DARARAT KHAMCHIANGTA ID 109533 Ecologically Sensitive Development of New Tourism Destinations in The Greater Mekong Sub-Region DARARAT KHAMCHIANGTA ID 109533

Main Research Objective INTRODUCTION Research Problem Tourism sector development put enormous pressure on ecosystem in locality by uncontrolled development. Moreover, local authorities who play an important role in local management do not know how to deal with the impacts on the locality. Many ecologically sensitive areas in GMS were promoted to be tourism destination Research Question What are the effects of tourism development on the ecologically sensitive destinations in GMS? What are Environment Management Measures (EMMs) used by local authorities and their effectiveness? How local authorities in GMS can manage ecologically sensitive tourism destinations for sustainable tourism development? Main Research Objective To propose the application of EMMs for local authorities in the GMS to manage in the future tourism growth on ecologically sensitive tourism destination.

Literature Review

Method of Study Multiple case study approach was used, in order to investigate a contemporary phenomenon within a real context of tourism designations in GMS

Conceptual Framework Precedence Study Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, in Lao PDR Both the two case are river based tourism Tourism development in the two cases since 1990s In the past, they were small rural town, with unspoiled nature Today, they had changed their eco system due to tourism development Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, in Thailand

DPSIR Framework This analytical framework was developed by OECD , used to analyze the stage of environment.

Driving Forces of Tourism Development Period of Tourism Development Related to Driving Forces and Increasing of Visitor Arrival Vang Vieng Case Pai Case Both of Vang Vieng and Pai Case illustrates : The number of tourist was increasing after the areas was placed the Policy, Plan, Program and Projects. Policy, Plan, Program and Projects were from three level 1. International Level 2. National Level >>> The main influences 3. Local Level

Pressures of Tourism Development Visitor Arrival Related to Accommodation Services Vang Vieng Case Pai Case Both of Vang Vieng and Pai Case illustrates : The number of accommodation services (supply) increasing due to the increasing of visitors (demand) in the areas. Tourism Supply in Destination Areas is not only Accommodation but also Transportation and Tourism Activities “ The Pressures of Tourism Development on Destination Areas is Demand and Supply in the Destination Area”

State of Tourism Growth 1) Socio – Economic system Tourists’ spending goods and services, Contribute local increasing, Local people changed their occupation to do tourism service business Influx investment from outside into locality Tourism activities affect to culture and traditional of local community 2) Built system Activities and service supplies, Lead to increase of infrastructure 3) Bio – Physical System Tourism Activities enclose to nature environment Spending goods from tourists lead to increase solid waste Increasing natural resources used and waste polluted from tourism services and activities

Impacts on Ecosystem Causes and Effects Diagram

Responses by Local Authorities Local authorities of both two case had less responses on these effect. There was only the basic public management (solid waste and wastewater) with poor management and low capacity. Major Gap of Responses: - Cannot dealing with the increasing amount of waste.

Key Factors for Analyzing the Emerging Case (Based on the study of preceding cases) From DPSIR analysis, it illustrated key factors that causing ecosystem effects in destination area as follow; Tourism Demand Tourism Supply Investment in Locality Local Economy and People’s occupations New Constructions and Renovations Constructions Along the River Tourism Activities Responses by Local Authority “These factors were used to analyze the new tourism destination in order to find out the tourism growth, current and future effects in ecosystem”

Second Step of Study Analysis of an Emerging Destination There are three level of driving forces contributed tourism development in Chiang Khan. However, the centennial celebration in 2009 that promoted from TAT is the main influences to contribute Chiang Khan became the famous destination for domestic tourists.

Tourism Demand and supply Chiang Khan became the famous destination within only one year with over 100,000 tourists and 100 accommodation services in 2010 “ Tourism demand & supply show the rapid growth in this area”

Investment in Locality, Local Economic and Local people occupation Shops and Restaurant Services related Year of Establishment There is 50% of local people who strongly agree that their cost of living, increase after tourism development “50% of local people strongly agree that their cost of living, increase after tourism development” “Increasing shops and restaurants investment during 2009-20010”

Constructions & Tourism Activities New Construction The city grow along Mekong River and main road in the district New Construction Tourism service supplies take place in traditional zone Tourism Activities Tourism Activities refer to resources used & waste polluted

Responses by Chiang Khan Municipality The responses by the municipality were found that it was on only solid waste and wastewater management with poor managed. Dumping the waste to the disposal site and just open burning Discharge wastewater directly to Mekong River “ The response is the same with Vang Vieng and Pai Case. Therefore, it could lead to the same effects in Chiang Khan” “As s result of tourism growth related urban ecosystem in locality with a lesson learnt from Vang Vieng and Pai Cases, it could draw the current effects and the future in the area of Chiang Chan destination ”

Causes and Effects of Tourism in Chiang Khan

Major Effects 1)Changed land used pattern from residential to commercial area “Conflict of Land used>> Noise increasing in local community” 2)Increased of solid waste and waste water with poor management by the municipality

The Responses Needed by Municipality Analysis and Finding Responses Needed Causes Current & Future Effects Increasing Tourists Tourism Activities (transport used) Increasing Tourism Services Supply Increasing waste polluted (solid wastes, wastewater, gaseous waste, heat, noise) Depletion of natural resource ( green space, water, energy) Waste management improving (solid waste, wastewater) Transportation management Investment control Land use control Resources used control Building construction control Tourism activities control Economic activities Support and promote local agriculture product Increasing Tourism Services Supply (construction) Change land used pattern (land used conflict, depletion of green area) Transformation of architecture Wastewater discharge to Mekong River Change natural condition River Pollution Cultural and traditional degradation Change occupation Chiang local people livelihood

Application of EMMs by Municipality

Conclusions Due to the influx of tourist and services supply in the area, it creates the changes in the ecosystem especially on the nature environment. Normally, local authority with the main of responsibility in local level, but have less responses on these effects. The effects in ecosystem will more critical if local authority has not improve the management in the destination. From the case study of Chiang Khan, the effects will be same with Vang Vieng and Pai cases, if the municipality does not concern on the key factors that cause to the effects or the changes in the destination area. “The management in the early stage of tourism growth could mitigate the current effects and prevent the effects of the future”

Recommendations This study could be adapt and be the guideline for setting application of EMMs in the similar tourism destinations in GMS The similar cases could be the river based tourism destination in GMS “However, the implementation depends on the role or power of the local authorities in those destinations including tourism management framework in each country”