Ecotourism: Lessons LearnedMegan Epler Wood,
President, Epler Wood International Remarks at Ecotourism Symposium Rosslyn, Virginia February 21, 2003Tourism in the Least Developed World
- Significant in nearly all of the 12 poorest countries
- For “least developed” countries, tourism is one of the few ways to participate in the global economy
- Only economic area where developing countries run a trade surplus
- Global Downturn a significant factor with tourism down -0.6% in 2001
Tourism Development: Fast and Cheap?
- Government investment has been very low, only $25 per capita in 76 developing countries, compared to over $600 per capita in Europe
- Lessons Learned
Necessary Procedures for Technical Assistance
Key Procedures Pre-Investment
- Examine laws and regulations in force, e.g. regulations on land use, land tenure issues
- Introduce collection of statistical data to gauge market for ecotourism
- Review present coordination between institutions of tourism and environment
- Review present tourism industry capacities and infrastructure for tourism
Key Implementation Steps Post-Investment
Phase One Technical Assistance Benchmarks in Stressed Protected Areas
- Establish data gathering system with local NGOs and communities
- Select key environmental indicators
- Target parks under most stress
Develop Plan for Entrepreneurial Support
- Support Business Development through Competitiveness Strategies - such as USAID Program in Sri Lanka
- Support Development of Model Project
- Set goals for access to credit
Set appropriate thresholds for ecotourism and other tourism SMEs
Apply International Standards
- Develop clear guidelines for tourism development through participatory processes
- Apply these guidelines to Model Project
- Set realistic goals for certification of ecotourism
Local Empowerment & Participation
- Improve access to government decision making using participatory tools for local minorities and rural peoples
- Monitor progress via local NGOs
Appropriate Training and Capacity Building
- Set goals for development of human resource capacity
- Train local trainers
Community Assistance
Lessons Learned Research Linkages to International Marketplace
- Market research fundamental & full business planning needed
- Avoid raising false expectations before market for project is understood
- International tour operators may not be the best source of business for community based operations
Conclusion
- Stress Entrepreneurial Linkages and Training on Small Business
- Develop Appropriate Credit Access
- Provide Grant Support through USAID, such as Competitiveness Project
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