ECO-TOURISM & THE CARIBBEANProtecting Natural Assets

and Enhancing Sustainable Development in Small Economies

byT. Jennifer Edwards

Specialist in Sustainable Tourism, The Bahamas

Regional Policy Briefing no.7Building Resilience in Small Island Economies: From Vulnerabilities to Opportunities

Hotel Victoria, Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius,23-24 April 2012

Presentation Outline

1. The Eco-Tourism Sector• Background, Nature & Linked Concepts• Size , Potential & Products

2. Caribbean Eco-Tourism• Eco-Assets & Top Eco-Destinations

3. Key Caribbean Eco-Tourism Initiativesa) CTO/EU/CRSTDP Good Practices Project

4. Case Initiative: The Community Baboon Sanctuary, Bermudian Landing, BELIZE

5. Conclusion: Caribbean Eco-Tourism, Enhancing Sustainable Development

ECO-TOURISM: BACKGROUND • Emerged as a move from the MASS BEACH

TOURISM of the 60s & 70s

• Took off in the 80s & 90s in response to a wider environmental awareness in western consumerist society. The message being ENVIRONMENT, CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABILITY with reduced negative impacts

• A move to:– More diverse & specialised forms of tourism

with tourists also engaging in recreational, sporting and adventure activities

– Learning about local cultures– Increased interests in the Natural Environment

• Special interests in the Natural Environment has resulted in one of the most popular Tourism terms today, i.e. ECO TOURISM

Eco-Tourism: Early Concept

• Focused on travel to undisturbed or uncontaminated natural areas with the specific objective of studying, admiring and enjoying the scenery with its wild plants and animals, as well as any existing cultural manifestations (both past & present)

• Demand-Led, Market-Driven New or Alternate Tourism Product

BUT.....

The concept omitted anything about the needs of the host countries or communities

Natural Environment: Air, Water, Flora, Fauna, Soil, Natural

Landscapes (including geological features/scenery) and climate

Eco-Tourism: Current ConceptInternational Eco-Tourism Society:

“Responsible travel that conserves natural environments & sustains the well-being of local people”

IUCN“Environmentally responsible travel & visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy & appreciate nature (& any accompanying cultural features - both past & present) that:– promotes conservation & sustainable

development– has low visitor impact, and – provides for beneficially active socio-

economic involvement of local populations”

Nature of True Eco-Tourism Experiences

An Authentic Eco-Tourism Experience constitutes 4 common elements:

– The use of the natural environment (including cultural features of the environment), i.e. Enjoyment of nature

– Education & Interpretation

– Ecological & Cultural Sustainability, i.e. Conservation for continued future enjoyment

– Benefits to the local community

Other Concepts Linkedto Eco-Tourism

• Nature Tourism• Eco-Community or Community Tourism• Soft Adventure Tourism• Green Tourism• Edutainment• Volunteer-Tourism• Eco-Lodge/Environment Friendly Tourism• Cultural & Heritage Tourism• Agro Tourism

The Eco-Tourism Sector: Size & Potential

UNWTO 2020 Forecast•International Arrivals 1.6 Billion•Long Hall travellers 378 millionEarly Studies by USTTA•Nature Tourism expenditure - $12 billion in 1988, i.e. 7% of all international travel earnings. In 1989 this figure jumped to 14 billion dollars, a 16.6% expansion.

International Centre for Ecotourism Research, Griffith University, Aus.•Eco Tourism - 5% of the International Tourism Market

Adventure Travel Society 2003•Eco adventure has a sectoral annual growth rate of 10-15%

US Travel Data Centre 2009•78% of American travelers consider themselves “environmentally conscious”

•54% believed that individuals themselves have the greatest responsibility for preserving and protecting the environment

•They believe that travel service suppliers should be good stewards of their environment

Caribbean Tourism & Eco-Tourism

• CTO member countries : 1% of the world’s population but attract 3% of global tourism arrivals & expenditure;

• Dependent on Tourism to sustain livelihoods more than any other region of the world;

• Tourism is the main foreign exchange earner & employs 1/3 of the labour force;

• Eco-tourism offers an opportunity to bring benefits to the wider community.

Popular Eco-Tourism Products Eco Tourism deals with

PRODUCT, MOTIVATION, MARKET SEGMENTATION

ECO-TOURISM : EXPERIENCES/PRODUCTS/ ACTIVITYBird Watching River/Waterfall Bathing

Wildlife Watching e.g. whales, turtles, monkeys etc.

Sightseeing to natural wonders e.g. mountains, breathtaking sceneries

Diving e.g. deep sea, caverns, reefs (5-7 million divers worldwide)

Heritage Sites/Cultural Events

Hiking & Trekking Fishing e.g. fly-fishing/ bone-fishing

Kayaking/Canoeing Eco Lodging

Rafting/Tubing Marine, Animal, Ecology StudyHorseback Riding Volunteerism

Cycling Home-Stays/Local FoodsPhoto Safari CampingSailing Zip Line Tours

The Caribbean: Eco-AssetsA Nature Lover’s Dream• Land & Sea National Parks• Landscape ranging from Volcanic

mountains, lakes & limestone cliffs to lush green hills, mangrove swamps, deserts and forests

• Rare native bird species - Dominica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Barbuda, Montserrat, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada

• Wild Life Diversity• Accompanying Culture & Heritage

Top Eco-Tourism Branded Destinationsin the Caribbean

National Parks

Rivers & Lakes

Forests

Bird Watching

Horseback Riding

Canopy tours

Rainforest Aerial Tram

Pristine Marine Environment

The Nature Island of the Caribbean Among the top

in Eco-Tourism

TOBAGO:Eco-tourism

Award WinnerCertified Eco-Lodges

& Green Hotels

Other Caribbean Destinations with Eco-Tourism Packages

Blue Holes, Creeks, Marine Reserves

Dense Forests, Rivers, Waterfalls, Rolling Hills

Rich in Nature & Well Preserved

Caribbean islands' 2000 Ecotourism Award for its Heritage Tourism Program

Volcano, Coral Reefs, Heritage Trail

Picturesque Scenery,National Park

Eco Hotels & River Tours

Volcano, Fruits, Flowers, Birds

Biodiversity, Jungles, Rivers, Eco-Lodges

Dominican RepublicWaterfalls, Deserts

ACTIVITY:A 50-75 minute discover tour of a Banana Plantation in Martinique by Train;

CLEAR BLUE MARTINIQUE

An environmentally friendly way to raise awareness about the protection of flora and fauna underwater while introducing the great sport kayaking

The BEST OF DOMINICAthrough the EYES OF A COMMUNITY

I am:

• Beauty Unspoilt • Culture Preserved

• A Hiker’s Paradise • Volcanic Peaks

• Boiling Waters • Sparkling Waterfalls

• Rushing Streams • Rainforest Canopies

• Underwater Champagne Springs

• The trailhead to adventure and discovery, unlike any other Caribbean destination;

I am celebrations of Music, Art and Flowers

I am Nature’s Island

I am Dominica.

Eco-Tourism/Community Initiative in The CaribbeanCTO/EU/CRSTDP: Good Practices in Community-Based Tourism in the Caribbean (2003-2008)

Portsmouth India River TourMAIN ECOTOURISM ACTIVITY• A 1-mile guided up-river tour with

nature interpretation.• Bush Bar en route for ‘dynamite rum’

MARKETCruise Passengers; French Day Trippers from Martinique & Guadeloupe; Tour Operators, Yachters, Tourists, Schools and Residents

TOUR GUIDES30 male members who are certified tour guides and have local wooden boats.

GOOD PRACTICES:Environmental impact management• Greater local appreciation of

biodiversity;• Stronger management of natural

resources;• Improved infrastructure (retaining

wall) to prevent erosion.Socio-Economic Impact• Significant impact on local livelihoods;• Tour fees 2006 were US$80,000;• Job creation and income-generation

for river guides and souvenir vendors;• Reinvestment of profits into other

local enterprises (e.g. housing construction & guest accommodation)

• Increase in skill levels in tour guiding, hospitality services, business management and organisational development.

ARGYLE WATERFALLS, TOBAGORoxborough Estate Visitor Services Cooperative

ECOTOURISM ACTIVITY• 20-minute walk along gently undulating

nature trails through the rainforest to reach the waterfall with uniformed guides

MARKET• Cruise Passengers; Domestic and Stay-

Over Visitors

GOOD PRACTICE/IMPACT• US$8,000/mth• Trail upgrade• Profits shared: 16 members- 50% females• Guides are trained • Falls are well maintained and tourism

impacts are managed by the cooperative • Garbage management introduced to

reduce negative environmental impacts• Plans to diversify to offer –guest house,

cocoa estate tour etc.

KEY LESSON LEARNT:• The use, development and

management of common property resources for community benefit can create new income-generating activities and improve environmental management when there is effective organisational capacity at the community level

THE COMMUNITY BABOON SANCTUARYBermudian Landing, Belize

NOTEWORTHY• The Sanctuary has engineered a big increase in the

Howler Monkey’s primate population and allowed other wild life to repopulate the area

SCANTUARY OPERATION• Completely Community-run, Grassroots Conservation

Operation managed by a group of womenSIZE/LOCATION:8 Villages along the Belize River Valley (20 sq. Miles), 30 miles from Belize CityENDANGERED SPECIES• Howler Monkey called Baboons

ECOTOURISM ACTIVITIES:• Visitor Centre- Exhibits and

Wildlife History • 1-hour guided nature tour-

flora, fauna, medicinal plant• River Canoe Tours• Night Hikes• Birding (200 bird species)• Horseback riding

• Croc Night Tour• Stay at Local Eco-Lodges/Bed

& Breakfast• Eat Local Foods, Organic

livestock, Fruits & Vegetables• Sale of local farm produce,

local souvenir, food preserves, bags, embroidery

Nature Resort

HowlerMonkey Lodge

ALTERNATE LIVELIHOOD• From slash & burn farmers to Tilapia Backyard Farming• Organic Vegetables• Organic Corn from farmers feed chickens• Pig rearing• Food preserves• Handicraft & embroidery

TRAINING/OTHER GOOD PRACTICES • Land management• Alternate farming methods- mixing good farming practices

with the needs of wildlife

ACHIEVEMENTS• Began in 1985 with 12 landowners in Bermudian Landing

(assistance from WWF)• By 1988 there were 75 landowners in 7 villages• Now has 240 members• Howler population grew from 840 in 1985 to 1,000 in 1988• Broad leaf forest and trees are protected (40-50 species)• Aerial bridges protect monkeys from traffic accidents• Deers are reappearing and birds are more abundant (59

recorded in 1989 to 250 today)• 150 Children are given the tour annually

Local Guide

Aerial Bridge

1. Revenues derived from:• Development of national and regional parks and

reserves, as major attractions for tourists;• Utilizing archaeological and historic sites as tourist

attractions which may have otherwise deteriorated or disappeared

2. Increased environmental awareness among the local community

3. Improvement of Environmental Quality4. Conservation of important natural areas and wildlife,

including marine environments;5. Synergies and Linkages that occurs with other

economic sectors and communities, e.g. with agriculture and with local groups

Caribbean Eco-Tourism: Enhancing Sustainable Development

ECO-TOURISM & THE CARIBBEAN EXPERIENCEProtecting Natural Assets

and Enhancing Sustainable Development in Small Economies

COMMENTS & DISCUSSIONS

Regional Policy Briefing no.7Building Resilience in Small Island Economies: From Vulnerabilities to Opportunities

Hotel Victoria, Pointe aux Piments, Mauritius,23-24 April 2012