Stuart Gow

Stuart@ResortSupportFiji.com

TS309 Tourism Business Operations

Monday February 23rd 2015

What IS the International definition? Many different

definitions over the years

Fiji made their own up for a while and hoped it would ‘stick’...

Many think is all about going GREEN and stuff

What does it mean to you?

Ecotourism is defined as

"responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people."

Principles of Ecotourism Minimise impact

Build environmental & cultural awareness & respect in both visitors & hosts

Provide :

positive experiences for both visitors & hosts

direct financial benefits for conservation

financial benefits and empowermentfor local people

Raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate.

1. Conservation

2. Communities

3. Interpretation

Conservation Offering market-

linked long-term solutions

Provides effective economic incentives for conserving and enhancing bio-culturaldiversity

Helps protect the natural and cultural heritage of our beautiful planet.

Communities Increasing local capacity

building & employment opportunities

An effective vehicle for empowering local communities around the world to:

fight against poverty

to achieve sustainable development

Interpretation Emphasis on

enriching personal experiences

Environmental awareness

Promotes greater understanding and appreciation for nature, local society, and culture.

BenchmarkLife is now

EASIER

We have a standard test/benchmark!

Just ask the 3 questions about:

1. Conservation

2. Communities

3. Interpretation

Simply check 3 Ingredients Conservation

Does it actively conserve environment and culture?

Communities Is there real capacity building and are they

empowered?

NOT just hiring employees… ?

Interpretation Directly ‘teaching’ environmental awareness and

allowing personal experiences ?

Appreciation for nature, local society, and culture?

Important?

Viable?

Sustainable?

Which One? Fiji did try to set up own

based on Australian NEAP

Australia ECOCertification ?

Green Globe?

Planeta?

STI STEP Eco-Certification?

Ecotourism AwardsUsed more than

Certification...

Industry recognition

Major marketing asset

Should we ALL be Ecotourism?

Ecotourism vs. Sustainability Often confused as same

thing

NOT! Non ecotourism

companies can be sustainable (and should be with good CSR)

Being GREEN is not it!

vs.

Who’s “Doing it Right?”

Namena Marine Reserve Kubulau Management

Resource Committee

NGO supported

Rivers Fiji A local Fijian ecotourism

company dedicated to sustainability and specialising in adrenaline rushes.

One or two-day rafting trips on the Luva or Upper Navua Rivers are guaranteed to get your blood pumping and your heart racing, without a detrimental impact to the environment

Bouma National Heritage Park Actually 4 coordinated

Ecotourism Products

Tavoro Falls

Waitabu Marine Park

Vidawa Rainforest Hike

Lavena Coastal Walk

NZAID initial support

bnhp.org

Jean-Michel Cousteau Resort Savusavu

Award winning LUXURY eco-resort

Ecotourism does NOT mean roughing it!

Waitabu Marine Park

Part of Taveuni’s BoumaHeritage Park

NZAID and private sector initial support only

Sustained fully internally since 2000

Helen’s Case Study next…

Matava Resort Award winning eco-resort

Matava Foundation

52 plot organic farm & training

Community honey

Chickens part of farm

100% Solar Power Solution

MPA formation & support

Bagata Village Tour Wailevu, Cakaudrove

Village Eco Tour

handicrafts

3 other sites in development:

Magic Waterfall

Rock Pool Bathing

Hot Springs

Assisted by NGO (WCS)

Turtle Island Resort Eco-Luxury

Largest Solar Plant in tourism

5 acres local produce farm

Local village tourism support (Oarsman’s Bay)

What is Not Ecotourism...

Common misbelieves and confusions

Village Based Tourism? NOT all village or

community based tourism is Ecotourism...

Nature-destructive tourism in villages:

Lomawai Village: Sea Salt making by clearing & burning mangroves...

Forest clearing for village plantations

Anchoring

Reef walking

Poling boats

Non-sustainable Marine Tourism activities

Non-sustainable Tourism activities

Local handicrafts

Shell Markets

Shell Collecting

Non-sustainable Marine Tourism activities

Handling corals & other marine animals

Use of endangered species in decoration and advertising

Non-sustainable Marine activities

Not all Resorts CAN be Ecotourism Aim at environmental

sustainability

Good CSR would “lean” many toward term ecotourism

Careful not to dilute or “wash” the term Ecotourism

Voluntourism?Voluntourism Companies Ecotourism?

GVI

Projects Abroad

Coral Cay Conservation

I.C.E.

School helpers?

Hospital helpers?

Kindergarten builders?

Education Program Volunteer?

NONE HAVE DIRECT NATURE!

These do...

Marine Science?

Scuba diving assistant?

What we need to be careful of...

We all CANNOT all be Ecotourism Aim at environmental

sustainability

Good CSR with environmental sustainability

Careful not to dilute or “wash” the term Ecotourism

Don’t claim to be something you are not…

Follow international StandardsFiji does not need to re-invent the

wheel

Stick to the Internationally recognised Benchmark as a guide:

1. Conservation

2. Communities

3. Interpretation

Fiji has GREAT EcotourismWe are good at Ecotourism in Fiji

But must be careful to know what is & isn’t

Entire industry is not Ecotourism & never will be

Assist new projects aiming to be Ecotourism to achieve the 3 benchmarks

Stuart Gow

Stuart@ResortSupportFiji.com

References Honey, M. (1999) Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who

Owns Paradise? Island Press: Washington, DC Harrison, D. (1998) Ecotourism and village-based tourism: a policy and

strategy for Fiji. Government Print, Suva, Fiji. TCSP (1990) Guidelines for the integration of tourism development

and environmental protection in the South Pacific. Tourism Council of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji.

Ayala, H. (1995) From quality product to Eco-product: will Fiji set a precedent? Tourism Management 16(1): 39-47

King, R. and Weaver, S. (1993) The impact of the environment on the Fiji tourism industry: a study of industry attitudes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism 1(2): 97-111

Weaver, S. (1992) Nature Tourism as a means of protecting indigenous forest resources in Fiji Journal of Pacific Studies 16: 63-73.

(1999) Fijian Ecotourism Gets NZ Govt Aid. Travel Trade April 16 1999, p 1.