Coastal tourism

coastal tourism and ecotourism

1. Coastal tourism Abisha MFT16085

2. Tourism is the "movement of people, spatially and temporally, out of their own communities for leisure and business purposes". A tourist is defined by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) as a "visitor staying for more than 24 hours in a country visited for business or leisure purposes

3. Ecotourism Tourism involving travel to areas of natural or ecological interest, for the purpose of observing wildlife and learning about the environment. What is Ecotourism Eco-tourism is derived from two words - 'Ecosystem' & 'Tourism'. Together it is made Eco-tourism.

4. Principle of eco tourism Adopt low-impact wildlife tourism that protects ecological integrity of forest. Highlight the biodiversity richness , their values and their ecological services to people. Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect. Facilitate the sustainability of ecotourism enterprises and activities. provide livelihood opportunities to local communities. Highlight the heritage value of India’s wilderness and protected areas.

5. Eco Tourism in India

6. Eco tourism segmentation

7. Eco tourism segmentation Wildlife There are about 400 plus wildlife sanctuaries and 99 national parks sprawling across the country. These natural homes accommodate an estimate of over 350 species of mammals , 2100 types of birds , 350 varieties of reptiles and countless insects.

8. Geography A great arc of mountains, consisting of the Himalayas, Hindu Kush, Aravali and  Patkai ranges define the northern Indian subcontinent. The Thar Desert is the world's seventh largest desert,  It forms a significant portion of western India.

9. Some statistics 8.8% annual growth in tourism demand 7.9% growth per annum in tourism-related GDP 10.5% annual growth in overseas visitors 7.5% increase per annum in capital Investment in tourism 5.1% annual growth in government expenditure on tourism India will be hosting 8.90 million tourists by 2020... Stats suggest that each year the revenue grow by 7.7%. UNWTO – estimating that ecotourism accounts for 10-15% of global tourism.

10. International Tourist Visits %percentage share of Foreign Tourist Visits

11. Location:  Stretches from Jammu & Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh in the northeast India. Weather : From freezing cold to desert hot. Indian States Covered:  Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttranchal, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh.  Himalayas Corbett National Park, Uttaranchal The Great Himalayan National Park, Himachal Pradesh

12. Coorg or Kodagu Location:  Western Ghats, Karnataka, Southern India. Weather : Coorg experiences moderate climate with pleasant winters, warm summers and heavy monsoon. Known as The Scotland of India . Its rich flora and fauna has earned this place international recognition. Nagarhole National Park Iruppu Falls Abby Falls Durbare elephant camp

13. Indian Ecosystems and Resources Biosphere Reserves Mangroves Coral Reefs Deserts Mountains and Forests Flora and Fauna Seas, Lakes and Rivers Caves

14. Biosphere Reserves   Nanda Devi National Park , Uttarakhand . Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park , Tamil Nadu Sundarbans National Park  ,West Bengal

15. Mangroves Bhitarkanika and Mahanadi Delta ,Orissa Coringa, Godavari Delta , Andhra Pradesh Pichavaram and Point Calimere Tamil Nadu

16. The key players in the ecotourism The key players in the ecotourism business are governments at levels, the local authorities, the developers and the operators, the visitors, and the local community. non-governmental organizations and scientific and research institutions also plays a key role in the development of ecotourism.

17. Some organizations are Asia Pacific Ecotourism Society, Discovery Mice, World Tourism Organization, The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), Ecoindia etc .

18. Activities Bird watching Hiking Downhill skiing Camping Sight seeing Swimming in natural water Wildlife photography White river rafting

19. Strength

20. Weakness

21. Opportunity

22. Threat

23. The ICMTS definition of coastal and marine tourism is "Coastal and marine tourism includes those recreational activities which involve travel away from one's place of residence which have as their host or focus the marine environment and/or the coastal zone."

24. Coastal Tourism Coastal Tourism is based on a unique resource combination at the border of land and sea environments: sun, water, beaches, outstanding scenic views, rich biological diversity (birds, whales, corals etc), sea food and good transportation infrastructure.

25. Examples of coastal ecosystems : Estuaries, coastal dunes, rocky coasts, sandy beaches, coastal cliffs, intertidal (littoral) areas. Examples of marine ecosystems: Coral reefs, benthic, kelp forests, rocky reefs, continental shelves, sea-mounts, hydro-thermal vents, open oceans, polar oceans. Oceanic zones : Epipelagic , mesopelagic , bathypelagic, abyssalpelagic , hadalpelagic . Coastal zones: Inshore, littoral, foreshore, backshore.

26. coastal recreation Examples of coastal recreation/tourism activities : Sand-dune surfing, beach volleyball, tidal-pool exploration, kite-flying, Land yachting , fishing, walking, skim-boarding, horse-riding wildlife watching, shell-fish gathering, beach-combing, sun-bathing (baking), picnic and barbecues

27. marine recreation Examples of marine recreation/tourism activities: SCUBA diving, snorkelling , yachting, water-skiing, wake-boarding, boat based fishing, wildlife watching, scenic boat cruising, sea-kayaking, surfing, surf-ski paddling, swimming

28. ICMTS recognises that coastal and marine tourism covers a wide array of activities, environments, industries and organisations . Overall the aim of ICMTS is to share knowledge for the sustainable use of our marine environment

29. Areas of research and practice may include: Coastal events/attractions Marine wildlife tourism Education Marine Protected Areas Fisheries Water sports/recreation Cruise industry

30. Main sources of impact Residence in the coastal zone Fisheries and aquaculture Shipping Tourism Land-use practices (Agriculture, Industrial development) Climate change

31. Resulting problems Loss of marine resources due to destruction of coral reefs, overfishing Pollution of marine and freshwater resources Soil degradation and loss of land resources (e.g. desertification and salinification due to excessive water use, overuse of fertilizers, erosion) Air pollution Loss of cultural resources , social disruption Loss of public access Natural hazards and  sea level rise Climate change

32. In the middle of the 20th century coastal tourism in Europe turned into mass tourism and became affordable for nearly everyone. Today, 65% of the European holiday makers prefer the coast (E.C., 2011). The coastal tourism sector in Europe is getting increasingly competitive, with tourists expecting more quality for the lowest possible price.

33. Coastal and maritime tourism The extraordinary beauty, cultural wealth and great diversity of EU's coastal areas have made them the preferred destination for many holidaymakers in Europe and abroad, making coastal and maritime tourism an important tourism sector. Employing over 3.2 million people , this sector generates a total of € 183 billion in gross value added and representing over one third of the maritime economy. As much as 51% of bed capacity in hotels across Europe is concentrated in regions with a sea border

34.   Tourism  can provide jobs and improve the wealth of an area . Many developing countries are keen to develop  tourism  in order to become richer and to improve the quality of life for their people. However, when large numbers of visitors go to one place it is called mass tourism . Why tourism is good?

35. Why tourism is bad? The particular environmental ill-effects from tourism include increases in pollution and waste and pressure on endangered species as well as natural resources. From a cultural perspective, tourism can be beneficial in preserving authentic communities but can also lead to the erosion of these communities' traditional values and ways of life.

36. Specific situation of coastal areas Coastal areas are transitional areas between the land and sea characterized by a very high biodiversity and they include some of the richest and most fragile ecosystems on earth, like  mangroves and coral reefs . At the same time, coasts are under very high population pressure due to rapid urbanization processes. More than half of today’s world population live in coastal areas (within 60 km from the sea) and this number is on the rise.

37. In the  Mediterranean region  for example, tourism is the first economic activity for islands like Cyprus, Malta, the Balearic Islands and Sicily . Forecast studies carried out by WTO estimate that international tourist arrivals to the Mediterranean coast will amount to 270 millions in 2010 and to 346 millions in 2020 (in 2000 around 200 million foreign visitors per year

38. Tourist infrastructure In many areas, massive new tourist developments have been built - including airports, marinas, resorts, and golf courses . Overdevelopment for tourism has the same problems as other coastal developments, but often has a greater impact as the tourist developments are located at or near fragile marine ecosystems . How does tourism damage coastal environment For example: mangrove forests and  seagrass meadows  have been removed to create open beaches tourist developments such as piers and other structures have been built directly on top of coral reefs nesting sites for endangered marine turtles have been destroyed and disturbed by large numbers of tourists on the beaches

39.  Recreational snorkellers harassing a whaleshark ( Rhincodon typhus), © WWF-Canon/ Erkki SIIRLIA

40. Tourists sunbathing on a beach used by loggerhead turtles ( Caretta caretta ) for nesting, some with beach umbrellas which can hurt turtle nests. Zákinthos , Greece. © WWF-Canon / Michel GUNTHER

41. Careless resorts, operators, and tourists Some tourist resorts empty their sewage and other wastes directly into water surrounding coral reefs and other sensitive marine habitats. .

42. Recreational activities also have a huge impact. For example, careless boating, diving, snorkeling , and fishing have substantially damaged  coral reefs  in many parts of the world, through people touching reefs, stirring up sediment, and dropping anchors . Marine animals such as whale sharks, seals, dugongs, dolphins, whales, and birds are also disturbed by increased numbers of boats, and by people approaching too closely .

43. Tourism can also add to the consumption of seafood in an area , putting pressure on local fish populations and sometimes contributing to overfishing. Collection of corals, shells, and other marine souvenirs - either by individual tourists, or local people who then sell the souvenirs to tourists - also has a detrimental effect on the local environment

44. Cruise ships: Floating towns The increased popularity of cruise ships has also adversely affected the marine environment. Carrying up to 4,000 passengers and crew, these enormous floating towns are a major source of marine pollution through the dumping of garbage and untreated sewage at sea, and the release of other shipping-related pollutants.

45. Benefits of Sustainable coastal tourism Economic benefit The main positive economic impacts of sustainable (coastal) tourism are contributions to government revenues, foreign exchange earnings, generation of employment and business opportunities.

46. Direct contributions are generated by income taxes from tourism and employment due to tourism, tourism businesses and by direct charges on tourists such as ecotax . Indirect contributions derive from taxes and duties on goods and services supplied to tourists, for example, taxes on tickets (or entry passes to any protected areas), souvenirs, alcohol, restaurants, hotels, service of tour operators. Contribution to government revenues

47. Foreign exchange earnings Tourism expenditures, the export and import of related goods and services generate income to the host economy. Tourism is a main source of foreign exchange earnings for at least 38 % of all countries  

48. Employment generation The rapid expansion of international tourism has led to significant employment creation . Tourism can generate jobs directly through hotels, restaurants, taxis, souvenir sales and indirectly t hrough the supply of goods and services needed by tourism-related businesses; for e.g. conducted tour operators. Tourism represents around 7 % of the world’s employees (World Tourism Organisation). .

49. Stimulation of infrastructure investment Tourism can influence the local government to improve the infrastructure by creating better water and sewage systems, roads,electricity , telephone and public transport networks. All this can improve the standard of living for residents as well as facilitate tourism

50. Contribution to local economies As environment is a basic component of the tourism industry’s assets , tourism revenues are often used to measure the economic value of protected areas. Part of the tourism income comes from informal employment, such as street vendors and informal guides. The  World Travel and Tourism Council  estimates that tourism generates an indirect contribution equal to 100 % of direct tourism expenditures.

51. Direct financial contributions to nature protection Tourism can contribute directly to the conservation of sensitive areas and habitats . Revenue from park-entrance fees and similar sources can be allocated specifically to pay for the protection and management of environmentally sensitive areas . Some governments collect money in more far-reaching and indirect ways that are not linked to specific parks or conservation areas.

52. Sustainable Tourism Strategy Analysis of status-quo Development of previous tourism management or related strategies for the specific area A  stakeholder analysis (Who has an interest in sustainable tourism development? Who are the main actors?) Facts and figures of the local educational system, economical and social structure Anecdotal and traditional knowledge

53. Methods for collecting this information: Interviews with stakeholders Questionnaires distributed and collected by e-mail, fax or personally in order to compile standardised data and perform a statistical analysis. Invitation to focus group meetings (e.g. meetings on environmental education,biodiversity  management, good governance and fisheries) Literature search in the local library and the internet

54. Strategy development A Sustainable Tourism Strategy is based on the information collected . These include: Conservation of specific coastal landscapes or habitats  that make the area attractive or are protected under nature conservation legislation Development of regionally specific sectors of the economy that can be interlinked with the tourism sector (e.g. production of food specialities and handicrafts)

55. Maximising local revenues from tourism investments Enabling self-determined cultural development in the region, etc.

56. Action plan The Action Plan describes the steps needed to implement the strategy and addressing a number of practical questions such as which organizations will take up which activities, over what time frame, by what means and with which resources? However, Action Plans usually include measures in the following fields: Administration Socio-economical sector Environment Knowledge

57. Conclusions During the last century, beaches have completely reversed their role: they have become the driving force behind the economic welfare instead of just being an inhospitable place. However, the demographic pressure and the overuse of the territory related to those factors, in the  hinterland  (dams in the rivers, farming and tourism) as well as in the proper beach (sewage discharge, dry goods extraction and crops) have caused a general decrease in the contribution of sediments to the beaches with a continental or a marine origin. It is hard to find a unique solution for all those problems.

58. However, it should be absolutely essential to follow these points: First, an  Integrated Coastal Zone Management

59. Second, a  better dissemination of the existing information  should be achieved. For that purpose, a better coordination of the existing governmental bodies that deal with coastal management is necessary. Third, an  improvement of the environmental education  is essential for a sustainable development of the coast.