Title: Sustainable Destination Management at the Seven Sister States: Recommendations for the Future
1Sustainable Destination Management at the Seven
Sister States Recommendations for the Future
- Emily McIntyre, Leah Jorgensen, Karina
Scherloski, Merel van-Haastert, Paul Liao
2Outline Plan
- Introduction
- Background
- Environment
- Social/Culture
- Economy of S
- even Sister States
- Group-led Activity
- Discussion Questions
- Recommendations for the Future
- Conclusion
3Countries with Himalayan Mountains
4Map of India
5Map of the Seven Sisters
6Introduction
- By 2010, Mountain tourism will account for 20 per
cent of total tourism expenditures (WTTC, 1999) - 1960s Current, many tourists trek the Himalayan
mountain associated with a pilgrimage - Economic opportunities were underscored, but
large scale change ..,..
7Seven Sister States Include
- Most states have
- Their own tribes
- Own type of art
- Culture
- Dance
- Music
- Lifestyles
- Own fairs and festivals
8DMOs Involved
- Wonderland Treks
- Government of India
- Government of Seven Sister States
9The Seven Sisters Main Resources
- Tea-based products
- Bamboo
- Natural gas
- Silk
- Oil
- Handicrafts
-
- Abundant forests
- Exotic flora and fauna
- Great land for growing plantation crops, fruits,
vegetables, flowers, and herbs - Natural beauty
10Environmental Impacts on Mountainous Regions
- Limited accessibility
- Fragile environment
- Currently encourage intense resource use
- Overexploitation of resources with little concern
for environmental consequences - (Jodha, 2000)
11Environmental Impacts Contd
- Environmental degradation
- Depletion of forests
- Soil erosion
- Drying up of water sources
- Destroyed arable agricultural land
- (Karan, 1994)
12Waste Management Issues
- Self generated solid waste from visitors
- Large number of visitors
- Amount of solid waste is also increasing
- Overloaded areas with growing stockpiles of
garbage - Could create water crisis (Kuniyal, 2005)
- Pollution attributable to expedition, trekking
and camping activities of trekkers - Garbage includes food, glass, clothes, tents,
dead bodies (Regmi, n.d.)
13Endangered Tigers
- India claims that there are 5000 tigers
- Experts say this figure is actually closer to
3000 - Tiger hunting was banned by the Indian government
in 1981 - Demand for tiger related goods (Thinkquest Team,
1997) - Aranachal Pradesh has a tiger project (expand)
14Corbett National Park
15Future Directions for Achieving Environmental
Success
- Address the needs of the local people in regards
to conservation and development, including
tourism - Locals should actively be involved as
stakeholders in the protection of the environment - Tourism should not increase pressure on local
resources (I.e. use alternative energy sources) - Adequately dispose of human waste and other
garbage (Wonderland India, 2007)
16Environmental Recomendations
- Start more movements against ecological
destruction - Open more local movements against deforestation
(Karan, 1994) - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Respect
- Segregate waste into two categories
biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste
(Kuniyal, 2005)
17Social Issues
- Mountain regions obtain a global concern, which
turns into a disregard to local perceptions and
practices (Singh and Jodha, 2000). - The local culture should have a high level of
commitment on formalised planning activities such
as regional planning and environmental impact
assessment (Bramwell and Lane, 2000). - Micro and Macro Environment need to work together
18Stakeholder Involvement
- Government of India and State governments
- Research Institutions
- Regional Universities
- Indigenous groups
- Ministry of Water Resources
- Ministry of Natural Resources
- Peoples Republic of China
- Natural Resource Organizations
- Tourism Operators
- Transportation Operators
- Local Culture
- Tourists
19Partnerships
- A voluntary pooling of resources (labor, money,
information etc.) between two or more parties to
accomplish collaborative goals (Chavez and
Selin, 1995). - Current Partnerships North Eastern Council (NEC)
20 21Cultural Issues
- Loss or change of culture through
- Commodification
- Standardization
- Loss of authenticity and staged authenticity
- Adaptation to tourists demands
- (UNEP, 2001)
22Dimensions of Cultural Impacts(Singh, 2007)
23Indigenous Control of Tourism
- Spatial limitation
- Hosts set limits on entry to homelands and sacred
sites - Activity limitation
- Hosts established preferred tourist activities
- Temporal limitation
- Hosts indicate appropriate times for tourist
access and use - Cultural limitation
- Hosts limits on access to cultural knowledge and
rituals -
(Zeppler, Year)
24ECONOMIC SLIDES
25Workshop Consensus Building Activity
-Transportation -Accommodation -Education -Tourist
Attractions -Fresh Water and basic
amenities -Animal Protection -Implementation of
Waste Management Initiatives
26Answer
- Although modern images of India often show
poverty and lack of development, India was the
richest country on earth until the time of
British invasion in the early 17th Century.
Christopher Columbus was attracted by India's
wealth
27Discussion Questions
- Do you have any further suggestions as to how
stakeholders may share their resources? - How may North Eastern Council help to make a
difference for tourism development? - Do you think working with neighbouring countries
is beyond the scope of Northeast India? - Based on this presentation do you have any other
future ideas for the Seven Sisters?
28Innovative Initiatives and Recommendations for
the future
- Collaboration and Partnerships
- Workshops
- Consensus
- Collaboration under Joint marketing, promotions
and research - Co-management
- Adaptive management
- Collaboration Under Sustainable Tourism
Development
29Best Practice
- Benchmark
- Audit
- Environmental Management System
- Continuous Monitoring and Improvement
- (Issaverdis, 2001)
30Collaboration and Partnerships
- A process of joint decision making among
autonomous, key stakeholders to resolve problems
and or to manage issues related to the planning
and development (Text. Ch 13). - Collaboration can be a critical way to achieve
common goals. - Best practice Eagle Valley Partnership (Chavez
and Selin, 1995).
31Workshops
- Small group sessions (usually with a maximum of
35 participants) held for a period of intense
study or training. The emphasis is on exchanging
ideas and demonstrating skills and techniques
(Howell, Ellison, Ellison Wright, 2003). - Important for information sharing
- A place where stakeholders can discuss important
topics
32Consensus
- Cooperative alliances between government, public
and private sector - Compromise, Negotiate and Collaborate are
essential when reaching a Consensus - Way to find a common ground
- Community building
- Resolve stakeholder representation issues
- Interest-based
33Collaboration under Joint Marketing, Promotions
and Research
- Improve appeal of the destination
- Improve networks and linkages
- Attract funding
- Tourism Destination Branding
- Competitive Advantage
- Marketing Initiatives
- Sustainable Development
34Co-management
- Co-management is when the rights and
responsibilities pertaining to a particular
resource are shared between government and local
users (Yandle, 2003, p. 180). - Opportunities for
- Negotiation and external support
- Common shared vision
- Leadership
- The notion of relationships among people
(Plummer and Fitzgibbon, 2004). - Cross-border Partnerships
35Adaptive Management
- Continuous modifications and adjustments based on
learning experiences - Learning by doing, shared learning
- Response to rapid change
- Flexibility
- Monitoring, evaluation and corrective action
- Innovate ways to improve management
36Adaptive Planning Processes and Organizations
37Collaboration Under Sustainable Development
- Help to solve issues of naturally depleting
resources - Help to resolve cultural issues
- Maintain Biodiversity and achieve local
empowerment through stakeholder involvement,
working together and collaboration - Eco-tourism as an opportunity
38Knowledge Gaps
- Lack of Awareness
- Lack of Education
- Lack of Basic Amenities and Sanitation
- Lack of Facilities
- Poor Transportation
- Poor planning and instruments of natural disasters
39Conclusion
- The Government of India has recognized the need
to develop sustainably - Awareness and Education must be raised
- Implementation of amenities, facilities and
certain Westernized comforts - Working together to continuously improving will
help to achieve Sustainable Development
40References
- Bramwell, B. Lane, B. (2000). Tourism
Collaboration and Partnerships Politics,
Practice and Sustainability. Great Britain
Biddles Ltd. - Conservation International (2007, November 6th).
Biodiversity hotspots. Retrieved November 6th,
2007, from http//www.biodiversityhotspots.org/xp
/Hotspots/resources - Jodha, N. S. (2000). Globalization and fragile
mountain environments Policy challenges and
choices. Mountain Research and Development,
20(4), 296-299. - Karan, P. P. (1994). Environmental movements in
India. The Geographical Review, 84, 32-42. - Kuniyal, J. C. (2005). Solid waste management
techniques for the waste generated and brought
down from campsites in the hill spots, trails
and expedition tops. Waste Management
Research, 23(3), 182-198. - Regmi, P. (n.d.). Himalayas labelled the highest
junkyard in the world. Retrieved October 25,
2007, from http//www.chhahari.com/Shangri_La/tex
t/pollution.html - Singh, S. Jodha, N. (2000). Globalization and
Fragile Mountain Environments Policy Challenges
and Choices. Mountain Research and Development,
20(4), 296-299. - Wikipedia (2007, May 17). Seven sister states.
Retrieved October 31, 2007, from
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Sister_States
- Wonderland Treks and Tours (2007). Retrieved
November 11th, 2007, from - http//www.wonderland-india.com/aboutus.html
- Yandle, T. 2003. The challenge of building
successful stakeholder organizations New
Zealands experience in developing a fisheries
co-management regime. Marine Policy 27, 179192
41References Contd
- Dev, B.J., Lahiri, D.K. (1987). Manipur
Culture and Politics. India Mittal Publications. - Singh, T. (1972). Manipur A Study. Rajesh
Printing Press. - Agarwal, A.K. (1988). North-Eastern Economy
Problems and Prospects. India Mittal
Publications. - India Tourism Statistics. (2003). Market research
division ministry of tourism government of India
(PDF). Retrieved November 13, 2007,
tourism.gov.in/rtia/..5Cstatistics5CFTAIS2003.pd
f - Gopalakrishnan, R. (1991). The North-East India
Land, Economy and People. Vikas Publishing House
Pvt Ltd. - Maps of India. (2004). Travel, hotels and profile
of Meghalaya. Retrieved November 13, 2007, from
http//www.mapsofindia.com/stateprofiles/meghalaya
/ - Ministry of Statistics and Programme
Implementation. (2007). Retrieved November 12,
2007, from http//www.mospi.gov.in/ - Government of Assam, Economic Survey of Assam.
(2006). Retrieved November 13, 2007, from
http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assam - Infrastructure. (2003). Assam (PDF). Retrieved
November 13, 2007, from http//assamgovt.nic.in/ - NER Databank. (2002). North Eastern Development
Finance Corporation Ltd. Retrieved November 12,
2007, from http//databank.nedfi.com/
42Thank you!
- Please inquire with us if you have any further
questions, comments and concerns!