Sustainable Tourism in Mauritius

Les Assises du Tourisme

SustainableTourismDevelopmentHenessyParkHotel–02June2017

VeneeKowlessurPrincipalTourismPlannerMinistryofTourism

"Tourismthattakesfullaccountofitscurrentandfutureeconomic,socialandenvironmentalimpacts,addressingtheneedsofvisitors,theindustry,theenvironmentand

hostcommunities"(UNWT0,2005)

• Governmentshouldprovideanenvironmentthatenablesandencouragestheprivatesector,touristsandotherstakeholderstorespondtosustainabilityissues.•  Thiscanbestbeachievedbyestablishingandimplementingasetofpoliciesfortourismdevelopmentandmanagementthatplacesustainabilityatitscentre.

• However,theprinciplesofsustainabledevelopmentshouldbeplacedwithinasupportivenationalpolicyframework.Ifsignificantprogressistobeachievedinmakingtourismmoresustainablegiventhefragmentedandcross-cuttingnatureoftheindustry.

Urban Planning – Findings (1 of 2)

•  ThePlanningPolicyGuidanceisbeingreviewed.Consultationsarebeingcarriedout.

• Planningisbeingundertakentoavoidoverdensificationofourcoastalareasbycontrollingheight,plotcoverage,setbackfromHighWaterMarkandroads

• Mauritiussuffersfromalackofphysicalplanning.

Urban Planning – Findings (2 of 2)

• Areasofhighsensitivevaluearebeingdeveloped.• Planningisbeingcarriedoutinrespectivesectorswithouttakingintoaccountimpactsonothersectors•  TheNationalDevelopmentStrategyandtheMorcellementActarebeingreviewed.• Newbuildingshavearelativelyshortlifespan,asopposedtostonebuildings.Yet,ancientstonebuildingsarebeingusedasstores.

UrbanPlanning–Recommendations(1of3)

•  ThePlanningUnitoftheMinistryofHousingandLandsshouldtaketheleadbybecomingthechampionofsustainableurbanplanningandmanagementinlinewiththeSingaporeUrbanRedevelopmentAuthority

•  TheMinistryofHousingandLandsshouldberesponsibleforthemonitoringandcontrolofdevelopment,inclosecollaborationwithlocalauthorities.

UrbanPlanning–Recommendations(2of3)

•  Ensurethatphysicalplansreflectprinciplesofsustainabilityandresourcesconstraints

• Prepareanddisseminatedevelopmentguidelines.

• Useincentivesandotherinstrumentstosupportsustainableprojects

UrbanPlanning–Recommendations(3of3)

•  Inter-linkagesamongsectorstobegivendueconsiderationbytheMinistryresponsibleforplanning

• Documentsrelatedtophysicalplanningtobereviewedinconsultationwithrelevantstakeholders

• Ancientstonebuildingstoberehabilitatedforproperuse.

Quality Standards – Findings

• Mostdevelopmenthasnotbeencarriedoutinasustainablemanner.

• MSBisworkingwithTAonaStandardforSustainableTourism(MS165)withrespecttosmallandmediumenterprises(guesthouses,restaurants,etc).TheStandardhasalreadybeengazetted.

• RecognitionfromtheGlobalSustainableTourismCouncil(GSTC)isbeingsought.

QualityStandards–Recommendations

•  EarlyimplementationassoonasrecognitionfromGSTCisobtained.

• Majordevelopment,includingGovernmentbuildingsshouldbeLEEDCertified.

• Beinggiventhattourismisacross-cuttingsector,thereisaneedforallothersectorstofollowinternationalsustainablebenchmarks/standards.

Handicraft – Findings (1 of 3)

•  Oneofthemainprinciplesofsustainabledevelopment-thecommunityshouldbenefitfromtheindustry.Handicraftisonesectorwhichcouldprovideopportunitiesfortheunemployed.

• MauritianhandicraftsshouldbemadeinMauritiusasfaraspossible.

•  CreativeMauritiusPortalpromoteslocalproductsincludinghandicraft-MTPAwillhavealinktothee-catalogue.

Handicraft – Findings (2 of 3)

•  The“GenuinelyMauritius”labelisbeingreviewed.

• Ahologramhasbeendevelopedtobeaffixedtolocalproducts.

• DutyFreeShoppingParadiseissourcingproductsfromSMEDAsince3to4months.

• AMinisterialCommitteeontheHandicraftSectorisbeingchairedbytheHonorableMinisterofTourism.

Handicraft – Findings (3 of 3)

•  TheMRAisnotauthorizingtypicalMauritianhandicraftssuchasthedodo,7-coulouredearth,etc.manufacturedabroadtoenterMauritius.

•  Safeproducts,e.g.leadlesspaintstobeusedinhandicraftproducts.

•  FundingisbeingsoughtbySMEDAtoembarkonaqualitycertificationforatleast20products.MSBwillworkwithSMEDAthereon.

Handicraft–Recommendation

•  Thereisaneedforaproductspecialisttoworkwithartisanstorespondtotouristdemandforqualityproductsandtoprovideinnovativeideas.

• Artisansshouldimproveonthetraditionalwayofdoingthings,i.eintermsoftechniques,designs,authenticity,etc

•  TheMSBproposedtoworkoutstandardsforhandicraftproducts.

Food Safety and Security – Findings (1 of 2)

•  TheGovernmenthasaStrategicPlandealingwiththeissueoffoodqualityandsafety.

•  TheMaurigapstandard(GoodAgriculturalPractice)hasbeendevelopedincollaborationwiththeMSB.

•  TheMinistryofAgroindustryhassetupabody(MauritiusAgriculturalCertificationBody)totrainandcertifyfarmers.

Food Safety and Security – Findings (2 of 2)

•  Theuptakeoffarmersisveryslow.

• Privatesectorstakeholdersareunwillingtoparticipateduetoconflictofinterest.

• HotelsandrestaurantsshouldlookfortheMaurigapCertification.

FoodsafetyandSecurity–Recommendations

• CertificationshouldbecarriedoutbyMSBtoavoidconflictofinterestandforthesakeofcredibility.

•  Thereisaneedto:Ø createawarenessamongtourismstakeholdersØ promotetheMaurigapcertificationØ ensurethatalltourismstakeholdersbuyproductsthatareMaurigapcertified,asfaraspracticable.

Cultural Heritage – Findings (1 of 2)

•  Aproperbufferzoneshouldbeobservedforanydevelopmentnearheritagesites.

• Authoritiesshouldcarryoutconsultationpriortoallocationofsites

Cultural Heritage – Findings (2 of 2)

• PlanningPolicyGuidance(PPG)forHeritageSiteswhichhasbeenpreparedsince5yearsisyettobeapprovedbyGovernment.

• DegradationofBlueBayMarineParkhasbeenobservedanditrisksbeingdelistedfromtheRamsarSiteslist.

CulturalHeritage–Recommendations•  Inter-sectoralconsultationsshouldbecarriedoutpriortoallocatingsites.

• PPGforHeritageSitestobeupdatedinlinewithnewcircumstancesandsubmittedtoGovernmentforapproval.

•  Thereshouldbeconstantdialoguebetweenrelevantpartnerstoavoidfurtherdegradationandtotakenecessarystepsforurgentrehabilitation.

Guidelines/CodesofConduct–Recommendations

• AllactivitiesundertheTourismAuthorityActwillhavecorrespondingguidelines/codesofconduct/criteria/standardsbasedontheprinciplesofsustainability.

• Workisinprogress.

Thank you Keep Calm

And Embrace

Sustainable Tourism

The Circular Economy

in the Asia Pacific Region

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