Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Ahn
et al
., 2002; Masters, 2004; Boulanger
and Bréchet, 2005).
Irreversible damage can be inflicted upon
the fragile and small-scale nature of North
Cyprus if policies are not in place, especially in
newly developing tourist zones in the coastal
areas (e.g. Bafra), and in the form of intense
urbanization around Kyrenia. In both cases,
'sustainability' remains uncertain as there is no
sign of any policy or measure to assess limits of
acceptable change (LAC) as an essential mech-
anism for sustainability management (Ahn
et al
., 2002). For example, the daily Turkish
language newspaper
Kibris
has pointed to both
the impact caused by mining companies in the
current construction boom and the apathy of
the government in response to it (Kibris, 2005,
pp. 1-4). Over 211 registered construction firms
are busy building without environmental impact
assessment or a master plan in place. This situa-
tion is exacerbated by an unknown number
of construction firms who are not registered
with the Cyprus Turkish Construction/Contrac-
tors Association (CTCA). This most likely will
have irreversible consequences upon the envi-
ronment and the sustainability of this fragile
destination (personal interview with the CTCA,
2005).
An environmental strategic partnership
between at least the appropriate bodies from
the South, the North, the EU and the UNDP
(which is highly active in a number of develop-
mental
Conclusions
Cyprus and Malta are no longer small, peri-
pheral entities in the Mediterranean, but are
integral elements of a larger and globally impor-
tant socio-economic and political structure.
Being a part of this structure calls for modified
or new policy behaviour while confronting exis-
ting and new challenges. In their pre-accession
economic model, Blake
et al
. (2003) suggested
that accession would be beneficial to both
countries, although as a percentage of GDP,
Malta would benefit considerably more than
Cyprus. However, the effects of accession on
tourism would be negative for Malta because
greater impacts from trade and EU funding
allocations would lead to a higher demand for
labour that would increase wage rates and
divert manpower away from tourism.
Malta and Cyprus constitute important
crossroads and cultural links between
Europe and the lands of the south and east
Mediterranean Basin. Both need to address
issues of capacity building, and, specifically
within tourism, the generation of credible
diversification policies that express sustainabi-
lity objectives. Being linking agents comes at a
price: while Malta's Valletta harbour has been
restructured to accommodate increasing num-
bers of cruise liners, so the country's security
institutions are having to confront the political
and moral dilemmas of a rapid increase in
numbers of economic migrants and asylum
seekers from Africa (116 in 2001, rising to
1227 in 2004) (Campbell, 2005). For Cyprus,
the interrelated issues of overcoming division
and establishing a working relationship with
the rest of the eastern Mediterranean have
profound implications for the development of
tourism in the region.
Ensuring good prospects for European
tourism requires the preservation of its regional
diversity as an asset for competitiveness, ensur-
ing quality and considering community well-
being in tourist destinations, conserving or pro-
tecting the environment and heritage resources
and using them wisely, and promoting sustain-
able inter- and intra-destination mobility. It also
depends on equitable access and remuneration
for local providers (EU, 2003, pp. 6-7). These
requirements present serious challenges to all
stakeholders in Cyprus and Malta.
and
cultural
areas
including
small
ecotourism projects), is required.
Certainly, one area of concern for Cyprus
as a whole is actual or potential unfettered
coastal development, since the island lacks an
integrated coastal management plan (ICMP).
This fundamental priority for managing coastal
areas (Tagliani, 2003) requires integration with
resource and structure planning at local and
regional levels (Gunn and Var, 2002). Clearly,
the two communities of Cyprus share the
same ecosystems, and (inter-) community level
tourism and other development planning pro-
cesses need to be implemented within a colla-
borative framework (e.g. Murphy and Murphy,
2004). Indeed, public participation has become
a fundamental aspect of planning and environ-
ment within the EU, and this needs to be
acknowledged and implemented within Cyprus
as a whole.
