1. Demand for coastal tourism – global, national and local levels

2. Contributions of coastal tourism to sustainable coastal management

3. Impacts of coastal tourism development

4. Challenges to the management and development of coastal tourism

5. Existing initiatives and programs on coastal tourism in Cambodia

6. Perspectives and suggestions for SHV coastal tourism

Global context:

�  Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries and is the global fastest service industry.

�  Tourism generated approximately US$8 trillion in total receipts during 2008, with an annual growth rate of 3%, down slightly from 3.9% in 2007 (WTTC, 2008).

�  The next decade (2008-2018) is expected to see mature, yet steady growth averaging 4.4% in spite of the current global economic downturn.

�  Coastal tourism is one of the fastest growing form of tourism and has gained its momentum in recent decades (UNWTO, 2007).

Global context:

�  Significant examples:

- Mediterranean coastal areas hosted some 250 millions of visitors in 2008, and this number will reach 312 millions by 2025 (Blue Plan, 2005).

- European Commission Data: 63% of the European holiday makers prefer the coastal areas.

�  Global coastal tourism is increasingly growing in importance with regard to its magnitude and contribution to national economies as well as to the wellbeing of local communities.

- Just (coastal) tourism and other services alone in Cyprus contributed 78.6% to the national GDP in 2008.

National context:

�  Tourism has been one of the vital pillarstones for Cambodia’s economic growth and development since the early 1990s.

�  2,161,577 international visitor arrivals & about US$ 1.6 billion tourism receipts in 2009.

�  Integration into national policies – national economy strengthening, poverty reduction, environmental preservation ...

�  Urgent needs for the development and diversification of tourism products and services in other areas beside Siem Reap Angkor Region to extend tourists’ length of stay, tourist expenditure, and facilitate tourist revisitation.

�  Improved tourist facilitation and development age of new destinations, i.e. coastal areas after Angkor.

2.87

3.07

3.30

Local context – Preah Sihanouk Province:

�  Tourism a major source of revenues following fishery & agriculture.

�  Tourism as a priority tool to entice diversified tourist consumers, while strengthening & upgrading quality of tourism offer and services in Cambodia.

�  Recognition of a link between tourism and local economic stimulation, between poverty alleviation and sustainable coastal management.

�  Cambodia is encouraged to implement ICM programs – SHV is selected by PEMSEA as a development paradigm since 2001 due to its socio-economic, coastal demographic and ecological significance.

Local context:

�  Rapid annual growth rates of domestic and international tourist markets

- 2001: 103,568 - 2006: 288,428 - 2004: 144,995 - 2006: 288,428 - 2008: 532,518 - 2010 (by August):

419,577 – 13.34% increased (foreign visitors - 95,177) - Domestic tourists: 70%; international tourists: 30%

Local context:

�  Factors contributing to tourism growth in SHV - Unique and high quality characteristics of coastal and marine resources

- Plethora of fascinating tourist attractions (beaches, watershed/waterfalls, deep-water port, national park, islands, mangroves, coral reefs ...)

- Suitable for daytrip, overnight stay, and long relaxation

- Improved facilitation and development of new facilities and services (i.e. cruise tours, island resorts, scuba diving / snorkeling programs ...)

- Improved transportation systems & infra/super-structural services

- Development of alternative & special interest tourism activities (i.e. CBET, ecotourism, island tourism, adventure tourism ...)

- International accreditation/certification – i.e. Asia’s Best Beaches

- Improved hospitality and quality of products and services

- Increased awareness and participation

�  Interdependency between coastal tourism and healthy, high quality coastal and marine environments.

�  Increased stakeholders’ awareness and involvement – interlink between sustainable natural resource management / use and sustainable livelihoods / businesses.

�  Rise in coastal and marine management initiatives (local, national, and regional) for preservation, protection, and sustainable development of SHV coastal and marine environments.

�  Coastal tourism generates revenues for conservation activities and the strengthening of environmental governance.

Coastal Tourism?

Coastal tourism is based on a unique resource combination at the interface of land and sea offering amenities such as water, beaches, scenic beauty, rich terrestrial and marine biodiversity, diversified cultural and historic heritage, healthy food and good infrastructure. It includes a diversity of activities that take place in both coastal zone and coastal waters, which involve the development of tourism capacities (hotels, resorts, second homes, restaurants, etc.) and support infrastructure (ports, marinas, fishing and diving shops, and other facilities).

(UNEP, 2009, p.14)

Coastal Tourism?

Besides physical conditions, the development of tourism in coastal areas is related to socio-economic features of the receiving environment such as local community interests, health and security conditions, political factors including unpredictable crises, exchange rate fluctuations, and traditional models of tourism exploitation or, simply, a successful or less effective marketing-led depiction of a destination.

(UNEP, 2009, p.14)

Positives:

�  Increased job opportunities for local communities;

�  Increases local and national incomes and improved local economy;

�  Increased infrastructural and superstructural development and improved security and health conditions in the area;

�  Enhanced aesthetic and natural standards;

�  Increased local populations’ awareness of the value of coastal and marine environment and resources;

�  Increased participation in preservation, protection, and management of natural environment in a timely and sustainable manner;

�  Well-planned urbanization and provincial land use planning; etc.

Negatives: Increased urbanization, uncontrolled development & mass coastal tourism could result in:

�  Land grabbing/encroachment and land speculation

�  Conflicts over natural resource consumption �  Increased demands on existing resources that result in deteriorated landscapes �  Decline in or loss of natural habitats and rare plant and animal species �  Increased influx of in-migrants �  Increased energy and water use �  Pollution and increased disposal of wastes �  Exchange and dispersion of diseases �  Changes in the perception and understanding of the environment �  Changes in cultural norms and practices and other local socio-cultural fabric �  Loss of socio-cultural values (diversity and integrity) and identities �  Socio-economic imbalance between local communities living in the area or in

close proximity to development zones

The Tourist Area Life-cycle (Bulter, 1986)

Symptoms of Decline of Coastal Tourism Resort

1. Institutional challenge, legal challenge, and policy challenge

2. Uncontrolled development leading to destructive mass tourism

3. Seasonality of demand and changing demand systems 4. Over-exploitation of coastal and marine resources 5. Limited quantities of energy and water 6. Threats to wildlife and natural habitats 7. Security for tourists / visitors 8. Tourism service quality and hospitality 9. Growing development pressures and impacts on coastal

areas

10.Fluctuation and inflation in price of tourism products and services

11.Challenges for planning & management of structural socio-cultural changes

12. Climate change and natural and man-made disasters

13. Increased regional and international competition

14. Impacts of globalization

15. Specialization of coastal tourism resorts

16. Diversification and development of coastal tourism products / services

17. Identification of logical, attainable pathways to sustainability

Human

Institution

Economic

Socio-cultural Ecological

Environment

Community Welfare

Tourist Welfare

Tourism Industry

Conventional Approach Modern Approach

Government & Line Departments

Private Sector / Tourism Industry

Local Communities

Civil Society Organizations

Academic & Research Institutions

Inter-governmental Organizations

Policies and Legislations:

�  National coastal steering committee (2001)

�  Master plan for tourism development in the coastal zone (2004)

�  Strategic plans for reaction and reduction of marine polluted from inland (2008)

�  The integration of the coastal strategy implementation plan into SHV public investment plan for 2005-2007 and 2009-2011

�  SHV coastal strategy (2003)

�  PEMSEA initiatives since 2001 for ICM

Policies and Legislations:

�  Establishment of multi-stakeholder working group and task team for ICM implementation –- multi-sectoral participation mechanisms

�  Scaling up of ICM implementation to cover other areas and issues, including waste management, protected area management & tourism development, natural and mad-made hazards management

�  Integration of ICM into strategic development plans of SHV local governments

�  Beach development and management initiatives

�  Development of deliberate alternative tourism and special interest tourism in SHV

 Strategic  Plan  for  Sustainable  Coastal  Tourism  Development  

1.  Strategic  Plan  Development  

5.  Stakeholder  Involvement  

2.  Integrated  Coastal  

Management  

4.  Carrying  Capacity  Assessment

3.  UNEP/UNWTO  Sustainable  Tourism  

Principles  

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�  Reduce the rate of growth in tourism development

�  Upgrade and diversify the tourism product by utilizing coastal environmental and cultural attractions

�  Reposition Cambodia’s coastal areas as a single and multi-purpose destination

�  Spread equal benefit sharing

�  Attract more diverse quality, high spending markets – targeting & segmentation

�  Increase off-season tourism activities and events

�  Increase the level of spending and length of stay per tourist

�  Adapt “low-volume but high value” tourist markets

�  Reduce strong emphasis on “sea-sun-sand” tourism by adapting more alternative and special interest tourism

�  Promote and marketing the Cambodia’s coastal areas as “a mosaic of unique/authentic nature and culture” as a whole

�  Establish Cambodia’s coastal tourism organization or committee

�  Quality tourism policies must be based on a pragmatic assessment of the destination’s potential in terms of physical, cultural and social resources and the markets it might attract

�  Multi-stakeholder participation and intervention in coastal resort planning, development & management

�  Adapt UNEP/UNWTO/PEMSEA ICM principles for coastal tourism

�  Appropriate land use planning and land zoning and management