Tourism in International Relations
Lecturer: Drs. Usmar Salam, MIS
Hafny Fatwati
SP/21709
Ecotourism in Taiwan
Tourism is making an important contribution to economic development in the Asia–Pacific region, especially in developing economies, by generating foreign currency earnings and expanding employment. Since tourism utilizes environmental features, such as natural resources, and historical and cultural properties, as attractive resources, it is inevitably dependent on these features. They are extremely important to the future development and promotion of tourism. Ecotourism could be the only way to resolve the conflict between tourism development and environmental conservation.
To promote green products in Taiwan, in May of 1998 when the Government Procurement Act was enacted, the Legislative Yuan included a clause for green procurement. The clause stipulates that during government procurement bids, products bearing the Green Mark (Taiwan’s eco-label), or with comparable characteristics, should be given priority in the bid and enjoy a price advantage of within 10%. In accordance with this regulation, the EPA drew-up the Regulations for the Priority Procurement of Eco-Products by Government Organisations. According to the framework proposed by the EPA, the initial goals of the program will be tailored to fit with the current trend of applications for Green Mark use. The products prescribed for procurement will initially be office supplies and equipment.
It is commonly accepted that in order to maintain sustainable tourism, industry links must be established between tourism and the environment, as well as between other social and economic sectors. This reality presents a challenge, as both mature and emerging destinations grapple to strike and maintain the optimal balance between the economic gains derived from tourism, and tourism’s impact on the social, cultural and natural environments.
The action plans for ecotourism activities being undertaken are: (i) the Tourism Bureau is preparing a Tourism White Paper, and sustainable tourism development and ecotourism will become major goals of the policy; (ii) the Tourism Bureau has already finished a project to investigate the potential ecotourism and adventure tourism products in Taiwan (this project was designed to promote sustainable tourism in Taiwan and includes the definition of ecotourism products, recreational settings and management mechanisms); and (iii) some local communities are preserving the unique natural resources in their regions, and also promoting ecotourism businesses of the aboriginal people.
The Green Island Case Study
One major case study to illustrate the principles of ecotourism, the Green Island Study, was carried out in 1995. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted for this project; it included 49 tourist destinations in 10 economies, with the destinations being divided into four categories: natural resources, tangible cultural properties, intangible cultural properties and townscapes. One of the three destinations chosen was Green Island, which was selected from the natural resource category as an example of how to develop the concept of ecotourism.
The Green Island project has been implemented with two objectives in mind: (i) to identify requirements for the development of ecotourism, including concept planning, methods, processes, education and training; and (ii) to propose recommendations for the implementation of ecotourism.
Surrounded by clear blue water, Green Island, or Lutao, is a pristine volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, 33 km east of the city of Taitung. This island has a rich diversity of marine resources. A total of 602 species of fish has been seen in the surrounding water, and 40 of the species are very common. There are also 176 species of hard coral, and four kinds of sea snakes, as well as molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms and algae. This marine life and the sea bed topography have considerable potential for attracting tourists to view Green Island’s underwater world for snorkeling and scuba diving, and for taking trips on glass-bottomed boats and a tourist submarine (already operating there).
The water around the island is very clear; divers can see 30 or even 40 m on a good day. They can enjoy vast undersea forests of coral inhabited by sea fans and other corals, reef fish, eels, sea urchins and countless other forms of sea life. All of these resources are practically untouched by pollution, and the relative lack of facilities on the island means that they have not been spoiled by excessive diving activities. The undersea treasures remain intact, making Green Island a truly world-class diving location.
The study suggests that the development of the eco-resort islands be pursued in five ways. The first of these is “eco-development”, which means the development of the island through the development of tourism based on sustainable methods. The second is “eco-management”, focusing on the preservation of biodiversity. The third is the incorporation of environmental interpretation and education, which can be accomplished through various means including the provision of software. The fourth is “eco-information”, which involves the development of information resources for ecotourism. The fifth aspect is “eco-networking”, which means developing the resort island with the participation and cooperation of the local residents.
Ecotourism in Srilanka
For the past years, a majority of Sri Lanka’s tourism development plans have been targeted primarily at luxury tourism and beach holiday attractions. Some areas in the coastal regions have already exceeded their social and physical carrying capacity. Increasingly, ecotourism and other special interest tourism in Sri Lanka are considered as niche travel products yet to reach their growth potential. Promotion of natural tourism and cultural tourism in the interior is perceived as a sustainable alternative for economic development, especially in poor rural communities. Meanwhile, ecotourism, the fastest growing segment in the tourism sector, has been promoted as a means to divert tourists from the sun and beach holiday attractions to other natural/cultural attractions.
A National Ecotourism Policy Plan is being formulated to promote Sri Lanka as a unique ecotourism destination. In addition, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a research agency, has presented a comprehensive plan for promotion and management of nature tourism in Sri Lanka. To lift the profile of ecotourism, the Ministry of Tourism declared year 2000 as the “Year of Ecotourism.” The 13th Pacific Asia Travel Association Ecotourism Conference and Travel Mart was held in Colombo in February 2001 and provided the country tremendous exposure as an ecotourism destination.
In addition to ecotourism, the Sri Lankan tourism industry is keen to promote other special interest tourism, such as Ayurveda health packages (i.e. courses of traditional herbal massage therapy designed to rejuvenate and detoxify bodies), exotic weddings, and adventure activities (e.g. trekking, para-gliding, bird watching and archaeological tours).
A number of small tourism operators have been established to promote nature tourism “off-the-beaten-track” in Sri Lanka. The Woodlands Network is a small tourism operator based in the hill station of Bandarawela about 180 km from Colombo. It is a self-help organisation comprised of six women who are dedicated to promoting nature tourism in Uva Province in the central highlands and in the southern lowlands of Sri Lanka. The Woodlands Network aims at promoting socially responsible tourism that is based on the local traditional forest culture, and hence minimises the negative social and cultural effects of tourism development. Individual tourists and small groups are accommodated by local people or in small lodges, an excellent way to promote people-to-people contact and to induce greater appreciation of the local culture. Woodlands’ tours offer a variety of activities, including nature walks, excursions to tea estates and culture/religious sites, train rides through the mountains, and culinary lessons using indigenous food and gastronomy (i.e. vegetables, spices and tea). Since its establishment in 1994, the Woodlands Network has attracted an increasing number of foreign independent tourists (mostly from Germany) who prefer to learn about the customs, food habits, culture, environment and history of the countries they visit. The Woodlands effort has won international awards in the promotion of nature tourism.
Conclusion
The people of ROC are aware of environmental issues. For them, the concept of sustainable tourism development and environmental preservation is deeply embedded in the consciousness that the economic survival of the individual is inextricably linked to the imperative to improve the quality of life for all, in harmony with the preservation of nature. However, there are some people who are still “addicted” to the old narrow economic ways of thinking. To change this is the challenge.
To foster a sustainable tourism industry, Sri Lanka is faced with numerous challenges. The following highlights some of the impending tasks required to strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism industry: (i) formulate comprehensive policies and criteria for tourism development in and adjacent to coastal areas, heritage sites, ecologically sensitive areas, and National Parks; (ii) specify tourism objectives and alternative strategies -the current mass-tourism oriented marketing strategy needs to be revamped to attract ecotourists who prefer specialised services and gain a life-enriching experience; (iii) improve the existing transportation system for dispersing tourism activities to a greater geographical region; (iv) improve the existing level of accommodation, health and safety network, and on-site facilities; (v) educate foreign tourists to be sensitive and respect local customs; and (vi) encourage community involvement in planning and managing tourism development, as small-scale, single ownership local operators are probably best suited for ecotourism provided they are adequately trained and understand the demand of ecotourists. Ultimately, carrying capacity is the key element of sustainable tourism. Uncontrolled growth in tourism can lead to diminishing social and economic returns and threaten the ecosystems and cultural assets upon which they depend. Seeking a delicate balance between cultural/nature preservation and tourism development remains a major challenge in promoting ecotourism for sustainable development in Sri Lanka.
Tourism is making an important contribution to economic development in the Asia–Pacific region, especially in developing economies, by generating foreign currency earnings and expanding employment. Since tourism utilizes environmental features, such as natural resources, and historical and cultural properties, as attractive resources, it is inevitably dependent on these features. They are extremely important to the future development and promotion of tourism. Ecotourism could be the only way to resolve the conflict between tourism development and environmental conservation.
To promote green products in Taiwan, in May of 1998 when the Government Procurement Act was enacted, the Legislative Yuan included a clause for green procurement. The clause stipulates that during government procurement bids, products bearing the Green Mark (Taiwan’s eco-label), or with comparable characteristics, should be given priority in the bid and enjoy a price advantage of within 10%. In accordance with this regulation, the EPA drew-up the Regulations for the Priority Procurement of Eco-Products by Government Organisations. According to the framework proposed by the EPA, the initial goals of the program will be tailored to fit with the current trend of applications for Green Mark use. The products prescribed for procurement will initially be office supplies and equipment.
It is commonly accepted that in order to maintain sustainable tourism, industry links must be established between tourism and the environment, as well as between other social and economic sectors. This reality presents a challenge, as both mature and emerging destinations grapple to strike and maintain the optimal balance between the economic gains derived from tourism, and tourism’s impact on the social, cultural and natural environments.
The action plans for ecotourism activities being undertaken are: (i) the Tourism Bureau is preparing a Tourism White Paper, and sustainable tourism development and ecotourism will become major goals of the policy; (ii) the Tourism Bureau has already finished a project to investigate the potential ecotourism and adventure tourism products in Taiwan (this project was designed to promote sustainable tourism in Taiwan and includes the definition of ecotourism products, recreational settings and management mechanisms); and (iii) some local communities are preserving the unique natural resources in their regions, and also promoting ecotourism businesses of the aboriginal people.
The Green Island Case Study
One major case study to illustrate the principles of ecotourism, the Green Island Study, was carried out in 1995. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted for this project; it included 49 tourist destinations in 10 economies, with the destinations being divided into four categories: natural resources, tangible cultural properties, intangible cultural properties and townscapes. One of the three destinations chosen was Green Island, which was selected from the natural resource category as an example of how to develop the concept of ecotourism.
The Green Island project has been implemented with two objectives in mind: (i) to identify requirements for the development of ecotourism, including concept planning, methods, processes, education and training; and (ii) to propose recommendations for the implementation of ecotourism.
Surrounded by clear blue water, Green Island, or Lutao, is a pristine volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, 33 km east of the city of Taitung. This island has a rich diversity of marine resources. A total of 602 species of fish has been seen in the surrounding water, and 40 of the species are very common. There are also 176 species of hard coral, and four kinds of sea snakes, as well as molluscs, crustaceans, echinoderms and algae. This marine life and the sea bed topography have considerable potential for attracting tourists to view Green Island’s underwater world for snorkeling and scuba diving, and for taking trips on glass-bottomed boats and a tourist submarine (already operating there).
The water around the island is very clear; divers can see 30 or even 40 m on a good day. They can enjoy vast undersea forests of coral inhabited by sea fans and other corals, reef fish, eels, sea urchins and countless other forms of sea life. All of these resources are practically untouched by pollution, and the relative lack of facilities on the island means that they have not been spoiled by excessive diving activities. The undersea treasures remain intact, making Green Island a truly world-class diving location.
The study suggests that the development of the eco-resort islands be pursued in five ways. The first of these is “eco-development”, which means the development of the island through the development of tourism based on sustainable methods. The second is “eco-management”, focusing on the preservation of biodiversity. The third is the incorporation of environmental interpretation and education, which can be accomplished through various means including the provision of software. The fourth is “eco-information”, which involves the development of information resources for ecotourism. The fifth aspect is “eco-networking”, which means developing the resort island with the participation and cooperation of the local residents.
Ecotourism in Srilanka
For the past years, a majority of Sri Lanka’s tourism development plans have been targeted primarily at luxury tourism and beach holiday attractions. Some areas in the coastal regions have already exceeded their social and physical carrying capacity. Increasingly, ecotourism and other special interest tourism in Sri Lanka are considered as niche travel products yet to reach their growth potential. Promotion of natural tourism and cultural tourism in the interior is perceived as a sustainable alternative for economic development, especially in poor rural communities. Meanwhile, ecotourism, the fastest growing segment in the tourism sector, has been promoted as a means to divert tourists from the sun and beach holiday attractions to other natural/cultural attractions.
A National Ecotourism Policy Plan is being formulated to promote Sri Lanka as a unique ecotourism destination. In addition, the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), a research agency, has presented a comprehensive plan for promotion and management of nature tourism in Sri Lanka. To lift the profile of ecotourism, the Ministry of Tourism declared year 2000 as the “Year of Ecotourism.” The 13th Pacific Asia Travel Association Ecotourism Conference and Travel Mart was held in Colombo in February 2001 and provided the country tremendous exposure as an ecotourism destination.
In addition to ecotourism, the Sri Lankan tourism industry is keen to promote other special interest tourism, such as Ayurveda health packages (i.e. courses of traditional herbal massage therapy designed to rejuvenate and detoxify bodies), exotic weddings, and adventure activities (e.g. trekking, para-gliding, bird watching and archaeological tours).
A number of small tourism operators have been established to promote nature tourism “off-the-beaten-track” in Sri Lanka. The Woodlands Network is a small tourism operator based in the hill station of Bandarawela about 180 km from Colombo. It is a self-help organisation comprised of six women who are dedicated to promoting nature tourism in Uva Province in the central highlands and in the southern lowlands of Sri Lanka. The Woodlands Network aims at promoting socially responsible tourism that is based on the local traditional forest culture, and hence minimises the negative social and cultural effects of tourism development. Individual tourists and small groups are accommodated by local people or in small lodges, an excellent way to promote people-to-people contact and to induce greater appreciation of the local culture. Woodlands’ tours offer a variety of activities, including nature walks, excursions to tea estates and culture/religious sites, train rides through the mountains, and culinary lessons using indigenous food and gastronomy (i.e. vegetables, spices and tea). Since its establishment in 1994, the Woodlands Network has attracted an increasing number of foreign independent tourists (mostly from Germany) who prefer to learn about the customs, food habits, culture, environment and history of the countries they visit. The Woodlands effort has won international awards in the promotion of nature tourism.
Conclusion
The people of ROC are aware of environmental issues. For them, the concept of sustainable tourism development and environmental preservation is deeply embedded in the consciousness that the economic survival of the individual is inextricably linked to the imperative to improve the quality of life for all, in harmony with the preservation of nature. However, there are some people who are still “addicted” to the old narrow economic ways of thinking. To change this is the challenge.
To foster a sustainable tourism industry, Sri Lanka is faced with numerous challenges. The following highlights some of the impending tasks required to strengthen Sri Lanka’s tourism industry: (i) formulate comprehensive policies and criteria for tourism development in and adjacent to coastal areas, heritage sites, ecologically sensitive areas, and National Parks; (ii) specify tourism objectives and alternative strategies -the current mass-tourism oriented marketing strategy needs to be revamped to attract ecotourists who prefer specialised services and gain a life-enriching experience; (iii) improve the existing transportation system for dispersing tourism activities to a greater geographical region; (iv) improve the existing level of accommodation, health and safety network, and on-site facilities; (v) educate foreign tourists to be sensitive and respect local customs; and (vi) encourage community involvement in planning and managing tourism development, as small-scale, single ownership local operators are probably best suited for ecotourism provided they are adequately trained and understand the demand of ecotourists. Ultimately, carrying capacity is the key element of sustainable tourism. Uncontrolled growth in tourism can lead to diminishing social and economic returns and threaten the ecosystems and cultural assets upon which they depend. Seeking a delicate balance between cultural/nature preservation and tourism development remains a major challenge in promoting ecotourism for sustainable development in Sri Lanka.
References:
Ceylon Tourism Board. 2001. Website: http://www.lanka.net/ctb
de Silva, C. 2000. Tourism and Sustainable Development, The Island, June 13,
2000. http://www.island.lk/2000/06/13/islfetrs.html
2000. http://www.island.lk/2000/06/13/islfetrs.html
Ecotourism Book. www.apo-tokyo.org/gp/e_publi/gplinkeco/27chapter25.pdf
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