Opportunities in the Development of Sustainable Ecotourism

 

 

 

Potential  of Ecotourism Products and Eco-enterprises in The Wetlands
 

 

 

 

The Wetlands in Aden Governorate are on the edge of outstanding opportunities, and must capitalize on a number of those opportunities in order to develop a sustainable tourism industry on the protected area.

Proposed tourism development in the three Wetlands have been described in the  Management Plan of the Wetlands ( MPW ).The wetlands provide job opportunities and a livelihood source for a quite good number of the community members in addition to contribution to the national income.

Despite the lack of a proper management for these lands to make use of their natural resources in a way that secures regeneration and sustainability due to the low awareness of the officials and beneficiaries of the wetlands however we eventually find a good number of those beneficiaries who depend on the products of these lands as a main source for their livelihood as in the wetland of Caltex-Al-Hiswa where the number of male and female beneficiaries amounted to approximately 175 persons affiliated to a number of neighboring areas of these wetlands as discussed in the Management Plan of the Wetlands.

Ecotourism has the potential to provide a significant and divers of low of income to local communities living in or around the protected area as well as those providing services in Aden and on routes in or out of the region.

Considering the potentials of these wetlands that may be used for tourism purposes and for education and guidance the beneficiaries may be involved in the management of these wetlands through raising their awareness of the importance of the environment of the wetlands and their role to maintain environmental balance and the organization of their management of the natural resources (wooding, pasturing, hunting) to achieve sustainability and renewal of these resources and prevent depletion and to promote the cultural heritage ( traditional artifacts) , vinegar and salt industry and make use of these wetlands for the purposes of studies, scientific research, education and guidance.

The challenge is to transfer opportunities into competitive advantage in the market place. However, tourism opportunities in Yemen in general are constrained by other factors including recent regional instability problems that occur from time to time especially tourist kidnappings and the isolation of the area. At the same time, there are a number of issues that the EPA and the SNRMP must address if it is too completely in the world tourism market in a proficient manner.

 

Opportunities in the Development of Sustainable Ecotourism in Al - Hiswa protected area

 

There are a number of opportunities for the development of sustainable ecotourism, such includes:

- Potentials of ecotourism products;

- Handicrafts Fair Trade and Information Center

- Women's Cooperative to make Artifacts for the Tourist

These are explained in detailed below:

 

Discussion of Potential Ecotourism Products and Eco-enterprises Arising From the field study

 

A number of different potential ecotourism products and were identified in the course of the field study in the Wetlands. A description of each potential product and enterprise is given in below. This list should not be taken as absolute or comprehensive since it was impossible to visit all the three Wetlands in the time available. Also, it may not be the case that all the potential products listed here could or should be developed in the event that an ecotourism development programme was to be initiated.

A participatory analysis of this list with each of the potential stakeholders involved will be necessary to short list the potential enterprises and then each of them should be subjected to market and carrying capacity studies to examine their business potential and environmental and social impacts.

 

If ecotourism is to develop in Aden Lagoons and make a significant contribution to economic and social development for local communities, there is underlying requirement to Ecotourism policy and management is well publicized and, more importantly, is translated into a series of implement able targets and actions and institution responsibilities identified.

The active participation and co-ordination of all stakeholders of the tourism is central to achieving sustainable tourism development. It suggests that small-scale community-based tourism development is opportunity form of tourism development for local community based tourism development will ensure that benefits derived from ecotourism development are optimally distributed among stakeholders and that tourism resources are managed to achieve optimum benefits for the local communities.

 

Currently the ecotourism products and ec-enterprises that exist in the Wetlands are as follows

 

Manufacturing Vinegar

It is made through extraction and fermentation of the sugary juice of Hyphaena Thepaice in plastic vessels covered with cloth for forty days to produce vinegar. It is noted that all trees which can be benefited from are not exploited in the extraction of sugary juice in the wetlands but only a small part of these trees is exploited by a limited number of locals.

 

As a result of lacking techniques and technology for producing the Vinegar, there is a severe exploitation of a limited number of trees as studies confirmed that severe utilization causes deterioration of this plant. The method used by the locals in producing vinegar is inappropriate and lack of suitable production standards, because they used dirty cans are for the extraction of the sugary juice and covered by lids on which dust is spread.

 

The vinegar production is put in special plastic cans covered by cloth and left for forty days and then each liter is sold in approximately YR100-120 It is noted that all Hyphaena Thebaice plants in the wetlands are not exploited by reason of the severity of work and the vinegar industry is summarized in extracting the sugary juice and removing the growing Hyphaena Thebaice leaves on the growing top and the growing top husk is cut until it takes a pointed shape and left for 7-14 days till the outer husk is dry  and the color of the pointed growing top is changed to the yellow color and the growing top is cut in a tilted way till the bud core appears and then cut to have the sugary juice flow.

The Hyphaena Thebaice plant is used in vinegar manufacturing and is used as a stomach laxative and is sold also as wine. The daily total quantity extracted amounts to 20-30 liters and the general average used from one tree is 2-3 liters and the number of those benefiting from this industry is 3 persons.

 Once ecotourism products are being developed marketing of the area and the products amongst new specific colorists from both within Yemen and abroad would be necessary. Whilst certain products (especially those produced at the start) should definitely focus upon the existing market segment, as these products become established, products for the more 'experienced ecotourist' should be developed and marketed. Increased numbers of foreign tourists bringing foreign currency into the region would be very helpful to increasing revenues from ecotourism. Similarly encouragement of the richer tourists (both Yemeni and foreign) by development of vinegar industry would be advisable, so long as such development  made a commitment to employment of local people and certain fair trading and neighborhood friendly practices.

 

Artifacts Industry Making for Replacement of Plastic Packaging

The Hyphaena Thepaice leaves are used for the performance of a number of inherited traditional artifact industries (sweepers, mats, rugs, baskets … etc) by 95 female beneficiaries and women purchase leaves of Hyphaena Thepaice from the wetlands. Local handicrafts producers (basket weavers, shell handicraft makers) or other local artisans might find opportunity for fair trade marketing of their produce and / or income from demonstrations to tourists and would generate income for locals and women's groups etc.

As discussed in the MPW day  the income sources of female beneficiaries of this industry is small due to the competition by developed mechanical industries and their dependence on limited traditional industries and not introducing new traditional industries to develop the old ones as well as the limited experience of the female beneficiaries on how to promote and market their products and dependence on demand for a specific type of these industries.

Promotion of 'fair-trade' practices in the area for tourism industry needs to be developed with a system of authorization or certification of those who practice more equitable fair trading and employment. This requires education and awareness raising amongst the locals, so that they demand fairly traded products and services, coupled with changes in the formal tourism sectors to welcome such changes (since ultimately they should improve their businesses despite initial potential losses)..

Strengthening of linkages requires changes in consumer behavior / demand which would then fuel a change in attitude of authorities and formal sector actors in tourism markets.

 

Development of Handicrafts Fair Trade and Information Center

 

The development of information center and activities is an integral part of tourism development on the Wetlands, and can help to achieve sustainable community based tourism. Providing information using colorful and wherever possible interactive display local products and information about biodiversity in the Wetlands. Interpretive material should be clearly given in English, and Arabic. A video on the area should be developed and shown here and a computer with CD Rom about the three Wetlands made available for visitors to access information. If possible SNRMP should be used to develop this or failing these premises. It should be conveniently located near the existing handcrafts fair.

 Such a centre could also act as a 'nodal point' for authorized ecotourism operators, nature guides and fair trade handicraft vendors. If such operators paid a small fee to the centre to be allowed to operate from there the centre might be able to pay for itself. The center would attract richer tourists with more money to spend and provide employment and skill development opportunities for local people. Local handicrafts producers (basket weavers, shell handicraft makers) or other local artisans might find opportunity for fair trade marketing of their produce and / or income from demonstr

 

Production of bio-fertilizers from waste water and organic wastes

In the wetlands (Caltex - Al-Hiswah) treated waste waters are used in the agriculture of corn crop (Al-Haik) for the purpose of producing fodder and the number of beneficiaries from this agriculture reached 15 persons taking in consideration that these waters are impure and unsuitable for the agriculture of fodder and are harmful to people who deal with them as well as to fed animals by these fodders and drinking their water.

Potential products of natural beauty do exist in the three Wetlands. These should be developed through coordinated efforts of EPA, SNRMP to make regulations develop these products that would have positive impact upon the local communities in the area. Once the necessary regulatory mechanisms are in place, private sector businesses and community enterprises supported by NGOs should develop a variety of products as listed above. The SNRMP could then support these by developing promotional materials about the area and the new products and providing information in its tourist information centers.