HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT – STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR COASTAL AREAS
Benefits of producing strategic tourism plans for a coastal area and illustrate that with an example of a destination that has benefited from it
Coastal areas refer to the transitional land 60 kilometers between the seas. They are characterized by rich biodiversities such as coral reefs and mangroves. For this reason, coastal areas have attracted a lot of human occupation. According to Neumann, Vafeidis, Zimmermann, and Nicholls (2015), over 50 percent of the world population today reside in coastal areas, and the number is continuously increasing. Apart from attracting a lot of human occupation, coastal areas are among the best leisure places for tourists worldwide.
For this reason, governments and tourist agencies are making strategic plans to develop their coastal areas for tourism purposes. Nowadays, tourism is one of the economic backbones of many countries around the world. For example, in the UK, many countries are gradually exploring non-industrial economic activities like tourism in the place of conventional ones such as the manufacturing and processing industry. In the Mediterranean region, for example, the tourism industry is the major sustaining economic endeavor for islands such as Malta, Cyprus, Sicily, and the Balearic Islands.
According to CoastalWiki, (n.d.), WTO projections in the year 2000, the approximate international tourist influx to the Mediterranean coast, shall amount to 346,000,000 in 2020. It is noteworthy that by the year 2015, the 346,000,000 figure had already been reached. These two examples evidence that tourism activities have become more prioritized by governments and tourist agencies for their significant ability to enhance national development and economic empowerment of people. Strategic planning of coastal areas does not only attract tourists, developers, and investors but also develops them (the coastal areas) economically, socially, and environmentally. In this essay, we will explore the economic, environmental management and planning, and socio-cultural benefits of producing strategic tourism plans for coastal areas using Copacabana. Copacabana is a renowned tourist hotspot in Brazil. Copacabana is famous for its lively beaches and streets, where glamour and romance are its signature trademarks. However, to become the famous tourist hotspot, it took the government and the local tourist agencies to formulate and implement strategic plans such as introducing a law that permits a-100 percent foreign airline ownership to lower the flight costs, thus increasing tourism Brazil (Evans, 2017).
Economic benefits
There are four main economic benefits of producing strategic tourism plans for coastal areas. These are earning foreign exchange, contributing to government revenue, creating a business, and employment opportunities. According to Eurostat (n.d.), the tourism sector employed more than 13,000,000 people in EU nations, generating a gross income of € 183 billion. These values represent more than a third of the European Union’s maritime economy.
Earning foreign exchange: Expenditures from tourism and the import and export of tourism-related goods and services usually generate income for the host country. According to Quinn (2020), tourism and related activities are significant sources of foreign exchange earnings for more than 38 percent of all nations worldwide. According to CEIC Editors (2020), the total revenue generated from tourism in Brazil was 167,000,000 by June 2020.
Contributing to the government revenue: The tourism industry contributes to two types of government revenues; direct and indirect revenues. Direct revenues are incomes generated from taxes such as ecotax imposed on tourism and employment due to tourism, tourism businesses, and direct charges on tourists. Indirect revenues are generated from duties and taxes on goods and services offered to tourists, such as taxes on entry tickets, souvenirs, hotels and restaurants, accommodation, alcohol, and the function of tour guides.
Creation of employment opportunities: The abrupt growth of international tourism has resulted in the creation of employment opportunities in tourist hotels and restaurants, taxis, and sale of souvenirs. Additionally, it has created indirect employment opportunities through the supply of goods and services essential for tourism-related enterprises such as tour guides. According to Eurostat (n.d), the world’s population in tourism employment is 7 percent. For instance, due to Copacabana’s tourism strategic plans, Copacabana advertised more than 200 positions. The information can be accessed via the link https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/copacabana-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,10_IC2784626.htm.
Indirect contribution to local economies: Tourism is an essential component of any local economy. Just like the environment is a crucial asset of the tourism industry, revenues generated from tourism are used to quantify the economic value of local areas. A section of the tourism revenue is generated from informal employment, such as street vendors. The positive thing about informal employment is that the income earned is recycled into the local economy, where it has the attribute of being spent repeatedly. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (2020), tourism generates a 100% indirect contribution to direct tourism expenditures.
Financial contributions to the protection of nature and natural resources: Strategic tourism plans can significantly contribute to the protection of natural habitats. The revenue generated from park entrance fees, for example, can be allotted to specifically cater to the management and protection of the wildlife habitat.
Environmental Management and Planning benefits
Proper environmental management of tourism facilities, especially hotels (e.g., Waste minimization, water, and energy-saving measures, and the use of environmentally-friendly materials), can lower the impact of tourism on the environment. Thus, efficient tourism strategic planning can help to make better choices between the conflicting interests of tourism and the industry to make them compatible. Early implementation of strategic tourism plans can help to prevent damages, therefore, helping to reduce compromising the quality of environmental goods and services related to tourism.
Socio-cultural benefits
The socio-cultural benefits of producing strategic tourism plans for coastal areas include fostering peace among communities, strengthening communities, and revitalizing cultural traditions.
Fostering peace among communities: Tourism causes interaction among people. An effective tourism strategic plan can include an educational element of promoting peace and understanding between different cultures. This favors the occurrence of cultural exchange between the hosts and guests, increasing the chances for people to establish mutual tolerance, sympathy, peace, and understanding. Any pre-held prejudices are overcome as the hosts and guests exhibit a sense of brotherhood (Voice of America, 2017).
Strengthening communities: Effective tourism strategic plans can promote the vitality of communities in various ways. For example, through festivals and events held by the local communities to entertain tourists, the hosts experience physical and cultural refreshments and reincarnation as they respond to the tourists; interest in their art and culture. Additionally, the jobs created due to tourism can be a uniting factor that keeps people migrating to cities for greener pastures, thus helping to lower rural emigration.
Revitalization of culture and traditions: Proper tourism strategic plans can enhance the revival of historical and cultural traditions. By contributing to the management and conservation of natural resources, strategic tourism plans can significantly help to protect traditional heritage, for example, by regenerating traditional crafts and art.
References
CEIC Editors, 2020. Brazil Tourism Revenue [1990 – 2020] [Data & Charts]. [online] Ceicdata.com. Available at: <https://www.ceicdata.com/en/indicator/brazil/tourism-revenue> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
CoastalWiki, n.d. Impact Of Tourism In Coastal Areas: Need Of Sustainable Tourism Strategy – Coastal Wiki. [online] Coastalwiki.org. Available at: <http://www.coastalwiki.org/wiki/Impact_of_tourism_in_coastal_areas:_Need_of_sustainable_tourism_strategy> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
Eurostat, n.d. Tourism Industries – Employment – Statistics Explained. [online] Ec.europa.eu. Available at: <https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Tourism_industries_-_employment> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
Evans, J., 2017. Brazil Faces Problems Attracting Tourists. [online] VOA. Available at: <https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/brazil-faces-problems-attracting-tourists/3876573.html> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
https://www.glassdoor.com/Job/copacabana-jobs-SRCH_IL.0,10_IC2784626.htm
Neumann, B., Vafeidis, A., Zimmermann, J., and Nicholls, R., 2015. Future Coastal Population Growth and Exposure to Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Flooding – A Global Assessment. US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, [online] 10(3)(PMC4367969), pp.1-3. Available at: <https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4367969/> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
Quinn, C., 2020. The Tourism Industry Is In Trouble. These Countries Will Suffer The Most.. [online] Foreign Policy. Available at: <https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/01/coronavirus-tourism-industry-worst-hit-countries-infographic/> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
World Travel & Tourism Council, n.d. Economic Impact | World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). [online] Wttc.org. Available at: <https://wttc.org/Research/Economic-Impact> [Accessed 9 August 2020].
Voice of America, 2017. Brazil Packed With Travel Riches, So Why So Few Tourists?. [online] Voice of America. Available at: <https://www.voanews.com/americas/brazil-packed-travel-riches-so-why-so-few-tourists> [Accessed 9 August 2020].