Challenges for tourism in the Mediterranean

Transcription

1 Challenges for tourism in the Mediterranean Zoran Klarić PhD Associate Professor, Institute for Tourism Zagreb

2 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT is a form of development which uses the natural ecosystem as resources of production and consumption growth leaving them unchanged for the future generations: or DEVELOPMENT within the carrying capacity of ecosystem.

3 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM uses natural resources and cultural heritage to increase the number of visitors and the profit, but preserves them for the future generations According to the UNWTO, SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT meets the needs of present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future. It is envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems

4 According to the UNWTO CARRYING CAPACITY FOR TOURISM is the maximum number of people that may visit the tourist destination without causing destruction of the physical, economic and socio-cultural environment and an unacceptable decrease in the quality of the visitors' satisfaction

5 According to the UNWTO, ECOTOURISM embraces the principles of sustainable tourism, concerning the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism. It also embraces the following specific principles which distinguish it from the wider concept of sustainable tourism: Contributes actively to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage Includes local and indigenous communities in its planning, development and operation, and contributing to their well-being Interprets the natural and cultural heritage of the destination to visitors Lends itself better to independent travellers, as well as to organized tours for small size groups

6 THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY Ecological sustainability VIABLE BEARABLE SUSTAI- NABILITY Social sustainability EQUITABLE Economical sustainability

7 THE THREE SPHERES OF SUSTAINABILITY

8 The action aimed to find the methodology of Carrying capacity assessment adapted to Mediterranean countries was launched by Prirority Actions Programme of UNEP/MAP in The methodology was formulated in 1997 and improved in 2003 mainly by Croatian experts from the Institute for tourism and is based on three main groups of indicators: PHYSICAL - - ECOLOGICAL - - INFRASTRUCTURAL INDICATORS SOCIO - DEMOGRAPHIC INDICATORS POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL INDICATORS (FACTORS)

9 THE DIAGRAM OF KEY VALUES OF CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT

10 Prerequisities for optimising destination capacities: Definition of the typology of a destination according to the level of tourism development, sensitivity, homogenous spatial entities and evaluation of tourism resources, demand and product The positioning of critical elements of carrying capacity Finding the most appropriate development scenario The scenario have to be included in planning documents

11 THE BASIC CONTENTS OF CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT STUDY: 1. BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 2. PROBLEMS CONCEIRNING TOURISM CCA (concept of CCA, particular area as subject of CCA, methodology, integration into planning structure) 3. DATA ANALYSIS (position of the area, physical characteristics, environmental considerations, infrastructure, demography, economy, tourism development patterns, socio-cultural problems, political issues and its effects on the study area) 4. DATA SYNTHESIS (issues of management and protection, tourism demand and development, land-use planning policy, synthesis of the new situation, possible alternative approaches to tourism development for the particular area) 5. TOURISM DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS (continuation of existing trends, development without limits, option based on protection, sustainable development option) 6. TOURISM CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF PARTICULAR AREA (requirements necessary to achieve sustainable tourism development scenario, physical structure and distribution of tourism development, tourism accomodation capacities, tourism services and support activities) 7. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDELINES

12 THE PHILOSOPHY OF SUSTAINABILITY full saturation maximum minimum no tourism Concept promoters INVESTORS INTERESTED ONLY IN MAXIMUM PROFIT ("POLLUTE AND PAY" PRINCIPLE) CARRYING CAPACITY Concept promoters MILITANT ECOLOGISTS AND "EXPERTS" FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRIES WHO OFTEN TREAT LOCALS AS ABORIGINES ("NATIVES") SLOGANS JOBS AND MONEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROFIT SLOGANS NATURE CONSERVATION ECOLOGICAL BALANCE PEACE AND SOCIAL BALANCE free development intensive development sustainable developmen moderate option of alternative tourism only limited forms ecotourism

13 THE KEY WEAK POINTS OF EXTREME DEVELOPMENT SCENARIOS full saturation maximum profit on short term only environmental unfriendliness destruction of local community hostility of the local community towards investors and tourists free development intensive development minimum no tourism CARRYING CAPACITY no profit or jobs they are environmentallly "too friendly" they put the local community under "glass bell" they threat less developed areas as "reservations for aborigines" sustainable development moderate option of alternative tourism only limited forms o ecotourism

14 THE LOCATIONS OF CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT STUDIES MADE WITH PAP METHODOLOGY Slovenian littoral Crikvenica Zagreb Rimini Coast of Montenegro Vis Lalzi bay Tartous Rhodes Tripoli Malta Marsa Matrouh-Fuka Larnaca Beyrut Production of CCA studies CCA workshops

15 THE USAGE OF PARTICULAR ELEMENTS OF CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT Area Year Assessment, analysis & scenarios Data management Participatory process CC calculation Integration with planning and management The role of UNEP/ /PAP The island of Vis 1989 J K L J L only PAP Central-eastern part of Rhodes 1992 J K L J L mostly PAP Lalzi bay 1997 K K L L L mostly PAP Matrouh-Fuka coastal zone 1999 J K L K K mostly PAP Maltese islands 2001 J J J J J consultation The province of Rimini 2003 J J K K K supervision Slovenian littoral 2006 K K K K K supervision Cyprus - Larnaca district 2007 J K L K K mostly PAP Crikvenica 2007 J J L K K not involved Coast of Montenegro 2014 J J L K K or K PAP & local experts J Succesfully applied L Not applied K Applied, but not completely susuccesfuly

16 Main standards used in CCA studies for Vis and Rhodes VIS: the bathing season starts when the sea temperature is 20 and more degrees Celsius the average surface area of sandy, pebble or rocky beach beach is 10m 2 per user labour force needed per accomodation unit: 0,7 persons per hotel room 0,8 persons per room in marina hotel 0,2 persons per berth in the marina 0,1 persons per room in private residences 0,1 persons per room in rural tourism ratio of residents to tourists - 1: 1,4 RHODES: tourist density: 50 guests per 1 ha in high cathegory hotels and similar est. tourist density: 90 guests per 1 ha in medium cathegory hotels and similar est. density of users on sandy beaches: 8m 2 per bather for high cathegory hotels and 6m 2 per bather for medium cathegory hotels and similar establishments

17 POSITION AND MAIN TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THE MARSA MATROUH - FUKA AREA, EGYPT Beach Nat. attraction Urban zone Mosque Church Arh. locality Rommel museum

18 Marsa Matrouh CCA FREE DEVELOPMENT OPTION housing and services commercial tourism apartment villages mixed zones green zones

19 Marsa Matrouh CCA FREE TRANSFER TO COMMERCIAL INTERESTS housing and services commercial tourism apartment villages mixed zones green zones

20 Marsa Matrouh CCA SUSTAINABLE TOU- RISM DEVELOPMENT OPTION housing and services commercial tourism apartment villages mixed zones green zones

21 The position of Larnaca district on Cyprus Nicosia Paphos Agia Napa- Paralimni Limassol LARNACA DISTRICT South Larnaca Coastal zone

22 BASIC GROUPS OF INDICATORS IMPORTANT FOR THE CCA IN LARNACA PHYSICAL - - ECOLOGICAL - - INFRASTRUCTURAL no serious threats dependence on overall situation on Cyprus as a whole SOCIO - - DEMOGRAPHIC +TOURISM no threats at all relatively undeveloped tourism regarding quantity and quality POLITICAL AND ECONOMICAL benevolent view regarding secondary residences due to owner structure, planning issues and economic interests Associaton of Cyprus tourism enterprises is only serious opponent

23 DATA SYNTHESIS The coastal zone in Larnaca district does not have high environmental value (except in small area near the Airport) The coastal zone is already partly devastated by industry (desalinization plant, sewerage treatment) Tourism replacing industry in Larnaca district can function as a tool to improve the state of environment and is seen as smaller threat to infrastructure than in Limassol and Famagusta districts The alternative approaches to tourism development are mainly concerning the distribution of two most types of development: hotels and similar establishments or secondary residences

24 4. Sustainable tourism development option - max beds in secondary residences and in hotels & similar establishments - enough new jobs protected area - parts of coastline preserved - sustainable both from the natural & socio-cultural point of view enclave resorts central zone buffer zones

25 THE ANALYSIS OF CARRYING CAPACITY INDICATORS FOR DESTINATION CRIKVENICA Is it possible to become 4* destination after saturation? Where is Crikvenica riviera now? What is the status of bathing area as a basic resource? Is it possible to assess carrying capacity of the destination according to the special circumstances? CRIKVENICA

26 BASIC INDICATORS REFLECTING THE PROBLEM OF CARRYING CAPACITY ASSESSMENT OF CRIKVENICA inhabitants tourists in secondary homes registred tourists 25.9 km of coastal strip (13.8 km suitable for bathing)

27 THE ANALYSIS OF BATHING STANDARDS FOR DESTINATION CRIKVENICA One person in the destination has only 22 cm of coastal strip suitable for bathing About users of bathing area uses m 2 of bathing area, or 3,8 m 2 per person In oder to meet minimal standard of 5 m 2 per person it is necessary to reduce the number of guests for or increase bathing capacities for 36%

28 WHAT TO DO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE REQUIREMENTS FOR 4* DESTINATION AND MINIMIZE NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF SATURATION 1. Sistematically and profesionally work on the problem of saturated bathing areas 2. Develop solutions for coastal area management according to the strict planning procedures 3. Perform redistribution of tourist demand on the location away from the coastal zone 4. Organize constant monitoring of tourist development in order to prevent unwanted changes

29 INSTEAD OF CONCLUSIONS: Why carrying capacity assessment is not more often used as tool for achieving sustainable development in tourism destinations 1. National & local government and interpreneurs are generally not interested in carrying capacity assessment, because it is not seen as a tool, but rather as an obstacle for tourism development 2. There are no subjects which are willing or capable to finance production of carrying capacity assessment studies 3. Environmentalists and NGO s are often too radical in their demands, resulting in rejection of their ideas in local community 4. Interest for carrying capacity assessment studies as tool for achieving sustainable development occurs almost only in the destinations facing problems of tourist saturation

30 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION