Ecotourism And Interpretation - Assignment Example

Ecotourism And Interpretation Summary Phillip Island that is located in Australia has been well known for its exotic beaches, flora and fauna and the Australian culture that this island has been able to secure. It is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in Australia and has a large number of tourists from across the globe. The region has benefitted from its tourism industry and at the same time there are certain risks that are posed to values of tourists, environment and cultural heritage of the island. This management plan proposes some of the action plans that can be undertaken so as to encounter such risks and provide a splendid experience to the visitors as well as safeguarding the natural environment of the region. Site description Philip island is located in Australia and is 140 km approximately of south-east of Melbourne. Philip Island is known to be a natural breakwater for the Western Port’s shallow waters. The first inhabitants of the island were the Bunong people, and this island even comprise of a bridge that connects the island town Newhaven with that of mainland town San Remo. This site is a famous tourist destination that is visited by overall 3.5 million in a year. The major attraction of the island is the Penguin Parade in which little penguins comes in group ashore and attract millions of tourists from across the globe. This island is known to have some of the varied and reliable surf conditions across the globe. The island also hosts certain events such as Pioneer festival and Pyramid rock festival. The island even comprises of wildlife sanctuary where kangaroos and wallabies roam across freely and the visitors even get a chance to feed them. Some pictorial images of the location is given below- (Bassett, 2002, p. 89) Values Visitor and/or Tourism Values Tourism over the years has been a source of income for the island. Tourist visits this place not only because of the wide range of wildlife but also because of the wide range of activities that this island has been offering to them. This island does not only have a pleasant atmosphere to offer to its visitors but has been over the ages proved to be the most beautiful tourist destination surrounded by beaches and penguins that makes holiday a memorable one. Tourism industry has been able to increase economic conditions of many places and one amongst them is this island. Families can spend a safe and enjoyable holiday at this island along with being close to the nature and making some memorable moments. Environmental and Wildlife Values This island comprise of a wide stretch wildlife sanctuary that consists of huge wide range of flora and fauna. The major attraction of the tourists in this island is its soothing beaches and penguin parade that comes offshore and very friendly in nature. The inhabitants of the island values the environment and wildlife and do not make frequent visitors to hinder the environment. There is a great concern toward the wildlife to secure them and make the island an eco-friendly zone where there is no such nuisance that is caused by tourists (Short and Hogan, 2006, pp. 75-76).The environmental policies are strictly followed by the government so as to safeguard the island and strike a balance between the tourism and green environment of Phillip Island. Cultural Heritage Values The cultural heritage values comprise of the major initiative that is taken to maintain the culture of a particular destination. The island has been known for hosting various ranges of activities and even preserving some of the unique features of the island or Australia as a whole that was not known to many people across the globe. The famous Churchill Island is one of the most significant cultural heritage sites that is maintained by the people of this island and consists of all those elements that was observed in the early Australian farm. The island over the years has valued its culture and preserved it either by constructing museums or by even developing some beautiful conservation centers. Risks Visitor and/or Tourism Values There are certain major risks that are prevailing in this area in relation to the tourists that needs to be addressed. Tourism though is one of the most important segments for the region but the government has not taken active measures to make holiday at the island totally safe for the families as there are certain facilities that are lacking in this island and needs to be resolved so as to attract more number of tourists. The first most significant area of risk is that of improper roads and unavailability of proper vehicles to reach to that destination. The other risk factors are that of lack of first aids or preventive measures in case of fire in the island. Environmental and Wildlife Values The value towards environment and wildlife was to safeguard them and facilitate more of green tourism so that the ecology of the area is not hindered by the rapid pace of tourism in the area. However the major risks of the island in terms of environmental values is that the increased number of motor sport activities and other form of activities such as helicopter ride for the tourists and other forms of water sports disrupts not only the natural environment of the island but also causes an impact on the wildlife of the island. Increased number of tourists poses a risk of disrupting the normal life of species. Cultural Heritage Values The culture of the island is a very important factor that increases the overall attraction of the destination for the tourists. However there are certain risks that are posed for the cultural and heritage values of the island. The culture of the island is preserved in some form of museums or in a specific location that is visited by the tourists. The ever changing scenario of the world has made people to lose the value for culture and people tends to more inclined towards monetary aspects then to secure the culture. Tourism can also pose a risk on culture which can be disrupted through increased number of visitors and various activities that hinders the heritage value of the island. Management strategies Visitor and/or Tourist Management The first management strategy that can be implemented so as to reduce the risk level in the region for the visitors is to construct proper infrastructure. The main objective for this strategy is to eliminate the perception of the visitors that this island is unsafe for their families and do not have proper arrangements. The increased number of road accidents in the area has created such a perception amongst the visitors. The action plan for the strategy would be to generate funds so that proper roads can be constructed to connect the island with cities. The second strategy to reduce the level of risk for the visitors would be through guided access to the wildlife or nature park so that they are not misguided. The major objective behind such a strategy is to provide the best of facilities to the visitors so that they can have a memorable holiday in the Phillip Island. The action plan for implementation of strategy would be having a team of well trained and licensed guide who would be able to provide the direct directions to the tourists so as to have a pleasant sty in the island. This strategy would even comprise of incorporating the best of first aid facilities and fire prevention arms so as to safeguard the entire island for any form of hazards. Environmental and Wildlife Management The first strategy towards protection wildlife and environment would be adopting measures so that none of the aspects are neglected in the time of increased number of tourists. The first strategy would outline protection of wildlife which is the major objective of this strategy. Though this island is known for its wide range of wildlife that is very friendly but they needed to be protected from the visitors in the present scenario. This can be achieved through providing boundary fencing all over the national parks, and even conservation centers of koala so that visitors do not touch these species and harm them. A similar fencing also needs to be done for penguins so that they are not harmed by tourists. This kind of boundary fencing would even require frequent patrolling so as to safe wildlife. The second strategy would be focused towards taking active measures to protect the environment of the region. The major objective of this form of strategy is to reducing the impact that is caused on the environment of the region. The action plan would comprise of prohibiting large vehicles to enter into the island and to reduce the frequency of motor sport activities that takes place in this island. The action plan would even comprise of limitations on distances so that ecological system of the island is not hindered. Cultural Heritage Management In order to preserve the cultural heritage of the region the first measure that can be adopted by the region is to enable limited access to the various regions of the island. The objective of the strategy is to safeguard the culture. The action plan would comprise of developing a strong code of conduct that would comprise of what are the aspects that travellers needs to follow in their stay in the island and even limiting the number of visits in certain time of the year. The second strategy would be focused towards developing the best of plans so as to preserve the culture that is deteriorating from the region. The major objective of this island is to provide means to secure culture of this island. The action plan that could be adopted is the technique of zonation through which a certain section of the island would be under a specific guidance. The second approach of the action plan would be constructing more of conservation centers, museums etc., so as to protect the existing culture of region. Map of Phillip Island (Rothwell, 2004, p. 13) Benefits of the tourism or visitation Tourism over the years has been able to create a mode through which a certain region can conduct its values and culture across the globe. Phillip Island during its early stages of origin were not known to the extent is known by tourists in the present scenario. The island has been able to create a huge impact on the overall tourism industry of Australia. The region is one of the most preferred tourist destinations and generates a huge amount of revenue from this sector. There are overall 3.5 million visitors from across the globe to this island. The major forms of attraction of this island is its wide range of flora and fauna, calm waters of its beaches, exotic locations, cultural sites, hosting various festivals and even offering an experience where visitors are getting an opportunity to feed kangaroos and penguins. Tourism over the years has not only generated huge margins of revenue for the region that has been able to increase the economic condition of the island but also has been able to interpret the values that this region comprise of to a large number of people across the globe. Tourism has also given rise to many small form of business in the island offering culture driven products to the visitors and it has become a medium through which many people of the island are leading a secured life. Costs and potential problems of any tourist operation or recreation in the area The island is a small region that is located in Australia and hence there is lack of funds to design the best of facilities to the tourists. The improper infrastructure that is found in certain areas of the island is a major concern for the tourists as well as the authority in-charge of creating a sustainable tourism in this region. The major focus of the island is to drive in more number of visitors so that maximum funds can be acquired and best of facilities can be provided in return to the tourists. The major authority behind managing tourism activities in the region was initially with the Australian government that was later given to the individual department of the region so as to take proper management of the issues related to the tourism sector of the island. The tourism department of the Phillip Island in collaboration with the Australian government works towards the welfare of the region along with the tourists. The funds that is collected through the visitors that is in form of ticket fares and other spending in cultural heritage sites are used by the government so as to provide the best of recreation activities to the visitors. The department even acquires funds through the government so as to design certain recreation activities but the cost problem still remains as it is not a well developed island and so such activities for tourists are charged higher prices. Performance indicators Visitor and tourist experiences The tourist and visitor experiences can be well monitored by selecting an appropriate performance indicator. This performance indicator can be in a form a survey that can be conducted by the tourist department at various locations in the region so as to determine what the aspects that are liked the most by visitors and what are the elements that are being ignored so as to develop strategies on improving those areas. The visitor experiences can also be monitored through collecting reviews from the internet or design a website for travellers of Phillip Island so as to analyze what the views of visitors towards management of the island and to compare their early experiences in the region to the present ones so as to determine the success of the action plan. Environment and wildlife conservation The best possible way to monitor the initiative that is taken towards wildlife conservation act is through being in constant touch with the forestry department so as to analyze whether the measures that have been adopted are benefiting the wildlife or not and to what extent it has been able to create a positive impact on the wildlife. The environmental condition can be best monitored by analyzing the weather conditions and by comparing them with the previous ones so as to analyze that whether there is a positive impact on the environmental conditions. The other measure can also be through monitoring constantly through hired professionals to determine whether environmental policies and regulations of the island are being followed or not by visitors. Cultural heritage conservation Cultural heritage of the island can only be conserved if the people of this island come forward and take initiatives of safeguarding the culture. The best way to monitor the performance indicator is through analyzing the increased number of cultural sites, and the degree to which restriction imposed by higher authority are being followed in reality. References Bassett, J. 2002. The Facing Island: A Personal History. Australia: Melbourne University Publish. Rothwell, J. 2004. My Phillip Island Adventure. Australia: Rothwell Publishing Short, A.D., and Hogan, C. L. 2006. Beaches of the Victorian Coast & Port Phillip Bay: A Guide to Their Nature, Characteristics, Surf and Safety. Sydney: Sydney University Press Read More