
practices may become more prevalent
Livelihood options for communities will
become even more limited
• To achieve economic sustainability public
funding needs to be supported by a diverse mix
of supplementary revenue raising strategies
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Maky/ProjectRosewoodLogging/Archive1
91. The evolution of protected areas: Increasing
value but increasing pressure
Before Now
• Funded by governments
• Maintained as assets for the
nation
• National populations relatively
small
• Accessibility limited
• Limited population pressure
• Government funding more limited
• Recognition of importance of
biodiversity
• Large population
• Highly accessible
• Increasing pressure on environment
and wildlife
• More competing interests on
exploitation of natural resources
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
92. Typical economic model of tourism in PAs
Government
funding
Entrance
fees
Return of
income over
budget
Departure &
hotel taxes
Business &
sales tax
Employment &
income tax
Employment
& wages
Licences &
user fees
Infrastructure
& management
costs
Employment
& wages
Payments
for goods &
services
Tourists
National government –
Local government
Businesses
Local communities
Protected areas
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., and Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding tourism
revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
93. Benefits of supplementary revenue raising
strategies in PAs
Better enable the
implementation of prioritised
protected area management
activities
Provide increased stability and
confidence in budgeting
Reduce the potential for conflicting or
damaging forms of resource use such
as logging and hunting
Reduce the financial strain on
provincial and national budgets
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
95. Principle 1: Review financing mechanisms to
identify opportunities
• Existing funding and revenue
making structures and systems
may be inefficient or
ineffective providing
• Analysing current financing
systems can sometimes reveal
opportunities to cut costs or
increase revenue
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
96. Four areas to look for financial opportunities
1
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Consistencies / inconsistencies
with government financial
planning timeframes. Ensure up to
date. Specification / allocation of
funding requirements.
3BOARDS
Role and responsibilities. Financial
autonomy.
2
REVENUE GENERATION
Range of user charges. Account for
inflation, current day costs,
changes in disposable income,
increasing demand. Examine
opportunities for non-tourism
charges. 4INVESTMENT
Range of existing incentives.
Examine opportunities to implement
new or increase existing incentives.
Source: PARC Project 2006, Policy Brief: Building Viet Nam’s National ProtectedAreas System – policy and institutional innovations requiredfor progress, Creating
Protected Areas for Resource Conservation using Landscape Ecology (PARC) Project, Government of Viet Nam, (FPD) / UNOPS, UNDP, IUCN, Ha Noi, Vietnam
97. Principle 2: Implement innovative fund raising
strategies
• Reducing reliance on
government funding by
generating revenue from
additional fund raising strategies
is an increasing worldwide trend
• To be most effective a range of
strategies should be pursued to
target different stakeholders and
generate the maximum amount
of revenue
• Strategies may include entrance
fees, user fees, concessions and
leases, taxes and donations
98. Entrance fees
Fees charged to visitors to enter the PA CHALLENGES
• Inefficient fee
collection resulting
in losses of
entrance fee
revenue
• Scarce human
resources for fee
collection /
reducing
conservation
activities
• Corruption /
bribery
CHARACTERISTICS
• Fees charged to visitors to enter the PA
• Most effective in high visitation PAs or where
unique species or ecosystems can be found
• Rate should aim to cover capital and operating
costs, reflect quality of service and product offering,
and market demand / willingness to pay
• Visitors pay more if they know the money will be
used to enhance the experience or conserve nature
• Tiered pricing can maximise revenue
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
99. User fees
Fees charged for undertaking specific activities or using
PA facilities
CHALLENGES
• Maintaining fee
collection system
• Political and socio-
economic factors
CHARACTERISTICS
• Examples include parking fee, camping fee, fishing
fee, hunting fee, boating fee, diving fee, hiking fee
• Willing to pay if they know funds are used for
conservation and management of PA
• Common with diving, e.g. $2-3 / dive
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
100. Permits, leases and licences
Contracts between PAs and businesses allowing them to
operate a commercial activity in exchange for a fee
CHALLENGES
• Unsuccessful
businesses = less
revenue
• Business not
respecting
contractual
obligations
• Business not
controlling visitor
behaviour
• Profit made by
business = income
lost by PA
CHARACTERISTICS
• Private sector more critical due to limited
government funding
• Examples: tour guiding, trekking, diving,
accommodation, restaurants, boating
• Requires good control
• PA benefit: business has the knowledge, experience,
equipment etc
• Business benefit: access to attractive location,
limited competition
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
101. Direct commercial operation
PA authority provides commercial goods and services CHALLENGES
• Human resources,
knowledge, skills,
financial resources
• Ensuring
businesses are not
owned by PA
personnel who
receive all the
profits and no
benefit to the PA
CHARACTERISTICS
• Can cover same activities as private sector
• Can be wholly-state owner or Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) / joint venture
• Ensures all / more money is obtained by the PA
• Should include local labour and goods / services
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
102. Taxes
Charges on goods and services that generate funds for the
government and can be used to support PA management CHALLENGES
• Not popular with
locals or visitors
• Ensuring money
goes back into
conservation
• Costs of managing
the system
• Hard to manage
“small” taxes
(same
administration as
larger taxes)
CHARACTERISTICS
• Allows for generating funds nationally and on a long-
term basis and to use the funds to suit needs
• Examples: Local tax on users of a protected area or
use of equipment, bed levies on accommodation
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
103. Donations
Gifts of money, goods or services, offered free of charge
to support PAs
CHALLENGES
• Requires good
communication to
visitors by guides
and print material
etc
• Good transparency
and accountability
in management
and use of money
CHARACTERISTICS
• Can use trust funds to hold and manage the
donations
• Can encourage businesses to donate a small % of
sales to support a PA project (e.g. developing trails,
bridges, environmental research)
• Can use donation boxes
Source: Font, X., Cochrane, J., & Tapper, R. 2004, Tourism for Protected Area Financing: Understanding
tourism revenues for effective management plans, Leeds Metropolitan University, Leeds, UK
104. WCPA recommendations for reducing public
resistance to fees
1
Use fee revenues for quality
improvements to trails, toilets,
maps, and other facilities 4
Retain and use money for specific,
known, park purposes, rather than
for general revenues
2
Make small fee increases
rather than making them in
large jumps 5 Use extra money for conservation
of the area visited
3
Use money for operational
costs rather than as a control
mechanism for visitor entry 6
Provide abundant information to
the public about the income
earned and the actions funded
through it
Source: Eagles, P., McCool, S. & Haynes, C. 2002, Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
105. Principle 3: Support the local economy
• Responsible tourism
requires socio-economic
benefits are received by the
local people
• If local communities only
see the cost of the PA and
no benefits, they are
unlikely to support PA
management or tourism
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
106. The PA’s obligation to help local communities in
and around PAs
Local communities
in and around PAs
are relatively poor
PAs sometimes ask
local communities
to relocate
PAs often require
restrictions on
traditional
livelihoods
Local community
livelihoods
disrupted and
restricted
Diminished local
community support
for conservation
PA authorities have
obligation to help
107. Understanding the local communities’ views of
tourism in PAs
Create income
Create employment
Create opportunities for
local businesses
Assist community
development
Protect culture
Access to better services
Source: Eagles, P., McCool, S. & Haynes, C. 2002, Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management, IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
108. Six simple opportunities to support the local
economy in and around PAs
Provide product
development
assistance
Facilitate CBT
joint ventures
Introduce local
investment
incentives
Implement responsible
employment & supply
chain policies
Build capacity and
provide occupational
skills training
Establish a
community fund
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
110. The role and importance of communication and
interpretation in PAs
• Communication mostly relates to the
delivery of information about PA
facilities, features, accessibility and
codes of conduct
• Interpretation relates to informing
about the PA’s natural and cultural
heritage (species, ecosystems,
people) and issues around it to raise
awareness and appreciation for
conservation
• Good communication and
interpretation greatly increases
visitor satisfaction
111. What is the issue?
Limited or poor
communication of the PA
increases the chance of
disturbance and damage
to the PA
Limited or poor interpretation
of natural values and its
importance to visitors and
residents reduces support and
action in conservation
112. The objectives of communication and
interpretation in PAs
COMMUNICATION
• To increase awareness about the
resources and attractions in the PA
• To alter behaviour of visitors and
residents in the PA
• To orient visitors to the PA
• To explain about the community and
PA authority’s goals and objectives
INTERPRETATION
• To increase understanding about the
role and importance of special
species in the PA and issues in
conservation
• To increase understanding about the
role and importance of important
ecosystems in the PA and issues in
conservation
• To increase understanding and
respect for local culture and heritage
sites in the PA and socio-cultural
issues in sympathetic preservation
and promotion
113. The benefits of responsible communication and
interpretation in PAs
Builds understanding and
support for conservation
Increases repeat
visitation and positive
referrals
Increases visitor
satisfaction and reduces
complaints
114. RESPONSIBLE
COMMUNICATION
& INTERPRETATION
1. Inform and
educate visitors
about the
importance of
the PA
2.
Communicate
messages
accurately and
authentically
3. Raise
awareness of
PA zones and
facilities
Principles of good practice in responsible
communication and interpretation
115. Principle 1: Inform and educate visitors about
the importance of the PA
• The tourism code of conduct is
central
• Ensure the code of conduct is based
upon the objectives of the zoning
system
• Ensure codes of conduct are
developed for both visitors and
business operators (services)
• Ensure codes of conduct are easy to
understand and easily accessible
• Ensure regulations and associated
penalties for breeches are also
clearly stated and easily identified /
accessible
116. The key steps in developing tourism
codes of conduct
Get support
•Who will the
code affect?
Identify issues
•What are we trying
to protect or
promote?
Define
responsibilities
•Who will do what?
Draft code
of conduct
•What will we
communicate?
117. Communicating codes of conduct to visitors
VISITORS SERVICES
• Before booking
– What? Destination’s people,
culture and environment
– Where? Website, social media,
brochures…
• Between booking & arrival
– What? How to prepare
– Where? Tour pre-departure packs
• During the visit
– What? Print information and
displays about destination’s
people, culture and environment
– Where? Meet and greet, signs /
displays in prominent places, tour
guides
• What? Expected operational
behaviour including that of guests
• Where? Formal licencing
contracts, agreements, permits..
Strategically located warning /
penalty notices around PA
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
118. Interpretation through signs and exhibits
• Interpretational signs and exhibits use
stories and messages to inform visitors
about places, objects or events
• Properly planned and designed
interpretive programs relay a theme /
message to visitors
• Common topics can include unique
animal species, unique flora, important
ecosystems, built heritage, local culture,
activities, events
• Interpretation principles can also be
applied to communicating codes of
conduct
• Interpretation should incorporate 3
components: education, emotion,
behaviour
Educational component
Emotional component
Behavioural component
120. Three tips for detailed interpretive signs
1
Deliver information
using themes that are
strong and
provocative. 3
Structure theme into
topics easily
identified by sub-
headings.
2Create titles that are
eye-catching and
interesting.
121. Examples of detailed interpretive signs
Eye catching
title (theme)
Sub-headings
(well structured) Good use
of images
122. Principle 2: Communicate messages accurately
and authentically
• Poor marketing of PA values
can result in loss of meaning
and significance and erosion
of the integrity of the
natural (and cultural)
heritage
• Communicating messages
accurately and authentically
promotes greater
understanding and respect
Picture source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mynameisharsha/4344995931/
123. Authenticity in tourism experiences
• As with tourism in general, promotion of messages
in PAs is often based upon selling “authentic
experiences”
• While authenticity is perceived it remains highly
connected to marketing and should display as
accurately as possible meanings that reflect the
reality
• If messages are exaggerated in
order to make them more attractive to consumers
they will become disappointed when their
expectations are not met
124. Examples of inauthentic advertising from
around the world
Picture sources:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2128151/France-tourism-advertising-campaign-left-red-faced-allegations-using-false-photos.html
http://www.adnews.com.au/adnews/tourism-australia-s-250m-push-labelled-false-advertising
http://travel.ninemsn.com.au/blog.aspx?blogentryid=335279&showcomments=true
Sharing a bottle of wine
on the beach…really?
Are we in Spain or the
Carribbean!?
The Mediterranean
Sea has never looked
this good!
125. Cultural commodification in PAs
• Communication about the culture of local
communities and cultural heritage sites in PAs
should be respectful and accurate
• Commercialisation and commodification of the
local culture should be avoided not only in the
products sold but in the language used and
messages communicated
• Cultural commercialisation and commodification
may result in the loss of original meaning
• The involvement and determination of local
people of how to interpret their culture is critical
126. 4 examples of cultural commodification in
tourism
Redeveloping places to make them more
attractive for tourist consumption
Creating staged and reshaped traditional
performances for tourists
Adaptive reuse of historical buildings
without interpretation
Sale and / or reproduction of artefacts of
cultural or spiritual significance as souvenirs
Picture sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rachelf2sea/6125215016/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kangeelu_Kunita.jpg
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremylim/4263274405/sizes/m/in/photostream/
http://blog.mailasail.com/kanaloa/104
127. Principle 3: Raise awareness of PA zones and
facilities
• Services and infrastructure is of
no benefit if visitors don’t know
about what is available, where to
find it, and how to get there
• Visitors exploring PAs will also
continue to cause damage if they
don’t know where they can /
cannot go and why
• Visitors need information about
what is available, where to
access it, and how to interact
with the PA in a sustainable way
Picture source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharpteam/2783062374/
128. Basic requirements for communicating how
visitors should interact with the PA
• Visitors should have access to a
protected map at a minimum
• The map should details the
trails, roads, facilities,
attractions etc
• Zones should be clearly
identified and terms of use
explained
WHERE?
PA website
Print brochures /
leaflets at
entrance,
Information
centres, local
tourism service
providers
Large fixed signs
at key locations
in PA
129. Example of PA visitor map
Facilities and
locations clearly
identified
Trails, roads,
parking marked
Non-use areas,
boundaries clearly
indicated
130. Example: Zoning map for Great Barrier Reef
MPA (Townsville)
Each colour
represents
a different
zone
131. Example: Zoning guide for Great Barrier Reef
MPA (Townsville)
ACTIVITY GUIDE
Generalusezone
Habitatprotection
zone
Conservationpark
zone
Bufferzone
Scientificresearch
zone
Marinenational
parkzone
Preservationzone
Aquaculture P P P
Bait netting
Boating, diving
Crabbing
Harvest fishing for aquariums P P P
Limited collecting P P
Limited spearfishing
Line fishing
Netting
Research P P P P P P P
Shipping P P P P P
Tourism programme P P P P P P
Traditional use of marine resources
Trawling
Trolling
P = Permit
132. TOPIC 7. PROTECTED AREA MONITORING
AND EVALUATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY
RESPONSIBLE TOURISM GOOD
PRACTICES FOR PROTECTED AREAS IN VIETNAM
Picture source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville,_North_Carolina
133. The role and importance of monitoring and
evaluation in PAs
• Monitoring is the routine process of
data collection and measurement of
progress toward programme
objectives
• Evaluation is the use of social
research methods to systematically
investigate the achievement of
programme results
• Monitoring and evaluation (M&E)
provides the information needed to
guide and prioritise PA management
activities to accepted standards
134. What is the issue?
• Without data of PA tourism
conditions and trends that
monitoring provides, planners
and managers:
– Cannot assure stakeholders of the
reliability of their decisions;
– Cannot respond to public concerns and criticisms; and
– Cannot properly fulfil their responsibilities or judge the
effectiveness of their actions.
• Moreover, if planners and managers do not undertake
the monitoring, someone else will – and such monitoring
may well be biased Adapted from: Eagles, P., McCool, S. & Haynes, C. 2002, Sustainable Tourism in Protected
Areas: Guidelines for Planning and Management, IUCN Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK
Picture source:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevendepolo/4605621230/
135. The benefits of monitoring and evaluation of
PAs for sustainability
Provides data on
management progress
and effectiveness
Improves conservation
management and
decision-making
Allows
accountability
to stakeholders,
including
funders
Provides data to plan
future resource needs
Provides data useful
for policy-making and
advocacy
Picture source:
Pixabay, www.pixabay.com
136. Monitor tourism impacts because prevention and
early intervention is always better than cure!
In tourism,
symptoms of
negative impacts
can be gradual…
After a negative
impact has been
identified
opportunities
to manage
become more
limited…
…and problems
can be difficult
to spot.
…and in many
cases returning
to the original
state can be
impossible
“Gosh where
did all these
tourists come
from?
I don’t remember
seeing so many a
few years ago!”
“I thought we were
able to handle all the
tourists unit I saw
some kids acting like
foreigners and it
occurred to me just
how much our
culture has
changed!”
“When we started
running tours to the
nearby cave some
tourists damaged
the beautiful rock
formations. Now
we have lost them
forever”
“We really have too
many tourists here
but with so many
businesses now
depending on them
reducing the volume
would never be
supported”
137. MONITORING &
EVALUATION
FOR
SUSTAINABILITY
1. Ensure integration
of sustainability
criteria indicators 2. Evaluate
indicators using
baselines,
benchmarks and
limits of acceptable
change
3. Ensure results are
clearly
communicated
Principles of good practice in monitoring and
evaluation for sustainability in PAs
138. Principle 1: Ensure integration of sustainability
criteria
• In PA’s there is a tendency
to focus most attention
on environmental impacts
and management related
impacts
• To ensure comprehensive
sustainability of the PA
social and economic
impacts must also be
considered
Environmental
impacts
Economic
impacts
Social
impacts
Experiential
impacts
Managerial /
infrastructure
impacts
139. Examples of key issues to consider when
scoping PA sustainability
Gender equity & social
inclusion
• Family well-being, equal employment
opportunities, gender roles in
traditional communities, access to
loans and credit, control over
tourism-related income…
Poverty reduction / economic
development
• Income, employment,
entrepreneurship, quality of life…
Capacity development
• Tourism awareness, tourism business
training, local control of tourism
operations, participation in local
governance…
Environmental protection
• Endangered species, water quality,
litter, loss / changes in vegetation
structure, habitat loss, erosion,
disturbance to animals, trail widening
/ changes…
Cultural preservation and
promotion
• Preservation of traditions and values,
maintenance of cultural significance
and meaning, maintenance of
cultural heritage sites…
Social gains
• Quality of life, crime, access to
resources, access to heath care,
access to education, limitation of
rural to urban migration…
140. Turning sustainability impacts and issues into
monitoring indicators
• An “indication” of the state of a
particular issue
• Formally selected and used on a
regular basis to measure changes
• Conventional tourism indicators
include arrival numbers, length of
stay, and expenditure
• Sustainable tourism indicators focus
on the link between tourism and
sustainability issues
FOCUS OF INDICATORS FOR
MONITORING SUSTAINABLE
TOURISM
• Issues concerning the
natural resources and
environment of a
destination
• Concerns relating to
economic sustainability
• Issues relating to
cultural assets and social
values
• Broad organisation and
management issues
within the tourism
sector and broader
destination
141. Types of indicators
• Early warning indicators
• Indicators of stresses on the
system
• Measures of the current state
of industry
• Measures of tourism
development sustainability impacts
• Measures of management effort
• Measures of management effects
INDICATORS
MEASURE
Impacts
OutcomesOutputs
142. Impact type vs. Indicator type
Environmental impacts
Social impacts
Economic impacts
Quantitative
indicators
Qualitative
indicators
IMPACT
Category indices
Normative indicators
Nominal indicators
Opinion-based indicators
Raw data
Ratio
Percentage
TYPE OF INDICATOR TYPE OF MEASURE
143. Dissection of an sustainability issue into
indicators
ISSUE
COMPONENT
A
ISSUE
COMPONENT
C
ISSUE
COMPONENT
E
ISSUE
COMPONENT
G
ISSUE COMPONENT INDICATOR E1
ISSUE COMPONENT INDICATOR E2
ISSUE COMPONENT INDICATOR E3
….
SUSTAINABILITY
ISSUE
144. Example of tourism indicator development
process for sustainability
INDICATORS
COMPONENTS OF
ISSUE
KEY SUSTAINABILITY
ISSUE
Environmental
protection
Waste
management
Number hotels with a
recycling programme
Biodiversity
protection
Number of threatened
or extinct species as
percentage of all
known species
Perceived value of
forest resources to
tourism
145. Don’t reinvent the wheel!
Use and / or adapt existing indicators
Many organisations have
already developed and
refined useful indicators
for monitoring tourism
impacts on sustainability
World Tourism Organisation
Indicator Guidebook
Pressure, State, Response
Indicators
UNEP Environmental
Indicators
IUCN Indicators of
Resources Management
146. Example of environmental and economic
sustainability indicators in tourism
ENVIRONMENTAL Number of threatened or extinct species as percentage of all known species
Perceived value of forest resources to tourism
Number of days tourists spend on nature tourism activities out of total number of days
Number of hotels with environmental policy
Environmental awareness campaigns conducted
Number hotels recycling 25% or more of their waste products
Demand/supply ratio for water
Number of hotels with 50% or more of total toilets as dual flush
% of energy consumption from renewable resources
ECONOMIC Average wage rates in tourism jobs rural/ urban
Number of local people employed in tourism (men and women)
Revenues generated by tourism as % of all revenues generated in the community
% of visitors who overnight in local tourist accommodation
% of hotels with a majority local staff
% of GDP provided by tourism
Change in number of visitor arrivals
Average tourist length of stay
New tourism businesses as a percentage of all new businesses
147. Example of social and project / business
sustainability indicators in tourism
SOCIAL % of tourism operators who provide day care to employees with children
% of tourism operators who have commitments regarding equal gender opportunity
Women/men as a % of all tourism employment
% women/men employees sent on training programmes
Satisfaction with volume of tourists visiting the destination
PROJECT /
BUSINESS
PERFORMANCE
PA Management Plan exists
All personnel receive periodic tourism impact management training
% of purchases of services and goods from local providers
% of purchases that are fair trade purchases
Number of facilities built using local material
Code of conduct developed with local community
% of women and local minority employees
148. Good practice in setting
effective tourism indicators
Ensure indicators identify
conditions or outputs of
tourism development
Ensure indicators are
descriptive rather than
evaluative
Ensure indicators are
easy to measure
Ensure you start with
only a few key variables
149. Principle 2: Evaluate indicators using baselines,
benchmarks and limits of acceptable change
•The first
“foundation” study
from which future
studies follow
BASELINES
•Comparison of data
against baseline
•Can also use
industry averages
BENCHMARKS
•Helps establish if
results are positive
or negative in local
situation
LIMITS OF ACCEPTABLE
CHANGE
(THRESHOLDS)
Effective monitoring systems often incorporate at a
number of different tools to assist in the analysis of
results:
150. Examples of baselines, benchmarks and
thresholds
Establishing a baseline
•A survey was conducted in 2014 which
established that 15% of households in a
village had running water
•This forms the baseline for household
access to running water in the destination
Using a benchmark
•In 2015 a repeat survey was conducted
which recorded that 25% of households
had running water
•This shows a positive change of 10%
against the Year 1 baseline
Comparing to thresholds
•In terms of access to running water,
anything less than 100% requires action
•If however, the study was of the amount
of protected forest in a community, 40%
might be an acceptable target depending
on the year 1 benchmark
151. Limits of acceptable change process and
guidelines 1/2
STEPS GUIDELINES COMMENT ON PURPOSE
1. Identify special
values, issues, and
concerns attributed to
the area
Citizens and managers:
• Identify special features or qualities that require attention
• Identify existing management problems and concerns
• Identify public issues: economic, social, environmental
• Identify role the area plays in a regional and national context and political/institutional constraints
Encourages a better understanding of the natural
resource base, a general concept of how the
resource could be managed, and a focus on
principal management issues.
2. Identify and
describe recreation
opportunity classes or
zones
Opportunity classes describe subdivisions or zones of the natural resource where different social,
resource, or managerial conditions will be maintained
• Identify opportunity classes for the natural resources
• Describe different conditions to be maintained (Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex case study, Box
6.2 below illustrates the opportunity classes used there)
Developing classes (or zones) provides a way of
defining a range of diverse conditions within the
protected area.
3. Select indicators of
resource and social
conditions
Indicators are specific elements of the resource or social setting selected to be indicative of the
conditions deemed appropriate and acceptable in each opportunity class
• Select a few indicators as indicative measures of overall health
• Use economic, social, environmental, political indicators
• Ensure indicators are easy to measure, relate to conditions in opportunity classes, and reflect
changes in recreational use
Indicators are essential to LAC because their
condition as a group reflects the overall condition
of the opportunity class and guides the
inventory.
4. Inventory existing
resource and social
conditions
• Use chosen indicators to guide the inventory of resource and social conditions
• Use inventory data to provide a better understanding of area constraints and opportunities
• Map inventories to establish status (location and condition) of indicators
By placing the inventory as step 4, rather than the first step as is often done, planners avoid
unnecessary data collection and ensure that the data collected is useful
Inventory data are mapped so both the condition
and location of the indicators are known.
Helps managers establish realistic standards, and
used later to evaluate the consequences of
alternatives.
152. Limits of acceptable change process and
guidelines 2/2
STEPS GUIDELINES COMMENT ON PURPOSE
5. Specify standards for
resource and social
conditions in each
opportunity class
• Identify the range of conditions for each indicator considered desirable or acceptable for each opportunity
class
• Define conditions in measurable terms, to represent the maximum permissible conditions allowed (limits)
• Ensure conditions are attainable and realistic
Provides the basis for establishing a distinctive and
diverse range of protected area settings, serving to
define the “limits of acceptable change.”
6. Identify
alternative
opportunity class
allocations
This stage identifies alternative allocations of opportunities
• Identify different types/location/timing of alternatives, using steps 1 and 4 to explore how well
the different opportunity classes meet the various interests and values
Provides alternative ways of managing the area
to best meet the needs, interests, and
concerns.
7. Identify
management actions
for each alternative
• Analyse broad costs and benefits of each alternative
• Identify the kinds of management actions needed to achieve the desired conditions (direct or
indirect)
This step involves an analysis of the costs and
benefits of each alternative.
8. Evaluation and
selection of a
preferred alternative
• Review costs vs. benefits of alternatives with managers, stakeholders and public
• Examine the responsiveness of each alternative to the issues
• Explicitly state the factors considered, and their weight in decision-making
• Select a preferred alternative
Builds consensus and selects the best
alternative.
9. Implement actions
and monitor
conditions
• Develop implementation plan with actions, costs, timetable, and responsibilities
• Develop a monitoring programme, focusing on the indicators developed in step 3
• Compare indicator conditions with standards to evaluate the success of actions
If conditions do not correspond with standards the intensity of the management effort might need
to be increased or new actions implemented
Ensures timely implementation and adjustment
of management strategies. Monitoring ensures
that effectiveness of implementation is known.
If monitoring shows problems, actions can be
taken
153. Example: Acceptable thresholds of change for a
national sustainable tourism programme in Samoa
INDICATOR RESULT THRESHOLD PERFORMANCE
ENVIRONMENTAL
% of new hotels undertaking environmental impact assessments 33% 90-100% V.POOR
% of hotels using secondary or tertiary sewage treatment 8% 30-50% V.POOR
% of tourists participating in nature tourism 8% 20-40% V.POOR
% of tourist sites passing water quality tests 50% 70-90% POOR
% of hotels composting their biodegradable waste 76% 60-80% ACCEPTABLE
Water usage per guest night in hotels (in litres) 928 500-1000 ACCEPTABLE
ECONOMIC
Contribution of direct tourism businesses to GDP 4% 10-20% POOR
Proportion of new businesses focused on tourism 4% 10-20% POOR
Proportion of hotel jobs in rural areas 48% 40-60% ACCEPTABLE
SOCIAL
Hotel staff participating in training courses 27% 25-50% ACCEPTABLE
Villages included in tourism awareness programmes 28% 25-50% ACCEPTABLE
Proportion of traditional events in Tourism Festivals 50% 50-70% ACCEPTABLE
Proportion of handicraft stalls out of all stalls in markets 21% 20-40% ACCEPTABLE
Tourism operators informing visitors of village protocol 72% 50-70% GOOD
Source: SNV Vietnam & the University of Hawaii, School of Travel Industry Management 2007, A Toolkit for
Monitoring and Managing Community-based Tourism, SNV Vietnam & the University of Hawaii, USA
154. Principle 3: Ensure results are clearly
communicated
• There is no point in doing a
monitoring programme if no
one finds out about the results
• Stakeholders and decision
makers need to hear about the
results so they can take action
• Results should presented to help
stakeholders reinforce positive
actions or remedy problem
situations
Consider the
needs of the
potential user
Portray the
results as simply
as possible
PRINCIPLES IN
COMMUNICATING RESULTS
155. Options for getting the message out
Meetings and workshops
Provide an analysis of the
monitoring programme results
in a practical and “hands-on”
workshop or meeting. It also
in-depth analysis and detailed
clarification of issues.
Newsletters & reports
Provide details of the results
within the organisation
newsletter or alternatively
create a newsletter specifically
for communicating the results.
Include results in the
organisation’s annual report.
Website
Create a section on the
organisation’s website that
provides details of the progress
being made in sustainability
performance.
Email
Deliver information about the
sustainability monitoring program
directly into the mailbox of the
stakeholders. Coming from senior
management can add a level of
authority. Quick and direct.
Picture sources:
Pixabay, http://pixabay.com/