In Tanzania, tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the economy. The coastline is over 1,424 km long, and includes the islands of; Zanzibar, Pemba and Mafia, which offer a wide array of natural, cultural, historical and archaeological attractions. The demonstration project is called; Integrated Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning, and aims to; reduce environmental impacts of the tourism industry, encourage markets and product development for ecotourism enterprises, and streamline environmental regulation to ensure it is efficient and cost-effective.

Tanzania Demonstration Project: Integrated Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning

During the first three decades following independence, tourism was given a very low profile, but the industry has been much more actively promoted since the promulgation of the National Tourism Policy in 1991. This explains the growth in visitor arrivals, from 153,00 in 1990 to 564,000 in 1999, before decreasing to 459,000 in 2000 and increasing again to 576,198 in 2003. The industry accounted for around 16% of the GDP in 2001/ 2002 with earnings of US$ 730 million in 2003. For years Tanzania used to rely mostly on wildlife tourism, but now with increasing demand for cultural and coastal tourism, the coastal zone potential is likely to be exploited intensively. This coastal zone offers diversified but rich ecosystems that can serve as potential tourism attractions: natural sand beaches found at various places along the coast (e.g. Bagamoyo, Mafia) ;the great variety of flora and fauna of the coastal zone; an extensive coral reef; marine parks; forest reserves and national parks (e.g. Saadani).

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Integrated Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning

At the end of the planning phase for the COAST project (mid 2006) each partner country had produced (with consultant support) a narrative project document describing in general terms the proposed demonstration project(s). There was no logical framework, no work plan, and only a total budget figure (see below) to guide stakeholders in beginning to implement the project. From January 2009 through to June 2009, based upon a one week visit by the Technical Coordinator to each partner country (during the Inception period of the COAST project) a revised narrative, new logical framework, first year work plan and indicative GEF support budget were developed and discussed. Subsequent to each country visit further support has been provided through email discussions. The demonstration project document now provides a more concise definition of the activities and outputs which are expected to be undertaken at the three sub sites in the Tanzania demonstration project. This short note highlights what are foreseen to be the main challenges in now starting to implement the work. This paper has been written as a subsidiary contribution to the general overview provided in the Inception Report.

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Theme: Eco-tourism, Reef and Marine Recreation Management, Environmental Management Systems

Management Team

Tourism is the most important pillar of the Seychelles economy through direct and indirect contributions to the domestic economy (GDP), and through inflows of foreign currency, including tourism receipts and foreign direct investment. The COAST project works through a sister GEF project called; Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Production Sectors Project, which has a sub component focusing on tourism sustainability and environmental management.

Seychelles Demonstration Project

It is recognized that since UNDP is already implementing the Mainstreaming Biodiversity & Eco-Tourism Project in the Seychelles, and that this has closely linked objectives to the COAST project, it will make sense to develop a close and coordinated working relationship with this initiative.

The main decisions and discussion points from the visit are outlined below:

Strategic Decisions:

• The COAST Project should utilize the already established and expanding network of contacts that the UNDP implemented Mainstreaming Biodiversity and Eco-Tourism Project (MBETP) has and not attempt to duplicate this work.

• The COAST project will therefore request the UNDP’s project manager and Tourism Link Person (Jan Rijpma and Joseph Rath) to request the existing Project Steering Committee to take on the additional responsibility of linking up with the regional COAST Project, and provide oversight to both initiatives on behalf of the Seychelles.

• The Seychelles is to send at least one representative to the first COAST Steering Committee and Inception Workshop which is to be held in Mozambique in mid July.

Operational Decisions:

• It was recognized that the COAST Sustainable Tourism project and the MBETP require to have coordinated timescales and work plans in order to maximise synergy between these two GEF supported initiatives.

• The call for small eco-tourism and biodiversity projects to be implemented under the MBETP may allow both projects to benefit from each other COAST project benefiting from site specific developments and learning in the Seychelles, and MBETP and partners benefitting from some of the regional capacity building initiatives to be funding by the COAST Project. Capacity building projects may include for example; EMS, eco-tourism,
  reef and beach management, educational and awareness raising initiatives, promotion of local products and services.

The following action points were agreed:

1. Mr Alain De Comarmond to follow up on the identification of a Tourism Sector Focal Point for the COAST Project.
2. Both projects to exchange work plans on a regular basis and to utilize web-based materials/portals for learning purposes.
3. Invitations to the first Steering Committee Meeting and Inception Workshop to be sent by the Technical Coordinator of the COAST Project as soon as possible.
4. Commitment by all parties in the two associated projects to have regular email sharing and correspondence.

Management Team

Theme: Environmental Management Systems

Management Team

Senegal Demonstration Project: Environmental Management Systems for hotels in the Saly Portudal area on the Petite Cote

The tourism industry in Senegal has grown at an annual rate of around 10% over the past 3 decades and now ranks as the second industry in terms of foreign exchange earnings. There are two demonstration projects in Senegal, both placed along the Petite Cote beach area of the country. One project is called; Environmental Management Systems for hotels in the Saly Portudal area on the Petite Cote, and aims to have hotels implement Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and incorporate environmental management criteria into new developments.

Nigeria’s involvement in the preparation of the African Process (Management of the Coastal and Marine Environment in sub-Saharan Africa) already was a sign of the existing political will by the country to endorse positive development activities towards the proper management of coastal areas. Tourism is becoming one of Nigeria’s fastest growing industries. Many areas along the coast are exceptionally favourable to coastal tourism. Nigeria has a coastline that is rich in natural resources which stretches for over 700 kilometres and dotted with small coastal settlements which engage primarily in farming, fishing, and trading. The Calabar coast for example is blessed with natural attractions like game reserves, a national park with variety of rare primates, birds and other fauna. In addition, beautiful coastline areas exist at Badagry and in the Akassa area.

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Heritage and cultural eco-tourism along the Badagry Peninsular

At the end of the planning phase for the COAST project (mid 2006) each partner country had produced (with consultant support) a narrative project document describing in general terms the proposed demonstration project(s). There was no logical framework, no work plan, and only a total budget figure (see below) to guide stakeholders in beginning to implement the project. From January 2009 through to June 2009, based upon a one week visit by the Technical Coordinator to each partner country (during the Inception period of the COAST project) a revised narrative, new logical framework, first year work plan and indicative GEF support budget were developed and discussed. Subsequent to each country visit further support has been provided through email discussions. This demonstration project document now provides a more concise definition of the activities and outputs which are expected to be undertaken at site 1 in the Nigeria demonstration project. This short note highlights what are foreseen to be the main challenges in now starting to implement the work. This paper has been written as a subsidiary contribution to the general overview provided in the Inception Report.

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Demo site: BADAGRY PENINSULAR

Theme: Eco-tourism

Management Team

Mozambique Demonstration Project: Promote best practices for environmental management through improved reef recreation and management

Historically, Mozambique had a thriving tourism industry, mainly in the centre and south of the country, with (the former) Rhodesia and South Africa providing the main markets. In recent years tourism has re-emerged and is now one of the fastest recovering sectors of the economy, with most tourists coming from South Africa.

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To promote improved conservation, management and monitoring of coastal biodiversity (including reef areas), and to enhance and diversify local livelihoods through eco-tourism as a means of alleviating poverty

At the end of the planning phase for the COAST project (mid 2006) each partner country had produced (with consultant support) a narrative project document describing in general terms the proposed demonstration project(s). There was no logical framework, no work plan, and only a total budget figure (see below) to guide stakeholders in beginning to implement the project. From January 2009 through to June 2009, based upon a one week visit by the Technical Coordinator to each partner country (during the Inception period of the COAST project) a revised narrative, new logical framework, first year work plan and indicative GEF support budget were developed and discussed. Subsequent to each country visit further support has been provided through email discussions. The demonstration project document now provides a more concise definition of the activities and outputs which are expected to be undertaken at the two sub sites in the Mozambique demonstration project. This short note highlights what are foreseen to be the main challenges in now starting to implement the work. This paper has been written as a subsidiary contribution to the general overview provided in the Inception Report.

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Demo site: Inhambane District Coastline

Theme: Eco-tourism, Reef and Marine Recreation Management, Environmental Management Systems

In Kenya, tourism has been steadily growing both in terms of numbers and revenue generated since independence and it continues to be one of the most important economic sectors in the country. Tourism contributes 12.5% of the GDP to the country in 2011, the total earnings from this sector was 97.9 Billion shillings (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics Economic Survey 2012). The COAST Project demonstration project is called; Integrated Planning and Management of Sustainable Tourism at the Coastal Area of Watamu, and aims to, promote best practices in mitigating environmental impacts of tourism and conserve globally significant biodiversity through; the introduction of environmental management systems, strengthening eco-tourism, and improved reef recreation management.

Kenya Demonstration Project: Integrated Sustainable Tourism Planning and Management at Watamu on the Kenya Coast

Tourism contributes 12.5% of the GDP to the country, of which, coastal tourism accounts for 60%. Even though safari tourism has been for years the main tourist product for East Africa, the coastal region is currently the main tourist destination for both national and international tourists (visitors). Immediately after independence, tourism was the fastest growing sector of the Kenyan economy. Only coffee and tea production brought in more foreign exchange. Income from tourism first exceeded that from coffee in 1989. Between 1990 and 1993, 3.23 million foreign visitors came to Kenya, representing about 5% of the tourist trade in Africa and about 28% of that of Eastern Africa. However, besides the positive gains from tourism, the sector also impacts negatively on the coastal and marine environment. The first hotels in the northern part of Diani were built in the late 1960s/early 1970s, and over time it has grown to become Kenya’s most developed beach resorts. Beach front property that was priced at thousands of Kenya shillings an acre 30 years ago, are now sold in the range tens of millions. The result has been exclusion of fishing and other local communities from prime land with beachfront access, and the northern part of Diani has already lost three traditional fishery landing sites. In the past, intense competition has existed between fishing and tourism and other development interests, with the latter succeeding in taking over beach-front land and conversion of many public access routes to private property.

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Integrated Sustainable Tourism Destination Planning

At the end of the planning phase for the COAST project (mid 2006) each partner country had produced (with consultant support) a narrative project document describing in general terms the proposed demonstration project(s). There was no logical framework, no work plan, and only a total budget figure (see below) to guide stakeholders in beginning to implement the project. From January 2009 through to June 2009, based upon a one week visit by the Technical Coordinator to each partner country (during the Inception period of the COAST project) a revised narrative, new logical framework, first year work plan and indicative GEF support budget were developed and discussed. Subsequent to each country visit further support has been provided through email discussions. This demonstration project document now provides a more concise definition of the activities and outputs which are expected to be undertaken at the site in the Kenya demonstration project. This short note highlights what are foreseen to be the main challenges in now starting to implement the work. This paper has been written as a subsidiary contribution to the general overview provided in the Inception Report.

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Demo site: Watamu Area

Theme: Eco-tourism, Reef and Marine Recreation Management and Environmental Management Systems

Management Team

Ghana’s coastline extends for about 550km and is generally low lying (≤ 200m above sea level). The coastal zone of Ghana abounds in rich marine ecosystems coupled with considerable historical monuments. In Ghana, tourism is an emergent key source of national income and is currently the fourth largest foreign exchange earner in the country. Its peaceful atmosphere and stable political climate make it a good choice for investors.

Ghana Demonstration Project: Eco-tourism and Poverty alleviation

The demonstration project aims to strengthen existing environmental policy, legislation and institutional arrangements for encouraging and achieving better environmental management in Ghana’s smaller hotel sector through a combination of both regulatory and voluntary initiatives. It is expected that the demonstration project will also help to create markets in the supply of environmental products and services as well as support the growth of eco-tourism. Its peaceful atmosphere and stable political climate make it a good choice for investors. As far as coastal tourism is concerned, the country is endowed with a wide range of both natural and historical potentialities. Thus, Ghana’s coastline extends for about 550km and is generally low lying (≤ 200m above sea level). The coastal zone of Ghana abounds in rich marine ecosystems coupled with considerable historical monuments. Generally concentrated along the coast are attractive old forts and castles built by Europeans during the period 1482 to 1837. The forts and castles which initially served as trading posts for the trade in gold and ivory were later used as slave dungeons and transit points for slaves who were shipped to the Americas. Currently a number of the forts and castles including Cape Coast and Elmina castles have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Ghana’s castles attract several thousand international and domestic tourists annually.

It must be noted that all along the coast of Ghana, relatively improved road infrastructure is available. Ghana is one West African country with high class resort (e.g. La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Elmina beach resort as well as Busua beach resort). However, poor sanitation and management of human wastes in the coastal settlements could adversely affect patronage of beaches by foreign tourists. In addition, sewage pollution from major cities, like Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire, has in the past resulted in algal blooms on the western coast of Ghana, which besides creating serious problems for artisanal fishermen also reduces the aesthetic value of the beaches. Plastic bags and other solid waste constitute in several points of the coast a serious concern. This has recently led to a project of collection and recycling of plastic in Central region of Ghana.

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Integrated Sustainable Eco-tourism Destination Planning

At the end of the planning phase for the COAST project (mid 2006) each partner country had produced (with consultant support) a narrative project document describing in general terms the proposed demonstration project(s). There was no logical framework, no work plan, and only a total budget figure (see below) to guide stakeholders in beginning to implement the project. From January 2009 through to June 2009, based upon a one week visit by the Technical Coordinator to each partner country (during the Inception period of the COAST project) a revised narrative, new logical framework, first year work plan and indicative GEF support budget were developed and discussed. Subsequent to each country visit further support has been provided through email discussions. This demonstration project document now provides a more concise definition of the activities and outputs which are expected to be undertaken at the two sites in Ghana. This short note highlights what are foreseen to be the main challenges in now starting to implement the work. This paper has been written as a subsidiary contribution to the general overview provided in the Inception Report.

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Demo site: Ada Beach Area

Theme: Eco-tourism

Management Team