Outputs:
1. Background Research Paper
The background research paper will be conducted to survey information on the current situations, trends, and challenges in managing the carrying capacity of tourism development in conservation, fragile, and protected areas. The aim is to provide workshop participants with a general overview of the subject matter. The research will also gather information and examples on the policies and initiatives in APEC economies designed to promote sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas.
The research methodology includes desk research and literature review.
The background research paper will be presented in the form of a report circulated among workshop participants 1-2 weeks prior to the workshop. The report will be minimum of 20 pages excluding annexes and consist of an Introduction and Overview, Executive Summary of research findings, key needs, barriers, and gaps for sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas, including at least two cases , identified best practices, and conclusions.
2. Workshop
a. Conduct the workshop on “Beyond carrying capacity: Best practice in sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas.” in May 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand.
b. Target participants are travel and tourism officials or policymakers who focus on sustainable tourism especially in conservation, fragile, and protected areas, tourism management associates and organizations from APEC economies; representatives from local communities and stakeholders, as well as international organizations related to tourism.
c. The first day of the workshop, the participants will be presented with an idea of the concept and the importance of sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas. This will be facilitated by experts in sustainable tourism management, including academicians, researchers, representatives from government agencies, and local stakeholders.
d. On the second day of the workshop, the participants will engage in interactive activities and group discussions to deepen their understanding of sustainable tourism management principles and practices. They will also have the opportunity to share their own experiences and insights related to conservation, fragile, and protected areas. Additionally, they may be given the chance to share key insights obtained from the workshop and discuss how these insights may be relevant to their economies in the final session for wrap up and discussion on recommendations.
e. Post-event Survey: the post-event survey will be conducted after the Workshop.
f. Workshop Report: the report will encompass summaries of key presentations, discussions, and outcomes from the workshop, including recommendations for sustainable tourism management that will be gathered during the event. All the details included will serve as input for the Handbook on sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas. The report will be minimum of 20 pages excluding annexes.
g. Draft Agenda for the Workshop
Day1
8.30-9.00 hrs.: Registration
9.00-9.30 hrs.: Opening Address and Workshop Overview
9.30-10.30 hrs.: Understanding the Impact of Tourism on Conservation, Fragile, and Protected Areas.
10.30-10.45 hrs.: Tea Break
10.45-12.00 hrs.: The Concept and the Importance of Sustainable Tourism Management in Conservation, Fragile, and Protected Areas.
12.00–13.30 hrs.: Lunch Break
13.30-14.30 hrs.: Case Studies of Sustainable Tourism Initiatives
14.30-15.30 hrs.: Panel Discussion: Challenges and Solutions in Sustainable Tourism
15.30-15.45 hrs.: Tea Break
15.45-17.00 hrs.: Breakout Groups to Discuss Localized Challenges and Solutions
17.00-17.30 hrs.: Q&A session
17.30 hrs.: End of Day1
Day2
9.00-10.30 hrs.: Panel Discussion: Principles and Practices of Sustainable Tourism Planning in conservation, fragile, and protected areas
10.30-10.45 hrs.: Tea Break
10.45-12.00 hrs.: Panel Discussion: Tools and Techniques for Assessing Tourism Impact
12.00-13.30 hrs.: Lunch Break
13.30-15.00 hrs.: Breakout Groups to Discuss on Challenges and Solutions about Government Policies and Regulations Supporting Sustainable Tourism in conservation, fragile, and protected areas 15.00-15.15 hrs.: Tea Break
15.15-16.30 hrs.: Interactive Session: Developing Sustainable Tourism Action Plans for conservation, fragile, and protected areas.
16.30-17.00 hrs.: Reporting from Breakout Groups and Action Plans 17.00-17.30 hrs.: Discussion on the recommendations
17.30-18.00 hrs.: Q&A session
18.00-18.30 hrs.: Closing Remarks
* Please note that the structure of the rough agenda may be subject to change. However, the topic of the sessions will remain align with the project theme.
3. Handbook on sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas.
a. The handbook will contain step-by-step guidelines and best practices for implementing sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas. Its goal is to improve destination management, unlock tourism potential, and target tourism planners, policymakers, and personnel directly responsible for the sustainable management of tourism sites, as well as the local community.
b. The handbook will be written in a user-friendly format and will be minimum of 100 pages excluding annexes.
c. The preliminary structure of the handbook’s contents is as follows:
i. Introduction, background, and purpose of the handbook
ii. Sustainable Tourism Management: definition, concepts, and context
iii. Guidelines for planning, implementing, and monitoring Sustainable Tourism Management strategies in conservation, fragile, and protected areas.
d. Minimum of 5 case studies of successful implementation of Sustainable Tourism Management from at least 5 APEC economies will be interspersed throughout the guidelines as examples to support the strategies and steps outlined in the handbook.
e. The final handbook will be disseminated on the APEC website.
Outcomes:
1. Increased understanding on sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas in APEC economies through the participant post-event survey.
2. Increased capacity amongst the participants to develop strategies and tools in sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas through the participant post-event survey.
3. Increased resources available to guide APEC economies in effective sustainable tourism management in conservation, fragile, and protected areas through the Handbook.
Beneficiaries:
The target participants of the workshop will be travel and tourism officials or policy makers who focus on sustainable tourism especially in conservation, fragile, and protected areas, tourism management associates and organizations from APEC economies; representatives from local communities and stakeholders, as well as international organizations related to tourism.
APEC member economies are encouraged to nominate an equal number of female and male participant to make sure that female participants and speakers will be encouraged to give a female perspective to the workshop.
In addition to the primary participants, groups of secondary beneficiaries who may not necessarily participate directly in the project but will benefit from it include:
1. Local Businesses: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the tourism sector in the APEC economies, such as local tour operators, accommodation providers, and service providers
2. Local Residents: Communities residing in or near tourism destinations, who may experience positive socio-economic impacts from sustainable tourism practices.
3. Environmental Organizations: Groups focused on conservation and environmental protection that stand to benefit from the emphasis on sustainable practices in tourism management.
These secondary beneficiaries stand to gain indirect benefits from the project's focus on sustainable tourism, contributing to broader positive impacts on local communities, economies, and the environment.
