ACHIEVING TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS Current and Future Challenges to Tourism in Maritime Areas

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1 Session 3 The Ocean s Contribution to Economic Growth ACHIEVING TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY AND COMPETITIVENESS Current and Future Challenges to Tourism in Maritime Areas Dr Peter Billing Centre for Regional and Tourism Research Bornholm, Denmark

2 THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACTS OF TOURISM Long acknowledged by the travel industry, tourism organizations and the academic community Recently recognized by governments, political authorities, policymakers and economic actors Generates growing body of knowledge, new policy initiatives and concrete actions

3 CURRENT ISSUES AND INITIATIVES Globalisation and socio-economic development World Economic Forum Travel And Tourism Competitiveness Report Furthering the Process of Economic Development Economic Growth and competitiveness World Economic Forum Travel And Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 Furthering the Process of Economic Development Policy initiatives and the maritime dimension EU Commission - A Renewed EU Tourism Policy: Towards a stronger partnership for European tourism (2006) EU Commission Towards a Future Maritime Policy for the Union. A European Vision for the Oceans and seas. Sustainable development and climate change DG Enterprise: Action for More Sustainable and Competitive European Tourism. Report of the Tourism Sustainability Group (2007) UNWTO First Ministerial Conference on Tourism and Climate Change, London, November 2007

4 GLOBALISATION AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT International tourist arrivals

5 Outbound travel, average annual growth Source: Newsweek, 2003

6 World s top 10 tourism destinations by international arrivals

7 ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS International Tourism 2005

8 World Economic Forum Travel & Tourism Competititeveness Index First report presented at the Davos Summit 2007 Composite index consisting of 3 subindexes,13 pillars and 58 variables

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10 Strong impacts and continued growth

11 Travel & Tourism is currently one of the world s largest economic activities. It is the leading industry in many countries, as well as the fastest growing economic sector in terms of job creation worldwide. In 2006, the sector generated 10.3 percent of world gross domestic product (GDP), providing 234 million jobs, or 8.2 percent of total world employment. The economic significance and potential of Travel & Tourism is particularly prominent in the developing world. Most new jobs in developing economies are created in tourism industries. In addition Travel & Tourism helps diversify economic activity and enables the creation of wealth and jobs in rural areas. The industry also triggers important indirect development effects that improve the quality of life of citizens and enhance a country s overall economic prospects. The desire to improve the national environment for Travel & Tourism encourages governments to make infrastructure improvements such as better roads, electricity, telephone, and public transport networks. Furthermore, the industry contributes positively in raising cultural awareness and enhancing environmental sustainability. KLAUS SCHWAB Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum

12 POLICY INITIATIVES AND THE MARITIME DIMENSION EU COMMISSION - A RENEWED EU TOURISM POLICY: TOWARDS A STRONGER PARTNERSHIP FOR EUROPEAN TOURISM (2006) 1. Mainstreaming measures affecting tourism Better regulation - Improving and extending the use of impact assessment - Simplifying European legislation (Package Travel Directive, Timeshare Directive) Policy-coordination Improved use of available European financial instruments - ERDF; ESF, Leonardo Da Vinci apprenticeship training, EAF for Rural Development 2. Promoting tourism sustainability A European Agenda 21 for tourism The Tourism Sustainability Group Specific supporting actions for the sustainability of European tourism - Identify national and international measures to support tourism-related SMEs - Evaluate the economic impact of better accessibility in the tourism sector on macroeconomic growth and employment, business opportunities for SMEs, the quality of services and competitiveness. - Studying employment trends in coastal and sea-related tourism sectors. - Developing official statistics. 3. Enhancing the understanding and the visibility of tourism Improving the understanding of European tourism - Harmonisation and implementation of the Tourism Satelite Accounts Promotion of European destinations - The European Tourist Destinations Portal. Improving the visibility of tourism: a common goal - Encouraging and facilitating public and private partnerships

13 EU COMMISSION TOWARDS A FUTURE MARITIME POLICY FOR THE UNION. A European Vision for the Oceans and seas (2006). Points of Departure Integrated, intersectoral and multidisciplinary approach Anchored in the Lisbon Strategy Maintain and improve the status of the Oceans Global nature of the Oceans Maritime governance Key Content Sustainable maritime development Innovation and competitiveness Coastal areas - Quality of life and tourism Knowledge and management tools Policy making and regulatory framework

14 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE DG ENTERPRISE - ACTION FOR MORE SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE EUROPEAN TOURISM. REPORT OF THE TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY GROUP (2007) Key challenges for the sustainability of European tourism 1.Reducing the seasonality of demand 2.Adressing the impacts of tourism transport 3.Improving the quality of tourism jobs 4.Maintaining and enhancing community prosperity and quality of life, in the face of change 5.Minimising resource use and production of waste 6.Conserving and giving value to natural and cultural heritage 7.Making holidays available to all 8.Using tourism as a tool in global sustainable development Objectives 1. Economic prosperity Long term competitiveness and viability of tourism enterprises and destinations, Quality employment opportunities, fair pay and conditions for employees 2. Social equity and cohesion Enhance the quality of life of local communities through tourism Local planning and management Safe, satisfying and fulfilling experience for all visitors 3.Environmental and cultural protection Minimise pollution and degradation of the global and local environment Maintain and strengthen cultural richness and biodiversity

15 With average temperatures predicted to rise by up to as much as four degrees during this century, tourism needs to look beyond the short term. Some destinations will gain from the change but the negative considerations outweigh such benefits and by a wide margin. (UNWTO News 2007:2) Challenges Threat of rising sea levels to low-lying coastal areas Melting polar ice and reduced snow fall (the Alps) Consequences Need for diversification The islands and coastal areas Clima Tourism Antarctic and Greenland

16 SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE TOURISM IN MARITIME AREAS OPPORTUNITIES Wide spread attention to the impacts and contributions of tourism Integral part of globalisation Major driver for economic growth particular in maritime environments Enhances socio-economic development, particular in LDC Focus on competitiveness (product development and market segmentation) Improved training and education Integrated policy approach sustainability at the core Comprehensive body of knowledge CHALLENGES Increasing global competition mature destinations has to reinvent The fragility of maritime areas climate change, erosion, sea level rise The issue of territorial cohesion is absent in tourism policy development Understanding and action based on national development Regional level is key to a more profound understanding of the impacts of tourism in general, and in maritime areas in particular

17 Tourism Function Index Population (NUTS 3) Reykjavik Canarias Guadeloupe Martinique Réunion Helsinki Oslo Stockholm Guayane Tallinn Moskva Riga Madeira København Dublin Vilnius Minsk Acores Amsterdam London Berlin Warszawa Kyiv Bruxelles/Brussel Paris Praha Luxembourg Wien Bern This map does not necessarily reflect the opinon of the ESPON Monitoring Committee Bratislava Kishinev Budapest Ljubljana Zagreb Bucuresti Sarajevo Beograd Lisboa Madrid Sofiya Roma Skopje Ankara Tirana Athinai Nicosia Valletta???? 2006 TFI - Population 0,00-2,00 2,01-6,00 6,01-12,00 12,01-20,00 Low Moderate Touristic High Hyper 20,01-58,69 ESPON space, but no data 500 km EuroGraphics Assosiation for the administrative boundaries Source: Eurostat; Norway and Switzerland: National Statistical Offices

18 Tourist Function Index for Spain NUTS 3 This map does not necessarily reflect the opinon of the ESPON Monitoring Committee CRT-NIBR-EuroFutures, 2006 Kilometers Canary Islands TFI 0,69-1,00 1,01-4,00 4,01-10,00 10,01-20,00 20,01-60,00 EuroGraphics Assosiation for the administrative boundaries Source: EUROSTAT

19 Tourist Function Index Greece (NUTS 3) This map does not necessarily reflect the opinon of the ESPON Monitoring Committee CRT-NIBR-EuroFutures, 2006 Kilometers TPI 0,5-1,0 1,1-4,0 4,1-10,0 10,1-20,0 20,1-60,0 EuroGraphics Assosiation for the administrative boundaries Source: EUROSTAT

20 SUSTAINABLE AND COMPETITIVE TOURISM IN MARITIME AREAS CONCLUSION The regional level is key to a more profound understanding of the impacts of tourism in general, and in maritime areas in particular Need for harmonised tourism statistics at NUTS 3 level and lower Need for statistical indicators that identify maritime areas as spatial entities Need to incorporate the territorial cohesion objective into the tourism policy development Peter Billing Centre for Regional & Tourism Research billing@crt.dk

21 THE PRACITCAL USE OF THE TCCI No 1 Switzerland Switzerland takes the leading position in the TTCI rankings, followed closely by Austria and Germany. Switzerland owes its position at the top to strengths in all areas covered by the Index. As is well known, Switzerland is an extremely safe country, with excellent health and hygiene indicators, as well as environmental regulation that is among the most stringent and effective in the world. And in a country that has some of the most well regarded hotel management schools in the world, the quality of the country s human resources is second to none, ensuring an adequate supply of high quality staff for the industry. The T&T infrastructure is also among the best in the world, making it very easy and comfortable for visitors to move around the country. Further, the country s natural and cultural resources are among the richest in the world. Switzerland is home to six World Heritage sites, a significant number for such a small country, and nearly 30 percent of the land area in the country is protected. Given the importance of policy in driving T&T competitiveness, it is also notable that Switzerland is one of the only high-income countries, together with Spain, that is among the top 10 countries with regard to the prioritization of Travel & Tourism. All of this comes together to make Switzerland a very attractive place to develop the T&T sector.

22 No 7 China China is ranked 71st in the TTCI. Although China is ranked 3rd in terms of World Heritage sites and 11 th in terms of price competitiveness, it has a policy environment that is not at all conducive for T&T development (ranked a low 97th), with property rights that are not sufficiently protected, strong foreign ownership restrictions, and stringent visa requirements. Environmental regulation also gets low marks, with the government not seen to be prioritizing the development of the sector in a sustainable way. China has a relatively good air transport infrastructure (ranked 36th), and ground transport infrastructure that is ranked 45th overall. However, its tourism infrastructure remains highly underdeveloped (ranked 113th). There are also some safety and security concerns (83rd), as well as issues related to health and hygiene (84th), with a low physician density and access to improved sanitation and drinking water that is low by international standards.