Beach and Coastal Tourism in South East Asia

Dr Julia Jeyacheya, Centre for International Development, University of Bradford.

Dr Mark Hampton, Kent Business School, University of Kent.

Long Haul Mass Tourism

• Well-established.

• High capital costs – luxury hotels & infrastructure.

• Foreign ownership, multi-nationals & economic losses.

• High employment / room.

• Expatriate managers.

Sofitel Nusa Dua Beach Resort, Bali. 415 rooms including 22 suites.

Regional and Domestic Tourism

• Lower priority with governments.

• Less volatile than international markets.

• Common culture.

• Different demands to international markets.

Cruise Ships

• Growing Asian market (1.2 million passengers, 2012).

• Predicted rise to 3.7 million by 2017.

• High cost of infrastructure. New terminals planned.

• Minimal spend on-shore (floating all-inclusive resorts)

(Singapore Business Review, 2013)

Money from tourists that does not arrive at a destination.

International airlines,tour operators, hotels

Local businesses andworkers

Package, All-InclusiveTourists

80% 20%

Backpackers 20% 80%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

Money that leaves the destination

Package & All Inclusive Tourists: • Tourists prefer to eat and

drink foreign products. • 40 – 50% of tourist

spending is lost from importing food and drink.

• EXTENDED SUPPLY CHAIN

Independents and Backpackers: • Tourists prefer to eat and

drink local products. • Imported food and drink

is minimal. • LOCAL SUPPLY CHAIN

THE AMOUNT OF MONEY LOST DEPENDS ON THE DIVERSITY OF THE COUNTRY’S ECONOMY

Constraints for Tourism Growth – South East Asia

• Human Resource Development – skilled labour shortage.

• Natural Resource Management – water, waste and energy capacity vs. increasing demand.

• Economic Management – keeping more tourist expenditure at the destination.

• Sustainable Management – broader, integrated approach to development.

THREATS TO COASTAL TOURISM

Mass Tourism Development without a Master Plan.

http://www.kutamap.com

http://indosurflife.com/2014/01/governor-asks-hotels-and-restaurants-in-kuta-to-take-care-of-waste/

Coral bleaching • Fish bombing / blast fishing

WWF http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/12/03/bombs-cyanide-and-killer-scrapes-illegal-fishing-takes-devastating-toll-coral

Lightbulbs or empty bottles are filled with explosives. US$1 can yield US$15 of fish.

Maximum destruction to coral reef. High but indiscriminate yields of fish.

Fisherfolk stay in boats. The bomb is thrown into the water. Explosion.

Danger from losing limbs or life for fisherfolk handling the bombs. Danger to divers in the vicinity.

Rise in Destructive Blast Fishing. Demand for fish (protein) with increasing population. Quick profits, high yields. Reducing fish populations from overfishing or illegal fishing.

Challenges Policing Enforcing regulation Testing fish for cyanide Opportunities Educate Support Empower local users

• Cyanide fishing • Sand mining

https://seagrant.uaf.edu/nosb/papers/2011/mat-su-sharks.php

Potassium Cyanide tablets mixed with water. Rudimentary application.

Inhalation & skin exposure (divers) can cause breathing difficulties. Limited research.

Divers squirt liquid into coral reefs. Stuns the fish. Algae released from coral skeleton (bleaching).

More danger from the injury, paralysis or death from the bends.

Rise in Destructive Cyanide Fishing. Rising demand in live fish trade Aquarium fish trade. Demand for fish (protein) with increasing population. Quick profits, high yields.

Challenges Policing Enforcing regulation Testing fish for cyanide Opportunities Educate Support Empower local users

Learning Lessons from the past.

1. Mass, unplanned tourism destination:

- Pattaya, Thailand.

- Bali, Indonesia

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/51511-images-of-pattaya/

Rural, coastline, 1968. Mass tourism destination, post-1990s.

Pattaya, Thailand.

‘New Green Pattaya:’ Master Plan.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/learning-from-news/281857/pattaya-from-sin-city-to-green-paradise

2009 - Master Plan for Pattaya to become a Designated Area for Sustainable Tourism Administration. (DASTA). 2011 – Master Plan approved by Cabinet. Key Challenges: -Administrative overhaul (semi-autonomy & integrated). -Law enforcement & criminality (local and foreign). -Image transformation. -Environmental restoration.

Waste Management Solutions, Bali.

• Bali’s controversial Suwung landfill (Mount Rubbish).

• Sorting, recycling plants on-site now.

• Modern landfill design with lining is being introduced at Bangli regional landfill (pilot & benchmarking project).

http://www.naue.asia/balis-first-modern-landfill-design/

Learning Lessons from the past.

1. Small-scale, unplanned dive destination:

Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.

Local NGOs, community and dive tourists.

Gili Trawangan, Indonesia.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Gili_Islands

Unplanned, organic tourism growth. Local community owned and managed.

Gili Trawangan South Coast (1996, 1997, 2011)

Map produced by Perseverence Jeyacheya.

SATGAS

• Locally administered management.

• Tourist tax to pay fisherfolk for losses through zoning the marine park.

• Policing park to deter fish bombing.

Gili Ecotrust

• Coral reef restoration – BioRock technology.

• BioRock International Workshops.

• Partnering with international NGOs (Coral Guardian).

• Waste management: Beach clean ups & Recycling rubbish.

Local NGOs: islanders, backpackers and dive tourists respond to coral reef loss.

• Coastal development without a Master Plan

and clear management strategy will harm

the environment, the reputation of the

destination and the opportunities for

sustainable and responsible tourism

development (Pattaya, Kuta).

• Destination Management Organisations

with local involvement are key to delivering

the plan.

Thank You

Q&A