What Tourism Managers Need to Know Indicators: Critical Building Blocks for Better Decisions Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Tourism is a driver of change Seashores are the prime destination for tourists and visitors worldwide Tourism is the largest migration in human history - every year Tourism is the top of the food chain - dependent on ecological integrity, cultural diversity and economic stability Tourism stresses coastal environments in many ways Tourism is also a stimulant for alterations, both positive and negative in coastal zones Sri Lanka

How many tourists is enough? What is at risk? How can we capture benefits without excessive costs? What are the limits of capacity of impacted environments? Can we measure key impacts? What are appropriate indicators for improved planning systems? Can we manage tourism to respect limits and opportunities? Can we measure our progress? Key Questions for Monitoring and Management Great Wall of China

Why Indicators of Sustainab ility? decision-makers need to know: –the links between stressors and the environment –the effects of environmental factors on sectoral objectives –the impacts of specific activities (e.g tourism) on the environment the objective is to reduce future risks to the ecological, socio-cultural and economic functions of regions (destinations) Antigua

Types of Indicators early warning indicators ( unhappy visitors, residents) indicators of stress on the system (species reduction, erosion) measures of current state of use (visitor numbers, density) measures of industry impacts (deforestation rates, game take) measures of management effort (cleanup cost, repairs) measures of management effect (changed pollution levels, area under protection) Who will use them, and how? Sumela Turkey

Relevant - to real decisions Feasible - practical to obtain Credible - they are believable Clear - easily understood Comparable - can be used to measure change or relate to other sites Good indicators are: Monte Bianco Italia

The Benefits from Good Indicators Foster full participation in defining risks and sensitivity Help lower risk or cost Identify emerging issues - allowing prevention Predict impacts - allowing prevention or mitigation Support sustainable development - identifying limits and opportunities Allow for accountability -no responsibility without knowledge Help build solutions into management Varna Bulgaria

WTO Core Indicators IndicatorSpecific Measures Site protectionCategory of site protection according to IUCN index Stress Tourist numbers visiting site (per annum/peak month) Use Intensity Intensity of use - peak period (persons/hectare) Social Impact Ratio of tourists to local (peak period) Development ControlExistence of environmental review procedure or formal controls over development of site and use densities Waste ManagementPercentage of sewage from site receiving treatment (additional indicators may include structural limits of other Infrastructural capacity on site - e.g., water supply) Planning ProcessExistence of organized regional plan for tourist destination region (including tourism component) Critical EcosystemsNumber of rare/endangered species Consumer SatisfactionLevel of satisfaction by visitors (questionnaire based) Local SatisfactionLevel of satisfaction by locals (questionnaire based)

WTO Indicators of Sustainable Tourism (Derived indices) Carrying CapacityComposite early warning measure of key factors affecting the ability of the site to support different levels and types of use Site StressComposite measure of levels of impact on the site - its natural and cultural attributes due to tourism and other sector cumulative stresses AttractivityQualitative measure of those site attributes that make it attractive to tourism These derived indicators have been conceptually useful but in practice very difficult to make operational….the insights gained in the process of development are often more valuable than the quantification Composite Indices Costinesti Romania

Indicators Case: Prince Edward Island, Canada warm water, sandy beach heavy swimming use in summer national park protects shore zone intensive development of park periphery zone for tourism concern over uncontrolled development /habitat stress key indicators: peak use levels, water supply, sewage disposal, habitat stress

Indicators case: Heavily used beach site Intensive summer use Fragile dune ecosystem Need for control Problem with protection of fragile ecology Key indicators: use levels, ratio of tourists to locals, rate of beach erosion, rate of dune destruction Villa Gesell Argentina

Indicators case: Black Sea Coast, Romania Beach and historic resorts on Black Sea coast Concern for beach pollution, image abroad, service quality Large-scale inclusive resorts Need to manage quality of product and image Key indicators: water quality, service quality, tourist satisfaction

Island cruise ship destination - up to 11 ships per day Fragile reef ecosystem Visitor numbers may equal resident population Limited water availability Key Indicators: total tourist numbers, ratio to locals, water use, levels of ecosystem protection, currency leakage Indicators case: Cozumel, Mexico

Indicators case: Beruwela Sri Lanka Beach destination Targets German and French Security issue Very seasonal Little local control Key Indicators : use levels/bookings garbage counts level of planning harassment of tourists

Indicators Case: Mexcaltitan Mexico Island in swamp 2000 year history Shrimp production No tourism yet Not prepared for influx Key Indicators: Water supply Peak tourist numbers Sewage Cultural disruption - crime data Level of planning Garbage control

Indicators Case: Ugljan and Pasman Croatia Small islands as yet undeveloped for mass tourism Vibrant local community History, music, family are key assets Wish to benefit from tourism and minimize negatives Key indicators: use levels, variety, access, employment, seasonality, repeat visits, image

Ecosystem Specific Indicators Respond to specific risks found in typical tourism destinations of different types Supplement the core indicators Can be augmented by indicators which respond to specific unique risks of each destination. Zambezi river Zambia

Coastal Zones Issue Ecological destruction Beach degradation Fish stocks depletion Indicators Amount degraded Levels of erosion Reduction in catch Measures % in degraded % of beach eroded Effort to catch fish Red Sea, Egypt

Small Islands Currency leakagecapita flight%leakage fx Water supply water volume useper capita use Local jobsemployment%tourism jobs ISSUE INDICATORS MEASURES Also use coastal zone indicators Kurumba Maldives

Unique Ecological Sites Issue Ecosystem degradation Measure % area negatively affected Count species Key species as % of total plant cover Indicator Site degradation Number and mix of species Reproductive success Guilin China

Urban Environments ISSUE INDICATORS MEASURES lack of safety- crime levels- crimes reported uncleanliness- site attraction- counts of levels of waste health threats- drinking water quality- availability of clean water - noise levels - records on decibel count at key locations Hong Kong

Issue Violation of norms Displacement of locals Indicators Local satisfaction Disruption Outmigration Change of mix Measures Questionnnaire Complaints Local/visitor ratios Traditional Communities Zhozhuan China

Cultural Sites - Built Heritage Issue Site degradation Safety Indicators Levels of pollutants Restoration costs Crime rate and type Measures Acidity of precipitation Repair costs per year Crimes against tourists reported Alarcon Spain

Mt Athos Greece: Closed community

Conclusion Tourism can be a strong element in development Seek solutions which benefit both the local community and tourism Integrate tourism planning with community and regional planning Sustain the things which are most valuable and important Use the indicators process to help identify risks and manage them Moorea Tahiti

strategic building blocks for sustainable tourism Indicators: Dolomites, Italia

Available from WTO : Available FREE from Ecotourism Society website Ted.