Nature interpretation and sustainable tourism Visitor Management strategies

Nature interpretation and sustainable tourism. Visitor Management strategies. Marketing based on interpretation. Latinka Topalova-Rzerzycha, Varna, 20 -22 April

Nature in tourism Nature-based tourism involves experiencing natural places, typically through outdoor activities that are sustainable in terms of their impact on the environment.

Ecotourism (1) “Environmentally responsible travel and visitation to relatively undisturbed natural areas, in order to enjoy and appreciate nature (and any accompanying cultural features — both past and present) that promotes conservation, has low visitor impact, and provides for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of local populations. ” - IUCN

Ecotourism (2) “Ecotourism is responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people. ” - Ecotourism Society's definition

Ecotourism (3) (a) based upon relatively undisturbed natural areas; (b) non-damaging, non-degrading; (c) a direct contributor to the continued protection and management of the areas used; and (d) subject to an adequate and appropriate management regime.

Adventure tourism (soft) It requires a moderate level of physical involvement by participants and are less physically challenging than hard activities. They can include – hiking/ bushwalking, mountain biking/bicycling, camping, horseback riding, orienteering, walking tours, wildlife spotting, whale watching, river and lake canoeing and fishing.

Adventure tourism (hard) It involves a higher level of physical or rugged involvement or a potentially greater personal challenge for participants. The risk factor can also increase. Hard adventure activities with a nature basis or need include – caving, scuba diving, trekking, white water rafting, kayaking, rock and mountain climbing, cross-country skiing, safaris, surfing, windsurfing, ballooning and ocean sailing.

Special interest tourism Nature-based tourism and its various subsets can also encompass some particularly challenging, but potentially high spending, special interest market segments. These often comprise socially and environmentally aware, highly educated and potentially demanding visitors who travel both to learn and to achieve personal and social goals.

Wildlife tourism It involves travel to observe wildlife in natural environments and preferably their native habitat. It is a further subset of nature tourism and one in which significantly high levels of domestic and international interest exist. Wildlife tourism involves wild and non domesticated animals and can encompass free-ranging and captive circumstances.

IS NATURE-BASED TOURISM SUSTAINABLE?

Sustainable tourism “leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled while maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity and life support systems” - WTO

Visitor Management strategies

Direct Visitor Management strategies • Physical (barriers, paths, boardwalks, location of facilities). • Regulatory (rules, regulations, permits) • Economic (incentives, charges).

Indirect Visitor Management strategies • Education • Interpretation Indirect mechanisms which seek to reduce inappropriate behaviour on a voluntary basis through education.

Interpretation-based Management Strategies • A ‘win-win’ situation for environmental managers and tourists. • Help to protect the environment. • Increase visitor enjoyment. • Widely applied in protected areas.

Interpretation and sustainable tourism Enhancing visitor experience • Providing information about products and services • Providing information to encourage safety and comfort • Creating actual experience

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: potential (1) Managing visitors and theirs impact • Influencing where visitors go. • Informing about appropriate behavior • Influencing visitors attitude and behaviour to long-term conservation

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: potential (2) • • Local economic benefits Interpretative facilities/attractions Encouraging visitors to stay longer Diversify and strengthen local economy Direction to local businesses

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: potential (3) • • Local environmental benefit Enhance visitors understanding about environment Raise awareness Get involved Change behaviour

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: potential (4) Attitudes and values • Bring less exploitative and more rewarding interactions • Stimulate the hosts pride

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (1) Economic imperatives • Interpretation for visitors, driven by economic objectives (compromise themes and neglect of resources) • Community or heritage commoditized

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (2) Selection and simplification • Time limit of the visitors • Not seeking for educational activities • Adaptation of the programmes

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (3) Danger of intrusion • Interpretation on heritage and culture

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (4) Danger of creating giant tourist’s landscapes • Interpretation focused on specific, spectacular, unusual

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (5) Politics, beliefs and integrity • History and politics

Interpretation and sustainable tourism: pitfalls (6) Danger of elitism • Easy to interpret for educated people • Personal interpreters background

Marketing tourism destination Mix of tourism products, experiences and other intangible items offered to consumers. • • • Amalgam of the 7 As: Available packages Accessibility Attractions Amenities Activities Ancillary services

Marketing strategy Vision Aims Priorities and actions to achieve the aims • Branding • Accomplishment of common price policy • Advertising

Conformation of key massages • • • For the destination Great place for a family vacation! Teach you children to respect and care about nature! Escape from the stress of the big cities! Great opportunity to do something interesting! Great opportunity to discover new and unknown mountain! Discover and feel untouched nature!

Themes of Interpretative Programmes • The future of Salamandra is in our hands. • Birds of prey are amazing creatures! • Thanks to the insects we know the world as it is today. • There are so many interesting plants and animals in the forest. • The life in forests is magic! • Everything changes and we cannot judge on the appearance – caterpillar turns into butterfly. • All creatures in the forest are connected.

Thank you for your attention! latinka@biodiversity. bg www. bbf. biodiversity. bg