“Assets to Action: Unmasking Africa's Diverse Resources in a Challenging Era”

Besa Vormatu-Dzelumadzekpo

Graduate Fellow, Sustainable Development and Climate Change

Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO),

New York.

“Tourism in Africa: A Viable Revenue Source”

Developing Africa’s Tourism Resources For Poverty Alleviation- A Strategic View

“Knowledge Is Like A Baobab Tree,

The Arms Cannot Encircle It Completely”

– An African Adage

Contents• Overview of Global Tourism

• Creating A Sustainable Eco-Heritage Tourism Industry

• Balancing the Act

• Challenges

• Impacts

• Strategic View

• Conclusion

Overview Of Global Tourism

Tourism Statistics by Region

RegionShare % (2008)

International Arrivals (2008)*

Receipts (billions) 2007

International Arrivals (2020)**

Europe 52.9 488.5 million 433.4 45.9%

Americas 16.0 147.6 million 171.1 18.1%

Asia and the Pacific

20.4 188.3 million 188.9 26.6%

Middle East 5.7 52.9 million 34.2 4.4%

Africa 4.7 46.9 million 28.3 5.0 %

World 100 924 million 856 1.2 billion

*Provisional estimates ** Projection Source: http://www.unwto.org/pdf/highlights_e.pdfSource: http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/barometer/UNWTO_Barom09_1_en_excerpt.pdfSource: http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/vision.htm

Creating A Sustainable Eco-Heritage Tourism Industry

Objectives of Tourism Development

• Offer Unique Experiences Of The Attractions To Visitors In Fulfillment Of Their Motivations (Meet and Exceed Tourist Expectations)

• Generate Alternative/Additional Income For Communities , Revenue For Statutory Bodies, and Create Economic Opportunities In The Private Sector

• Create Awareness And Appreciation Of The Value Of Natural and Cultural Resources

• Create A Constituency For Conservation Of Natural Resources and Preservation of Cultural Resources

• Subject To The Vagaries Of Donor And Philanthropy Support

View of Practitioners

Conservation ViewConservation View Development ViewDevelopment View

Eco-Heritage TourismEco-Heritage Tourism

•As A Tool For Conservation In Fulfillment Of Ideals•As A Tool For Conservation In Fulfillment Of Ideals

•As A Tool For Development In Fulfillment Of International Conventions/Agreements

•As A Tool For Development In Fulfillment Of International Conventions/Agreements

Balancing The Act:The Strategic Partnership Nexus

Necessary But Not SufficientNecessary But Not Sufficient

• Inclusion Of Private Sector Completes Matrix

Stakeholder Views

Government•Policy & Legislation •Infrastructure

Government•Policy & Legislation •Infrastructure

NGOs/Donors•Tool-Oriented Perspectives•Funds

NGOs/Donors•Tool-Oriented Perspectives•Funds

+Progressive Private Sector Agenda•Investments•Long Range Thinking•Beneficial Exploitation

Progressive Private Sector Agenda•Investments•Long Range Thinking•Beneficial Exploitation

• Government/NGO/Donor Action– Infrastructure (Motorable Roads, Electricity,

Telecommunication Facilities, Social Amenities)

– Product Development (Attractions, Facilities, Activities, And Services)

– Market To Generate Initial Tourist Traffic

• Government And Industry Regulation– Good Eco-Practices– Operational And Market-Wise Incentives

• Create Appropriate-Return Investment Opportunities

Prerequisites For Private Sector Investment: Govt./NGO/Donor Role

• The Business View Adds The Dimension Of Sustainability And Independence Free From The Vagaries Of Donor/Philanthropy Support

The Strategic Partnership Nexus

Conservation/Preservation View• As a Tool For ConservationConservation/Preservation View• As a Tool For Conservation

Development View• As a Tool For Development by Government/Dev’t Partners

Development View• As a Tool For Development by Government/Dev’t Partners

Eco-Heritage Tourism

Eco-Heritage Tourism

Business View•Must Subscribe To Principles Of Conservation and Preservation •Has To Generate Social And Economic Benefits•Needs To Offer Appropriate Investment Returns•Must Ensure Sustainability Of Industry

Business View•Must Subscribe To Principles Of Conservation and Preservation •Has To Generate Social And Economic Benefits•Needs To Offer Appropriate Investment Returns•Must Ensure Sustainability Of Industry

• NGOs - Create Unique Experiences For Discerning Tourists To Enjoy Nature And Culture In Fulfillment Of Their Motivations

• Government/Dev’t Partners- Create Sustainable Development Projects That Are Environmentally And Socio-Economically Beneficial To Local Communities

• Private Sector - Create Opportunities And Optimize Investments In Eco-Heritage Tourism In Harmony With Existing Ecosystems And Culture

Goal of Stakeholders

Challenges to Eco-Heritage Tourism Development

Challenges to Tourism Development

• Over-Exploitation of Mineral Resources• (Mining, Mining in Forests, Mining Methods)

• Over-Exploitation of Timber Resources• (Loss of Virgin Forests)

• Over-Exploitation of Wildlife Resources • (The Bushmeat Crisis and The “Empty Forest”

Syndrome )

• Unsustainable Agriculture• (“Slash & Burn” Agriculture, Agro-chemicals,

Plantation Agriculture, Mono-culture, etc).

Impact of Loss of Natural and Cultural Resources

Impact of Loss of Resources• Deforestation And Habitat Destruction

• Rate of deforestation, Land degradation: Global Annual Loss of 130,000 square km of Forests.*

• Loss of Cultural Identity• Totems (chieftaincy, national identity, etc.)

• Food Insecurity • Africa - Undernourishment:169 million (20%) in

1990-92; 212 million (25%) in 2003-05.**

• Climate Change• Destruction of forests contribute 20% to GHG***• Drastic Changes in Temperature Variability, Drought,

Agriculture, Health Implications, etc.

*Source: http://www.conservation.org/LEARN/FORESTS/Pages/overview.aspx **Source: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/meeting/014/k3175e.pdf ***Source: http://www.conservation.org/Documents/CI_and_Climate_Change_Nov_2008.pdf

Stop Eco-Terrorism*

Unless We Protect the Structure, Functioning, and Diversity of the

Natural And Cultural Resources on Which We All Depend,

The Development We Seek Will Undermine Itself and Fail.

* Any Activity That Leads to the Destruction of Ecosystems Without Regard for the Survival, Stability, Protection, Regeneration, Restoration, and Conservation of Genes, Species and Ecosystems.

Strategic View

Guiding Principles

Eco-HeritageTourism

Balance And Sensitivity In Resource Exploitation

Balance And Sensitivity In Resource Exploitation

Integrity Of Ecosystem And Culture

Integrity Of Ecosystem And Culture

Uniqueness And Authenticity Of Experience

Uniqueness And Authenticity Of Experience

Active Community Participation

Active Community Participation

Socio-Economic Opportunities

Socio-Economic Opportunities

• Must Be Self-Evident And Reinforce Each Other

Development-Based Model Of Tourism

Monitoring And Evaluation System: A Responsibility Of All Actors

M&E SystemM&E System

VisitorsVisitors SpeciesSpeciesHabitatHabitat

ProductProductCommunityCommunity

EconomicEconomic

InfrastructureInfrastructure

ManagementManagement

Conclusion

Conclusion

Acknowledgement: Dixcove Ventures, New York & Accra.

Africa Has Enormous Natural And Cultural Resources. However, Their Sustainable Utilization Depends On:

• Strategic Tourism Planning And Development to Integrate Conservation of Natural Resources and Preservation of Cultural Resources to Ensure Their Sustainable Use

• Coordination And Management of All Sectors, Stakeholders, • Tourism Development Plans, Natural Resource Management

Plans, Historical/Cultural Preservation Programs, Minerals/Extractive Industry Development; Government, NGO, Private Sector.

The Natural And Cultural Resources We Have Today Belong To A “Triple Heritage” –

A Vast Family of Which Many Are Dead, Few Are Living Today

And Countless Are Yet To Be Born

Thank You

Proprietary:

All or parts of this presentation May be used, copied, circulated, provided the Author is acknowledged:

Author could be reached at: Besa Vormatu-DzelumadzekpoEmail: besa051970@yahoo.comCell Phone: 339-970-1610