Danube Bend Eco Friendly Destinations Part Of Tourist Markets

DANUBE BEND-ECO-FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS- PART OF TOURIST MARKETS

Prof. Mirela MAZILU, Ph.D-University of Craiova

E-mail: [anonimizat]

Assoc. Prof. Cipriana SAVA, Ph.D-1UCDC Faculty of Tourism and Commercial Management Timișoara, Romania, E-mail: [anonimizat]

Assist. Sabina Gheorgheci, Ph.D-University of Craiova

E-mail: [anonimizat]

Abstract

Nature conservation is becoming part of tourist markets. For example, by promoting ecotourism as an element of the so-called green economy, which was proposed as a solution to the on-going crisis at the Rio+20 Summit? Furthermore, urban functions associated with tourism involve the commodification and privatization of natural areas, where conservation becomes just a complement.

Additionally, the relationship between tourism and the physical environment is based on the demand for energy, water, land and materials.

Tourism intensifies the use of natural resources, but how does it contribute to deepening systemic environmental contradictions? Hospitality, travel and ecotourism comprise a multitude of activities which together form one of the world’s fastest growing and mutually dependent international sectors. In recent years, tourism has become one of Romanian's most important economic sectors and has significant potential to play a further role in Romania's economic renewal. Hospitality, travel and ecotourism research is fundamental to ensuring that the industry has a positive influence on economies, cultures and societies.

Keywords: Eco-friendly, destination, tourism, market, ecotourism.

Classification JEL: O31, O34, Q01

1. Introduction

Motto: “The revaluation of the benefits of tourism will be essential for achieving the sustainable development objectives and the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda”. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, upon the World Tourism Day 2014

The year 2015 has been perceived as a reference year for sustainability because governments have been invited to adopt the POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. The new agenda involves transformation, focuses on people and has bold and ambitious targets.

The proposed sustainable development goals (SDG), that build on and spread on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which are about to expire, comprise 17 goals and 169 targets and will shape the global development agenda for the next fifteen years[1].

Tourism has the potential to contribute directly or indirectly to all targets. In particular, this has been included as target in the objectives 8, 12 and 14 in sustainable economic and inclusive growth, consumption and sustainable production (SCP) and sustainable use of oceans and seas resources. Sustainable tourism is firmly positioned in the post-2015 development agenda. However, the achievement of this agenda needs a clear implementation framework, adequate funding and investments in technology, infrastructure and human resources.

United Nations declares 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development .The UN General Assembly has approved the adoption of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development. “The declaration by the UN of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development is a unique opportunity to advance the contribution of the tourism sector to the three pillars of sustainability – economic, social and environmental, while raising awareness of the true dimensions of a sector which is often undervalued” UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai.”.

This decision follows the recognition by global leaders at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) that “well-designed and well-managed tourism” can contribute to the three dimensions of sustainable development, to job creation and to trade.

Ethical Traveller, each year, the organization releases its top 10 most ethical travel destinations to consider for the upcoming year.

The organization reviews the policies and practices of developing nations around the world to find the ten that are doing the best job of promoting human rights, protecting the environment and supporting social welfare while growing a vibrant, community-based tourism industry. The basics of sustainable tourism start from the refusal to accept the “double standard” (“I am doing at your places what I would not do in my home”).

When we go somewhere, we should adopt there the same rules of life as in our usual environment, provided that this way of life does not breach the local rules of life.

Sustainable tourism is considered to be the type of tourism that favours the long-term management of all resources in such a way that economic and social needs could be met while maintaining the integrity of culture, essential ecological processes, biodiversity and response systems to vital needs. Sustainable tourism products operate at local level, in harmony with the environment, the community, the economy and the local cultures. (Fig 1)

The main arguments that determine the need to develop tourism in the Danube Bend observing sustainability, is clear from the following (Mazilu, 2007):

a) Considered inexhaustible, tourist resources provide real prospects of tourism development in the long term;

b) Effective promotion on the domestic and foreign markets can support the tourism monetary contribution to the national economy;

c) Tourism can absorb a large part of the workforce redundant in other economic sectors, knowing the field's stability;

d) Tourism represents a means of promoting the image of a country, thus participating in the promotion of exports of goods and services on the global market, both implicitly and explicitly.

Fig. 1 Products of sustainable tourism

The main arguments that determine the need to develop tourism in the Danube Bend observing sustainability, is clear from the following (Mazilu, 2007):

a) Considered inexhaustible, tourist resources provide real prospects of tourism development in the long term;

b) Effective promotion on the domestic and foreign markets can support the tourism monetary contribution to the national economy;

c) Tourism can absorb a large part of the workforce redundant in other economic sectors, knowing the field's stability;

d) Tourism represents a means of promoting the image of a country, thus participating in the promotion of exports of goods and services on the global market, both implicitly and explicitly;

One possible response to these challenges would be to apply the concept of mosaic eco-development (Mazilu, 2009b), which proposes to implement the principles of sustainable development in smaller areas, as these are to be extended gradually, so as to cover the entire national territory in the long term.

Considering this vision, ecological space should look, in its ideal form, as a chessboard, where large agricultural areas should combine with smaller areas allocated to industry, infrastructure on various categories and parks and natural reservations. This complex alternation stems from the uneven spatial distribution of natural resources, as well as the application of economic, social, environmental criteria. In this context, ecology and bio-economy can offer original spatial fitting solutions so that appropriate environmental areas should be allocated to each branch, resulting in a territorial sectoral complementarity.

The resulted complementarity should be approached not only functionally, but also according to the rational use of land, the growth of the employment level of the workforce and the income, the effective participation in the inter-regional exchanges and the integration in the European structures and flows, the complementarity with environmental restrictions (DL Constantin., 2000).The application of projects of sustainable tourism development starts from the design and construction of the material and technical basis in order to harmonize with the environment, the local community and other sectors of the economy, continuing during the carrying out of the tourist activities, vitally considering the influence factors on the demand for sustainable tourism (fig.2)

Fig. 2. Factors influencing the demand for sustainable tourism

Wanting a model of own sustainable development of each territory, of each tourist destinations, not at all universally valid and enforceable on any territory, we notice, by analysing the “etymological” game, but with more meaning: Tourism + Sustainable development = Sustainable Tourism, the insertion of constraints, similarities, differences, which call for an even closer analysis.

It is known that each territory has its history, its identity, its resources, by which it can develop a form of tourism or another, complying with their economic, social and environmental special features.In this perspective, different actors “involved” in such an approach are called to lay down in a first step a careful diagnosis of the territory aiming even at decoding influences of sustainable development based on the opportunities and threats specific to each territory.

A second step is the development of a sustainable tourism development project of that territory, permanently adapted to the local context, the project being “embraced” by as many people who live in that territory as possible.

Not least, certain “terms” of territorial development will have to be met, by progressively performing actions aimed at improving the public offer, the local tourism, by removing the contamination of sustainable actions with other illogical ones (power games, interest games among stakeholders, etc.).

This article, open to major scientific reflections itself, has tried to explain the role and importance of the analytical approach of sustainable development in tourism, in the territory, specifically in the blessed area of ​​the Danube Bend, with the role of restructuring, rebuilding and even redeveloping it towards a better direction for sustainable development that complies the very meaning of history, contemplating the future.

There is no universally applicable unique model to the sustainable development of a tourist destination (Mazilu, 2010). In this perspective, different actors involved in this inseparable binomial: Sustainable development – tourism, are bound to build in the Danube Bend, a specific tourist offer answering, on the one hand, individual or multiple demands, on the other hand, to local crises (economic, political, social, etc.).[4]

Tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of territories because the territories themselves are comprised in an interactive, integrated and environmentally responsible relationship with the economic, social and natural environment on which they depend.[7]

Of course, more needs to be done, as the imbalanced, destabilizing effects (see fig. 2) and the resistance to change, unfortunately persists despite a massive involvement of the local community towards sustainable development.

The ongoing assessment of the tourism product from known values ​​to the desired qualitative aspects (Mazilu et.al, 2010) of services and tourist packages offered to tourists, involves, firstly, the perception of sustainable development and then the design of innovative tourism products that meet both the local communities and the traditions, in parallel with the sustainable tourism principles.

The resilience (feature of a material to withstand a shock or ability to cope with difficult situations, overcome any unusual obstacles) can be extrapolated on the Danube Bend tourism, confronted itself with multiple shocks (some related to the vicissitudes of nature, landslides with disastrous consequences in September 2014, others of a social nature, high unemployment, clusters of depopulated areas, etc.), it can be cultivated through the flexibility of tourism offers, by adjusting some of them to the ever increasing requests for the Danube Bend tourism through permanent adaptation, through learning and introducing new sustainable forms of tourism (agrotourism, nature lovers tourism, ecotourism, etc.), but also through a better management of undesirable effects in the destination area and their counteraction.

The Danube Bend remains essentially a space of sustainable tourism development, given the presence in its area of the ​​Iron Gates Natural Park, itself a Biosphere Reservation, after the Danube Delta, UNESCO agreeing in September 2015 regarding this area of ​​150,000 hectares, where more than 200 bird species live in harmony, of which 133 are strictly protected.[6]

The tourist attractions from this complex Danube Bend area, comprises natural and anthropogenic tourism resources to which events that support the promotion of this unique space in Romania are added (fig.3). The tranquillity of the Danube Bend is broken only by the cruise vessels, which unfortunately are not in the desired number because of the lack of harbour infrastructure, with landing stages built and maintained only by 3 guesthouses from the Bend.

The geo-biodiversity of the Danube Bend, raw material for sustainable tourism, can become a standard space under strict monitoring, an outdoor museum in which the principles of tourism development would find optimal space in relation to nature.

Fig. 2 – Stabilizing (+) and destabilizing effects (-) of tourism on sustainable development

Authors' adaptation after Oliver Bessy – Sport, Loisir, Tourisme et développement durable des Territoires, PUS, 2008 Cedex, p. 44[3]

The Danube Bend, an European attraction of excellence, title obtained since 2008, must win the title of eco-friendly destination, that will ensure a balanced development without dysfunctional tensions, being an objective of those operating in this blessed tourist area, but also for those who permanently want it in the top of the sustainable tourist attractions in Romania.

This can be done concretely by complying with the World Council for Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC), designed to achieve a common understanding of sustainable destinations. The GSTC criteria are minimum commitments to which any tourism organization management should adhere when taking into account sustainability in their practices.

To meet the requirements of the definition of sustainable tourism, destinations must have an interdisciplinary, holistic and inclusive approach, which includes four main objectives: (i) to demonstrate the sustainable management of the destination, (ii) to maximize the social and economic benefits for the host community and minimize the negative impact, (iii) to maximize the benefits for the communities, the visitors and the cultural heritage and to minimize negative impacts, and (iv) to maximize environmental benefits and minimize negative impacts. The GSTC criteria are designed to be used by all types of destinations and their extent.

Fig.3 Types of tourist attractions generating sustainable tourism development for an eco-friendly destination

The GSTC criteria have been created by the tourism community partly in response to the global challenges of the Millennium Development Goals set by the United Nations. Poverty reduction, gender equality and environmental sustainability (including climate change) are the main interdisciplinary issues approached in the GSTC criteria.[2]

The GSTC criteria and indicators have been developed based on criteria and approaches already acknowledged, including: OMTNU destination level indicators, the GSTC criteria for hotels and tour operators, and other widely accepted principles and guidelines, certification criteria and indicators. They reflect sustainable tourism certification standards, indicators, criteria, and best practices from different cultural and geo-political contexts worldwide. [2]

The potential indicators have been verified for the relevance and the practical implementation, as well as their applicability to a wide range of types of destination.

To become an eco-friendly destination, a sustainable tourism destination, the Danube Bend Destination must ensure:

an effective sustainable management in close cooperation with the Danube Bend population;

a monitoring system, a public reporting and settlement system of environmental, economic, social, cultural, tourist and human rights issues. The monitoring system is regularly reviewed and evaluated;

The destination invests resources to mitigate the variability of seasonal tourism, if necessary, trying to balance the needs of the local economy, community, culture and environment, to identify tourism opportunities throughout the year;

The system contributes to the destination sustainability and resistance and the public education on climate both for residents and tourists.

It has an inventory and an assessment to date, publicly available, of its assets and tourist attractions, including natural and cultural sites.

It has planning directives, regulations and / or policies requiring environmental, social and economic impact assessment, and the integration of sustainable land use, design, construction and demolition.

If these sites and facilities are not immediately available, access is provided by developing and implementing solutions that consider both the integrity of the site and facilities for people with reasonable access requirements, if possible.

It has a system for monitoring and public reporting of visitor satisfaction, and, if necessary, for taking measures to improve visitor satisfaction;

It has a system for promoting sustainability standards for businesses in line with GSTC criteria. The destination publishes a list of companies that are certified or verified in terms of sustainability;

It has a system for monitoring, preventing, public reporting and managing crime, safety and health hazards.

It has a contingency plan in crisis and emergency, which is suitable for the respective destination;

The promotion is clear in terms of destination and products, services and its claims of sustainability. The promotional messages treat local communities and tourists with authenticity and respect.

A direct or indirect contribution to the economy of the area;

Ensuring permanent employment of local people and local career opportunities

It has a system that encourages the participation in destination planning and decision-making on a continuous basis;

Local communities concerns and satisfaction with the destination management intended to be regularly monitored, recorded and reported to the public on time;

It offers regular programs for affected communities to improve their understanding of the opportunities and challenges of tourism and the importance of sustainability;

It has a system which supports local businesses and small and medium enterprises and promotes and develops local sustainable products and fair trade principles;

It has a policy and a system of evaluation, rehabilitation and preservation of natural and cultural sites, including the built heritage (historical and archaeological), urban and rural picturesque landscapes;

It has a visitor management system for attraction locations, including measures for the preservation, protection and enhancement of natural and cultural resources;

It has published and provided guidelines for ⇥ appropriate behaviour of visitors in vulnerable locations;

It has laws governing the sale itself, the trade, the display or the gifts such as archaeological and historical artefacts;

It has identified environmental risks and has implemented a system to address them;

It has a system for monitoring the environment, the tourism impact, for habitat, species and ecosystems preservation, and for the prevention of invasive species introduction;

It has a monitoring system for the protection of the basic components of the environment, water, wildlife, vegetation, sites, for the prevention of pollution types, but also for the collection of all types of waste, etc.;

Once solved the above, noting that many of them are already under consideration by the Iron Gates Park Administration, the Bend also overlapping a considerable area of ​​the Park, we can accede to a sustainable destination.

Conclusions:

Sustainable tourism is not only a school about others, but determines how we will live with the others, what attitude we will have. Our world, the one created with the tourism producers, is a global one, a single ethnicity: the human race presented in its specificity, element by element for diversity. With past, present and hopes. Any mistake can lead to irrecoverable trauma.

This on the mass of people called tourists. In this context, sustainable tourism and friendly tourist destinations win more ground, imposing on the world tourism market, creating tops, there remaining only our respect for them, the opportunity to create them where the environment requires us to, and to proliferate them.

Bibliography:

[1] Review of Targets for the Sustainable Development Goals: The Science Perspective, International Council for Science, This report was coordinated by the International Council for Science (ICSU), in partnership with the International Social Science Council (ISSC),2015

[2] Global Sustainable Tourism Council Criteria for Destinations, www.gstcouncil.org/en/gstc-criteria/criteria-for-destinations.html

[3] Oliver Bessy – Sport, Loisir, Tourisme et développement durable des Territoires, PUS, 2008 Cedex, p. 44

[4] Mazilu Mirela Elena, Opportunities and Threats for Romania as a Tourist Destination after the World Economic Crisis, in Proceedings ISI of 5-th WSEAS International Conference on Economy and Management Transformation (EMT’10), ISSN:1792-5983, ISBN: 978-960-474-240-0, West Timisoara University, 2010, 66-72.

[5] Mirela Mazilu, Sustainable Tourism of Destination, Imperative Triangle Among: Competitiveness, Effective Management and Proper Financing, Sustainable Development – Policy and Urban Development – Tourism, Life Science, Management and Environment, Chaouki Ghenai (Ed.), ISBN: 978-953-51-0100-0, InTech, 2012.

[6] Mazilu Mirela Elena, Marinescu Roxana, Sustainable tourism in the Protected Areas – case study of the Iron Gates Natural Parc, articol publicat pe site-ul conferinței Facultății de Geografie-Plymouth Anglia,

[7] Hunter, C., & Shaw, J., The ecological footprint as a key indicator of sustainable tourism.  Tourism Management, 28 (1), 46-57, 2007.