Coastal Tourism in the Wider Caribbean Region: Impacts and Best Management Practices	Report Contents Report in Word Format
	CEP Technical Report No. 38 1997	All CEP Technical Reports

5. BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN COASTAL TOURISM

Tourism planning, and the management of the impacts from the sector, is best approached as part of an overall integrated planning process for allocation of land resources required to support the development process. As such, many of the detrimental impacts of tourism on coastal resources can only be addressed through improved integrated planning and management, especially by the public sector.

However, and as indicated before, the impacts of tourism result not only from the siting and design of facilities, but also from their operations. Additionally, the attitudes promoted, and information shared with guests, help to reduce the impacts on the natural system.

Tourism impacts on coastal resources are far from uniform. First, the coastal zone is a complex of inter-linked ecosystems, with different sensitivities and vulnerabilities, and therefore different abilities to withstand stress. Secondly, the stresses produced by tourism are not exerted uniformly across the systems, nor across this sector alone or even over the lifetime of projects, facilities, or activities.

Best management practices for the tourist industry must therefore be undertaken within two complimentary areas of the industry:

1. An integrated and participatory framework and management system for assessing and regulating facility design, construction, and operation; and
2. Specific activities to be carried out by each site, with the aim of reducing the impacts on the surrounding environment.

 

5.1 Best Management Practices in Planning and Design

Any framework to promote best management practices in tourism should be able to address the systemic problems (public sector planning, inadequacy of essential services, social issues, etc.) as well as the more directed issues of site design, management, and regulation. As such, any effort to develop a coordinated approach to dealing with integrated coastal zone management must access resources from, and coordinate the actions of, non-tourism interests in the public sector.

Efforts to date have included the following:

• Integrated coastal area planning and management
• Coastal development (land use) plans
• Resort management plans
• National environmental action plans
• Environmental permit and license system (Jamaica)

The most successful programme to date appears to be the integrated coastal area plan. UNEP provides a comprehensive review of cases and guidelines for integrated planning and management of coastal and marine areas in the Wider Caribbean (UNEP, 1996). The permit and licence system instituted by Jamaica went into effect on January 1, 1997; and it is still too early to evaluate the impacts of this programme. However, the various initiatives still do not function with the desired level of cross-sectoral and participatory planning; that is, the sharing of development objectives and plans, and information, still does not take place.

Requirements for best practices at the system level would cover the following areas:

1. Standards for resort ambience (density, building height, setbacks, landscaping, etc.).
2. Site selection and site and building design (including water and wastewater management systems, drainage, etc.).
3. Management of construction activities.
4. Supporting infrastructure (transportation and road networks, waste collection and disposal, housing, etc.).

Best practices covered by the above categories include:

1. Site and Building Design

• Design complexes and buildings to reduce impacts from natural disasters, as well as to prevent interruption of ecosystem processes
• Protect valuable habitats (nesting areas for birds, turtles, nursery for fisheries, etc.) and prevention of disturbance to mating/nesting rituals
• Avoid direct discharge from drains, roadways, and parking lots to water bodies.
• Use of materials and designs that improve conservation of energy (lighting, ventilation, etc.)
• Establish appropriate setback from beach
• Design roads to reduce runoff from site
• Design wastewater system to permit separation of gray water from sewage; and adequate treatment and disposal of sewage effluent to prevent ground or surface water contamination. For larger properties which require a package plant, gray water should be used to irrigate green areas and flush toilets. Sewage effluent should also be used for irrigation purposes. For smaller properties with available space, evapotranspiration beds (or mounds) are the recommended method of sewage disposal.
• Use of water conservation designs and strategies.

2. Construction

• Use environmental impact assessment methods to identify impacts, mitigation measures, and environmental controls during site preparation and construction
• Use turbidity screens to protect sensitive areas (reefs, etc.) during marine works
• Minimise vehicular movement on beaches
• Prevent clear-cutting of vegetation on sites, and where possible, reuse local indigenous plants for landscaping.

3. Supporting Infrastructure

• Link the development of infrastructure, social amenities, and housing for industry employees to the pace of resort development
• Define acceptable limits of change, in terms of the social and environmental characteristics of the area (link to standards for resort ambience)
• Develop disaster management plans, including mitigation.

 

5.2 Best Management Practices for Operation of Tourism Facilities

In the area of operation of facilities, and the provision of services (including recreation), the application of best management practices can produce immediate, tangible, beneficial results. More importantly, implementation can take place across the industry as a whole, while showing reductions in cost and increases in profits. Additionally, this will increase the competitiveness for tourists, who are becoming more environmentally discerning. The development of best management practices should be supported by the development of the related management systems; that is, environmental policy, appropriate purchasing policies, environmental management/monitoring system, staff training, and assigning the responsibility for the programme to a senior member of staff.

Areas of operation for which best practices have been identified include:

1. Waste management
2. Water usage
3. Energy usage
4. Facilities maintenance
5. Recreation
6. Public/social interaction

1. Waste Management

Waste management practices cover both solid waste and effluents. BMPs for solid waste management include:

• Reducing the packaging on materials; through:

1. Buying supplies, especially liquids, in bulk
2. Using bulk dispensers for fluids
3. Eliminating wrapping where possible
4. Negotiating with, or changing, suppliers to reduce packaging

• Eliminating the use of disposable plates, utensils, cups, etc.
• Recycling paper (stationery) and bags
• Using linen instead of paper napkins and hand towels
• Recycling linen and towels for use as dust rags, etc.
• Reusing paper where possible (shredding and using as packaging materials, etc.)
• Practicing composting where possible
• Sorting garbage for incineration where facilities exist
• Purchasing products which can be recycled
• Training staff to select better quality raw materials, such as produce (reduce spoilage)
• Ensuring correct storage of perishable goods (correct temperature, installation, maintenance, etc.).

BMPs for effluent include:

• Practicing water conservation
• Eliminating the use of detergent containing phosphates
• Redesigning sewage systems where possible, to reduce volume for disposal, enable recycling of gray water, and prevention of direct releases to water bodies
• Using laundry wastewater and sewage effluent to irrigate lawns and other vegetated areas.

2. Water Usage

• Use of low flow shower heads
• Use of low flush toilets
• Use of automatic shut-off valves in common areas (beach showers and public bathrooms)
• Advise guests of the need for water conservation
• Reduce the volume of laundry by asking guests to change towels less frequently
• Wash only full loads in washing machine
• Design laundry so that the rinse water from one load becomes the wash water for the subsequent load
• Recycle water (laundry water or gray water for flushing toilets, watering lawns, etc.)
• Carry out regular checks of plumbing fixtures to reduce leaks.

3. Energy Usage

• Use of solar energy for water heating and exterior lighting
• Use motion detectors to control room lighting
• Replace electrical swatches with timers where possible
• Use fluorescent instead of incandescent bulbs for lighting
• Conduct routine maintenance of appliances (especially refrigerators and air conditioning units)
• Design public areas to be open spaces
• Tint (mirror glazing) glass windows
• Develop energy saving practices (such as turning the air conditioner off 30 minutes before leaving offices, etc.)
• Adopt signs and orientation sessions to persuade guests to participate in energy conservation programme.

4. Facilities Maintenance

• Develop maintenance schedules for electronic and refrigeration equipment
• Employ suitably trained staff for maintenance programmes, including monitoring and servicing of sewage treatment and disposal systems
• Repair equipment away from beach
• Dispose of water from washdown of floors, storage areas, etc, in waste treatment system.

5. Recreation

• Training of activity managers to understand natural resources and impacts of activities, and provide orientation to guests on each activity/tour.
• Reduce the impact on the beach from overuse
• Do not remove dune vegetation and seagrasses
• Do not drop anchor on reefs
• Do not stand on or break corals
• Do not empty bilge or sewage into the sea
• Place garbage in containers assigned for that purpose
• Do not operate jet skis or other motorised equipment in swimming areas
• Moorings and other structures should be placed in such a manner as to create minimal damage and prevent obstruction of coastal processes
• Do not deface attractions

6. Public/Social interaction

Some of the social impacts created by tourism can be mitigated using BMPs; including:

• Develop conflict resolution procedures for resource use, including beach access
• Develop systems to ensure that private haulage contractors do not dump solid waste in communities or areas used by communities
• Promote collaborative efforts between tour operators/hotels and community-managed attractions/operations.

Appendix 2 provides a list of publications which include best management practices for operation of facilities in the travel and tourism industry and from which most of the activities listed above have been taken.

 

Existing Practices

A number of the best management practices identified have been tried in a number of hotels, operations, and countries in the Wider Caribbean. The most widely used practices include:

• Erosion and sediment control (Anguilla, US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Barbados)
• Selective purchasing to reduce packaging (several countries)
• Selection of produce to reduce wastage (Ciboney, Jamaica. Personal communication, Selena Tapper, CEPAT)
• Use of sculptured soap bars (Marriott Hotels. Personal communication, Kelly Robinson, CHA)
• Low flush toilets and low flow shower heads (several countries)
• Reuse of gray water for irrigation (several countries)
• Energy conservation (most countries)
• Asking guests to participate in energy and water conservation programmes (most countries)

There is no data to indicate the percentage of operations in each country which have adopted these practices. However, most of the recommended practices can be adopted by operations of all sizes. Appendix 3 contains a few case studies showing how particular sites have developed these practices. It must be noted that the ability of each operation to carry out most of these practices at any one time is dependent on a number of factors, internal and external to the operation. These include:

• The size of the operation and/or site
• The number and quality of the staff
• The design of the facility (to permit structural changes)
• The cost of the practice/change
• Cost of alternate systems/equipment
• Availability of supporting services (maintenance, spare parts, etc.)
• Government policy (import restrictions, technical assistance, market incentives, etc.).

 

5.3 Existing Programmes to Promote Best Management Practices in Tourism

To achieve environmental best management practices for sustainable tourism requires coordinated and concerted approaches, information sharing, available instruction materials, and incentives for the sector to invest in the idea and more importantly, political commitment. A number of regional and international organisations have embarked on programmes to improve the environmental practices in hotels.

 

Caribbean Programmes

CESN and CTO

The Caribbean Ecotourism Support Network (CESN) was established in 1995 as a programme of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO). The CESN seeks to develop standards for ecotourism operations, promote the proper use of natural heritage, and promote and monitor development of ecotourism in the Caribbean.

From its Secretariat in Jamaica, the CESN has established national networks in a number of countries.

CTO has recently created an environmental and sustainable tourism post within its headquarters in Barbados to assist CTO with the promotion of a sustainable tourism product among its members and CTO’s annual ecotourism conferences have shifted towards sustainable tourism since 1997.

Caribbean Hotel Association

The Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) promotes environmental management practices in the planning, construction, and operation of hotels. The CHA’s environmental programme started with the production of its "Environmental Management Tool Kit for Caribbean Hotels" (Appendix 2). The CHA now conducts seminars for its 1,900 members, using the "tool kit" as the basic material.

The CHA has also established an Annual Environmental Award for its members. The focus thus far has been on wastewater management, solid waste management, and energy and water conservation. This programme also promotes the development of environmental policy and management systems in participating hotels.

 

CAST

The Caribbean Action for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) was launched in June 1997 by the CHA. An offshoot of the CHA’s environmental committee, through membership, CAST is responsible for assisting Caribbean hoteliers to meet the environmental standards established by international tour operators and other industry participants.

 

International Initiatives

There are a number of international initiatives that are relevant to the Caribbean, either because they produce information that can be used to promote/guide BMPs, or because they target the Caribbean as a travel destination.

International Hotels Environment Initiative

The International Hotels Environmental Initiative (IHEI) was developed by The Prince of Wales Business Leaders Forum in 1992. The IHEI is a coalition of hotel companies and industry partners which encourages improvement in the environmental performance of the international hotel industry.

In addition to supporting its partners, some of whom are in the Caribbean, the Initiative has produced a number of publications promoting best practices (Appendix 2).

GREEN GLOBE

The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global coalition of industry chief executive officers, created the Green Globe programme in 1993. In promoting the goals of the Green Globe programme, a number of publications relevant to BMPs have been produced (Appendix 2) in collaboration with a number of organizations including UNEP.

 

British Airways Holidays

British Airways Holidays developed a programme called "Tourism for Tomorrow", which seeks to promote environmentally friendly properties to its clients. Working with the IHEI and CHA, British Airways Holidays is presently conducting a survey of hotels in the Caribbean, in an effort to identify and promote hotels with good environmental practices.

ECoNETT

The European Community Network for Environmental Travel and Tourism (ECoNETT) is an environmental communications network which provides Internet access to information about environmental travel and tourism.

ISO 14000

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has developed standards (ISO 14000) for environmental management and environmental auditing. The ISO 14000 certification process requires sector-specific guidelines and standards. Though such standards do not presently exist for the tourism industry, a number of regional and international organisations are promoting the development of environmental management systems in participating hotels.

In April 1997, the CHA, UNEP-CEP and the United States Agency for International Development jointly sponsored a seminar covering ISO 14000 for industry participants in Negril, Jamaica.

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List of Tables and Figures, Foreword, Acknowledgements | Section 1. | Section 2. | Section 3. | Section 4. | Section 5. | Section 6. | Section 7. | List of Acronyms  | References  | Appendix 1. | Appendix 2. | Appendix 3.