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Ecologically Sensitive Development of NEW TOURISM

DESTINATIONs in The Greater Mekong

Sub-Region

DARARAT KHAMCHIANGTA ID 109533

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INTRODUCTIONTourism sector development put enormous

pressure on ecosystem in locality by uncontrolled development. Moreover, local

authorities who play an important role in local management do not know how to deal

with the impacts on the locality.

1. What are the effects of tourism development on the ecologically sensitive destinations in GMS?

2. What are Environment Management Measures (EMMs) used by local authorities and their effectiveness?

3. How local authorities in GMS can manage ecologically sensitive tourism destinations for sustainable tourism development?

Research Question

To propose the application of EMMs for local authorities in the GMS to manage in the future tourism growth on ecologically sensitive tourism destination.

Research Problem

Main Research Objective

Many ecologically sensitive areas in GMS were

promoted to be tourism destination

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Literature Review

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Method of Study• Multiple case study approach was used, in order to investigate a

contemporary phenomenon within a real context of tourism designations in GMS

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Conceptual FrameworkPrecedence Study

Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, in Lao PDR

Pai District, Mae Hong Son Province, in Thailand

• Both the two case are river based tourism• Tourism development in the two cases since 1990s• In the past, they were small rural town, with

unspoiled nature• Today, they had changed their eco system due to

tourism development

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DPSIR Framework

This analytical framework was developed by OECD , used to analyze the stage of environment.

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Driving Forces of Tourism DevelopmentPeriod of Tourism Development Related to Driving Forces and Increasing of Visitor Arrival

Vang Vieng Case Pai Case

Both of Vang Vieng and Pai Case illustrates : The number of tourist was increasing after the areas was placed the Policy, Plan,

Program and Projects. Policy, Plan, Program and Projects were from three level

1. International Level2. National Level >>> The main influences3. Local Level

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Pressures of Tourism DevelopmentVisitor Arrival Related to Accommodation Services

Vang Vieng Case Pai Case

Both of Vang Vieng and Pai Case illustrates : The number of accommodation services (supply) increasing due to the increasing of

visitors (demand) in the areas. Tourism Supply in Destination Areas is not only Accommodation but also

Transportation and Tourism Activities

“ The Pressures of Tourism Development on Destination Areas is Demand and Supply in the Destination Area”

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State of Tourism Growth 1) Socio – Economic system Tourists’ spending goods and

services, Contribute local increasing, Local people changed their occupation to do tourism service business

Influx investment from outside into locality

Tourism activities affect to culture and traditional of local community

2) Built system Activities and service supplies, Lead to increase of infrastructure3) Bio – Physical System Tourism Activities enclose to nature environment Spending goods from tourists lead to increase solid waste Increasing natural resources used and waste polluted from tourism

services and activities

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Impacts on EcosystemCauses and Effects Diagram

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Responses by Local Authorities

• Local authorities of both two case had less responses on these effect. There was only the basic public management (solid waste and wastewater) with poor management and low capacity.

• Major Gap of Responses: - Cannot dealing with the increasing amount

of waste.

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Key Factors for Analyzing the Emerging Case

• From DPSIR analysis, it illustrated key factors that causing ecosystem effects in destination area as follow;

1) Tourism Demand2) Tourism Supply3) Investment in Locality4) Local Economy and People’s occupations5) New Constructions and Renovations6) Constructions Along the River7) Tourism Activities8) Responses by Local Authority

“These factors were used to analyze the new tourism destination in order to find out the tourism growth, current and future effects in ecosystem”

(Based on the study of preceding cases)

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Second Step of StudyAnalysis of an Emerging Destination

• There are three level of driving forces contributed tourism development in Chiang Khan.

• However, the centennial celebration in 2009 that promoted from TAT is the main influences to contribute Chiang Khan became the famous destination for domestic tourists.

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Tourism Demand and supply• Chiang Khan

became the famous destination within only one year with over 100,000 tourists and 100 accommodation services in 2010

“ Tourism demand & supply show the rapid growth in this area”

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Investment in Locality, Local Economic and Local people occupation

Shops and Restaurant Services related Year of Establishment

• There is 50% of local people who strongly agree that their cost of living, increase after tourism development

“Increasing shops and restaurants investment during 2009-20010”

“50% of local people strongly agree that their cost of living, increase after tourism development”

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Constructions & Tourism ActivitiesNew Construction

New Construction

• The city grow along Mekong River and main road in the district

• Tourism service supplies take place in traditional zone

• Tourism Activities refer to resources used & waste polluted

Tourism Activities

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Responses by Chiang Khan Municipality• The responses by the municipality were found that

it was on only solid waste and wastewater management with poor managed.

Dumping the waste to the disposal site and just open burning

Discharge wastewater directly to Mekong River“ The response is the same with Vang Vieng and Pai Case.

Therefore, it could lead to the same effects in Chiang Khan”“As s result of tourism growth related urban ecosystem

in locality with a lesson learnt from Vang Vieng and Pai Cases, it could draw the current effects and the future in the area of Chiang Chan destination ”

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Causes and Effects of Tourism in Chiang Khan

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Major Effects1)Changed land used pattern from residential to

commercial area

“Conflict of Land used>> Noise increasing in local community”

2)Increased of solid waste and waste water with poor management by the municipality

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The Responses Needed by MunicipalityAnalysis and Finding Responses Needed

Causes Current & Future Effects

•Increasing Tourists•Tourism Activities(transport used)•Increasing Tourism Services Supply

•Increasing waste polluted(solid wastes, wastewater, gaseous waste, heat, noise)•Depletion of natural resource ( green space, water, energy)

•Waste management improving (solid waste, wastewater)•Transportation management•Investment control•Land use control•Resources used control•Building construction control•Tourism activities control•Economic activities•Support and promote local agriculture product

•Increasing Tourism Services Supply (construction)

•Change land used pattern(land used conflict, depletion of green area)•Transformation of architecture

•Wastewater discharge to Mekong River

•Change natural condition River Pollution

•Tourism Activities •Cultural and traditional degradation

•Change occupation •Chiang local people livelihood

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Application of EMMs by Municipality

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Conclusions• Due to the influx of tourist and services supply in the area, it

creates the changes in the ecosystem especially on the nature environment. Normally, local authority with the main of responsibility in local level, but have less responses on these effects.

• The effects in ecosystem will more critical if local authority has not improve the management in the destination.

• From the case study of Chiang Khan, the effects will be same with Vang Vieng and Pai cases, if the municipality does not concern on the key factors that cause to the effects or the changes in the destination area.

“The management in the early stage of tourism growth could mitigate the current effects and prevent the effects of the future”

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Recommendations

• This study could be adapt and be the guideline for setting application of EMMs in the similar tourism destinations in GMS

• The similar cases could be the river based tourism destination in GMS

“However, the implementation depends on the role

or power of the local authorities in those destinations including tourism management framework in each country”