Third World Involvement in Tourism

1. Third World Involvement in Tourism Incorporation or Marginalization?

2. Agenda • Positive impacts of tourism in the LDCs • Negative impacts of tourism in the LDCs • Tourism and sustainable development: the case of Annapurna

3. Positive Impacts • Foreign Exchange earnings • Economic diversification • Creation of jobs • Direct effect • Indirect effect • Induced effect 4. Shrinking the world, cross-cultural understanding and peace

4. NegativeImpacts 1.Economic leakages - about 60% of the final consumer price Why? To what extend are the tourism activities involved with local economy?

5. Negative Impacts Because decisions affecting destinations are made from a distance by transnationals: • Transport sector • Hotel sector • Tour operators

6. Negative Impacts 2.Employment Imperfections • low-paid, low-skilled, part-time positions no learning • diversion of labour away from other economic activities

7. Negative Impacts 3.Socio-cultural impacts • households/families • traditions and arts Singapore is ‘in the east’ but not really more ‘of the east’ • values -’demonstration effect’ “Promoting Cadillac tastes in bicycle societies” • increased crime

8. Negative Impacts 4.Environmental impacts Natural resources have been treated as free good • Overdevelopment and overcrowding • over-use of local resources • disturbance of wildlife • soiland vegetation damage • Litter and pollution

9. Sustainable Tourism • Ecological- sustainability – ensures that development is compatible with the maintenance of essencial ecological processes, biological diversity and biological resources • Socio-cultural sustainability – ensures that development increases people’s control over their lives, is compatible with the culture and values of people affected by it, and maintains and strengthens community identity • Economic sustainability – ensures that development is economically efficient and that resources are managed so that they can support future generations.

10. Annapurna • Area of 7000 km2in Western Nepal • Internationally recognized as one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes • Extreme climate and topography, wide variety of flora, fauna and subcultures • Population - 40 000 people, heavily dependent on local natural resources and living at subsistence level or below

11. Annapurna • Number 1 trekking destination of Nepal -77 000 visitors a year spending on average 25 days in the area • Space-concentrated trekking traffic • Time-concentrated trekking traffic ecological imbalance and loss of cultural integrity

12. Annapurna • tea shops and accommodation facilities(lodges) deforstation import of facilities items- leakeges • Inadequate sanitation facilities ”minefields of human excreta and toilet paper” • Litter – plastics, tins and bottles disposed in the streams and near the settlements • Demonstration effect

13. Annapurna Environmental problems are multifaceted and thus need integrated strategies • National park? No! • Conservation Area? Yes! Annapurna Conservation Area Project(ACAP)

14. Annapurna Conservation Area Project Guiding principles: • Sustainability • People’s participation • Catalyst approach • Conservation for development • Cross-roots methods • Multiple-use concept

15. Annapurna Conservation Area Project Major programs and measures • Alternative energy • Tree nurseries and reforestation • Community forest management • Community development programmes • Conservation education – children, adults, tourists ’Minimum Impact Code’ • Research and training

16. Conclusion Rather than a necessary evil, tourists are regarded as partners in fulfilling the goals of biodiversity conservation, cultural revitalization and sustainable economic development So... Be a responsible tourist!