Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
cooperation and coordination. However, the creation of an enabling environment
should not become confused with being an active participant in the tourism
industry. It has been demonstrated within the region, and elsewhere in the world,
that the private sector is typically more efficient than government at managing
industries such as tourism.
One of the major issues that will require an innovative solution will be how to
incorporate the needs and wishes of local residents in all aspects of the planning,
decision making and implementation of the KAZA TFCA. The institutional
structures set up to manage transfrontier parks and TFCAs elsewhere in southern
Africa do not provide explicitly for active community participation in decision
making and planning, and lessons should be learned from the lack of participation
of local communities in other regional transfrontier initiatives. Problems could be
avoided in the KAZA region if management institutions allow for direct commu-
nity participation in processes at the local, national and international level.
Support for, and strengthening of, existing transboundary tourism and natural
resource management institutions should occur as one means of encouraging
local input into planning processes. However, in order to achieve the effective
participation of local communities, significant resources will be required for
capacity building and associated activities in rural communities.
In terms of managing the tourism industry, a balance will need to be achieved
between the benefits accruing to the tourism industry based on the extensive
natural and wildlife attractions of the region, and the cost of managing these
resources. While profits from the nature-based tourism industry in KAZA accrue
predominantly to private and corporate tourism enterprises, the costs of manag-
ing wildlife populations and conservation areas fall largely on the national
governments of the five countries. (The exceptions to this are community and
private conservation areas, which are expected to generate sufficient revenues to
manage the resources within their boundaries with little assistance from the state.)
Methods of ensuring that the tourism industry in the region, which relies almost
entirely on well managed wildlife populations (inside and out of protected areas)
contributes to the cost of their management must be determined. There are many
examples of innovative methods of achieving such a goal, and feasibility studies
should be conducted to determine which methods are most appropriate within
the KAZA TFCA. One example is the implementation of an environmental levy
on tourists and/or tourism businesses in the region, with revenues returned to
institutions responsible for natural resource and protected area management
within the KAZA TFCA.
There is a demonstrated willingness on the part of existing operators to
contribute to the development of local areas, with around half of all existing
businesses already making voluntary financial and/or in-kind contributions to
local communities. Raising the awareness of industry participants of ways in
which they can maximize the social and economic benefits of their business
practices, coupled with some combination of incentives and regulations regarding
local employment, local procurement policies and partnership arrangements
would be likely to stimulate significant positive changes within the industry.
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