Tourism Management at Royal Botanic Gardens - Report Example

APPLIED TOURISM MANAGEMENT REPORT ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW: WORLD HERITAGE SITE Please write here Identity Number Professor: Submission Date: Applied Tourism Management Report ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW: WORLD HERITAGE SITE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Increasing numbers of domestic and international visitors across the world travel to public gardens, parks and botanic gardens. One of the famous tourist attractions is the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London. The gardens offer a sustainable form of tourism development, with beneficial outcomes to the tourism economy for its local communities and region. This report investigates the Kew Gardens, identifies the conservation measures, and assesses the conservation, sustainability education, and preservation carried out by them. Similarly, the impact of the gardens on the tourists in the form of enjoyment and education is also analysed, with the help of relevant literature and observation documentation. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………………….. 4 2. TOURISM MANAGEMENT AT ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW………… 4 2.1 Countering Tourism Impacts: Botanic Garden Conservation, Sustainability Education, Interpretation and Protection............. 5 2.2 Tourists’ Enjoyment and Education Provided by Kew Gardens….. 7 3. CONCLUSION ……………………………………………………………………….9 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………………11 1. INTRODUCTION In the United Kingdom the role of botanical gardens and tourism is directly related to the increasing interest in garden visiting which has occurred mostly in the last 10 to 15 years (Minter 2004). The historic Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew created by renowned landscape architects Bridgeman, Kent, Chambers, Capability Brown and Nesfield, are established as a series of parks and estates along the River Thames’ south-western aeas. These Kew gardens in London “illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens from the 18th to the 20th centuries” (UNESCO 2012). They are home to botanic collections of conserved plants, living plants and documents which have been augmented over the centuries. From the time of their conception in 1759, the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew have made a significant and continued contribution to the study of plant classification, horticulture, and economic botany (UNESCO 2012). The purpose of this report is to investigate applied tourism management at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in London, a world heritage site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO 2012). Conservation, sustainability education, interpretation and protection related to the impact of tourists on the gardens will be examined. Further, the world heritage site’s provision of enjoyment and education to tourists will also be evaluated, with the help of the documentation of observation, and interviews of staff and visitors. 2. TOURISM MANAGEMENT AT ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW Like other botanical gardens in Europe, London’s Kew Gardens has an urban setting, situated 10 miles from the heart of the city. Botanical gardens originated as herb and medicinal gardens, collecting, cultivating and cataloguing exotic species from across the world for profit and enjoyment. They also serve as urban recreational parks with special buildings such as glass houses, the Palm House and the Temperate House that inspired conservatories around the world “for the cultivation of climatically sensitive exotics” (Tiffin 2005: 1), Orangery, Queen Charlotte’s Cottage; the folly temples; Rhodendron Dell, boundary ha-ha; garden vistas to William Chambers’ pagoda and Syon Park House; ornamental lakes and ponds; herbarium and plant collections” (UNESCO 2012). Major metropolitan gardens like the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew historically participated in state-sponsored agricultural and horticultural experimentation, became a centre for imperial and colonial plant exchange, and the main authority in classifying and naming plants new to the European archive. 2.1 Countering Tourism Impacts: Botanic Garden Conservation, Sustainability Education, Interpretation and Protection Some of the conservation measures implemented by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew include its role as the UK Cites Scientific Authority for Plants, seed conservation, promoting the Threatened Plants Appeal, implementing training courses in plant conservation techniques, plant research, collaborative research on a global scale, and practising restorative ecology. Further, meeting the conservation objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), sustainable use of natural resources, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from access to genetic resources. Kew (2012) adds that protecting wildlife habitats is also an important conservation objective. According to Minter (2004), tourists should receive guidance on how their purchasing choices based on environmentally friendly lines can help to promote sustainability. A wide range of domestic and international tourists as well as local visitors visit the botanic gardens. To encourage the public to support conservation efforts, botanic gardens are potentially well placed to provide community education about conservation and to create pro-conservation attitudes. Appropriate interpretive strategies aimed at conservation issues are developed. Research evidence indicates that garden visitors are less interested in conservation issues and less motivated to learn than tourists to “other free-choice learning settings such as museums, zoos, aquariums, other heritage sites, natural areas and wildlife tourism activities” (Ballantyne et al 2008: 439). These findings have implications for interpretive practice in botanic gardens. Interpretive programs in botanic gardens include “exhibits, displays, interpretive signage and guided tours with specific themes” (Ballantyne et al 2008: 440). There may also be printed leaflets, guidebooks, maps and brochures that facilitate self-guided walks. Further, community programmes and courses on topics such as propagation, weed control and plant adaptations are conducted. Additionally, annual displays and plant sales by local horticultural groups are undertaken. Protection and management of the Royal Botanic Gardens includes that of Kew, Kew Palace and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage, the hereditary property of Queen Elizabeth II, They are “managed for conservation purposes by the Royal Botanic Gardens of Kew and Historic Royal Palaces” (UNESCO 2012). The London Borough of Richmond upon Thames includes the property in its conservation area. The London Borough of Hounslow protects part of the Buffer Zone by a conservation area. The Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas Act 1990 lists forty-four buildings and structures located in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew as buildings of special architectural and historical interest. The English Heritage Register of Park and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England has proclaimed the site as Grade 1. The local authorities’ permission is required to carry out changes, who consult English Heritage in the case of listed buildings and conservation areas. Kew Gardens’ conservation work has continued at an international level, notably for the” cataloguing of species, supporting conservation projects around the world, the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, and the Convention on Biological Diversity” (UNESCO 2012). A World Heritage Site Management Plan, a Property Conservation Plan, a Master Plan and a specific landscape master plan promote the site’s conservation. The World Heritage Committee urged the State Party to appoint a landscape architect or specialist qualified in the history of art and history in general, so that architectural conservation activities can be coordinated on-site. Hence, historic landscape artchitects have been appointed. 2.2 Tourists’ Enjoyment and Education Provided by Kew Gardens The exceptional, unique and diverse living collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew indicate the active European cultural tradition of collecting and cultivating exotic plants with aesthetic, scientific and economic objectives. This tradition has also brought about the recording and monitoring of the very rich local biodiversity for over 120 years. This encompasses an “exceptional range of birds, insects, lichens and fungi; some of the latter have proved to be new to science” (Ballantyne et al 2008: 440). With growing numbers of visitors, the scientific collections were enriched, the herbarium was enlarged in 1903 and in 1932, and the glasshouses and spaces were converted to house living plant collections. The Second World War caused some material damage in the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, which were corrected during the new impetus provided by the bicentenary of the creation of the gardens. This included the restoration and reopening of the Palm House, improvements to the Rock Garden, the Azalea Garden and the Order Beds. These interventions were inadequate in accommodating the growing collections, hence some specimens were moved to a 200-hectare garden at Wakehurst in 1965. New glasshouses with higher levels of technology were built such as the Alpine House in 1981, and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. The core activities in Kew gardens today relate to the conservation of the site’s heritage, and the conservation of ecosystems worldwide. Significantly, “most of the buildings and structures are in a good state of conservation” (UNESCO 2012). Botanic gardens display plant labels to inform visitors about the species exhibited. Although botanic gardens focus on educating the public to support their conservation efforts, there is little research relating to tourists and other visitors’ reception to these messages. For effective implementation, it is essential that interpretive materials should be specifically tailored to suit the knowledge, interests and needs of target audiences. Few systematic studies have been conducted to examine botanic gardens visitors’ environmental awareness, interests and purposes. Connell’s (2004) survey revealed that most visitors to botanic gardens are not intent on learning (Ballantyne et al 2008). Botanic gardens in particular are traditionally associated with environmental conservation and education, and they characteristically contain collections of plants for education, scientific purposes and display. Across the globe, botanic gardens have started playing a role in educating the public about global environmental change and conservation issues. Being aesthetically appealing and informal, these gardens are in the appropriate position to showcase the “interrelationships among plants, animals and humans, and to explain how the different components are inextricably linked and interdependent” (Ballantyne et al 2008: 440). Besides promoting the importance of plants, habitats and conservation, botanic gardens also impact the values, attitudes and actions of their visitors. It is essential to have well designed interpretation that conveys the importance of preserving plants for the future well-being of the planet, the need to preserve natural habitats, an understanding of the threats and consequences of loss of biodiversity, and the counteractive measures that can be employed. 3. CONCLUSION This report assesses applied tourism management at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, London. The report analysed that the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew are well cared for, and there is great emphasis on conservation and protection of the plant species, the buildings, and maintenance of the appropriate garden layout. The world heritage site pursues high standards in its aesthetic and functional presentation to tourists and other visitors. Sustainability education is being imparted to tourists, to garner their support in keeping pollution levels low, by recycling, following waste management, and in conveying the importance of responsible purchasing. Further, the site provides enjoyment and education to the visitors. Interpretive programs through exhibits, displays and guided tours help to convey information to tourists. For the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to foster community understanding of conservation, promote pro-conservation attitudes, and promote visitor participation in conservation activities, future research should focus on visitors’ and tourists’ perspectives. This would help in designing and implementing “garden experiences that continue to attract and inspire visitors” reiterate Ballantyne et al (2008: 440). The new studies would also assist in finding ways in which interpretive activities can be used to raise visitors’ awareness of environmental issues without compromising their need for restorative experiences at the gardens. ---------------------------------------------------- 4. BIBLIOGRAPHY Ballantyne, R. & Packer, J. (2011). Using tourism free-choice learning experiences to promote environmentally sustainable behaviour: The role of post-visit ‘action resources’. Environmental Education Research, 17 (2): pp.201-215. Ballantyne, R., Packer, J. & Hughes, K. (2008). Environmental awareness, interests and motives of botanic gardens visitors: Implications for interpretive practice. Tourism Management, 29: pp.439-444. Connell, J. (2004). The purest of human pleasures: The characteristics and motivations of garden visitors in Great Britain. Tourism Management, 25: pp.229-247. Kew (2012). Conservation and sustainable use. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens. Retrieved on 2nd February, 2012 from: http://www.kew.org/conservation/ Minter, S. (April 2004). Sustainable tourism and botanic gardens – A win-win situation? 1 (1). Resource Centre, Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). Retrieved on 2nd February 2012 from: http://www.bgci.org/education/article/406/ Tiffin, H. (2005). Bats in the gardens. Mosaic, 38 (4): pp.1-16. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation). (2012). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation. World Heritage Convention. Retrieved on 2nd February, 2012 from: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1084 Read More