Harvard Extension E- 118 September 29, 2011

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Suppliers to tourism industry •  Local, e.g. handicrafts, food, cleaning supplies, furniture •  International, e.g. architecture, interior design Hospitality Industry – Hotels, Lodges, Inns, Bed and Breakfasts, Spas Hospitality Industry – Hotel Restaurant/Food and Beverage operations Airlines Cruise lines Local Tour Operators International Tour Operators Travel Agents Online booking Services

Attractions – natural and manmade, •  e.g. natural and protected areas, theme parks and golf courses, historic monuments !  Destination Management – points of arrival, •  e.g. ports or airports !  Destination Management – regions of visitation, •  e.g. Costa del Sol, Spain or Guanacaste province Costa Rica !  Transportation corridors and areas impacted by tourism development •  e.g. sprawl corridors with fast food and malls ! 

! Energy

Management

•  Carbon management ! Waste

Management

•  Solid waste – e.g. garbage! ! Waste Water

Management

•  Sewage and grey water, e.g. from laundry ! Air

quality management

•  Emissions from cars particularly important, e.g.

transportation corridors

Noise pollution management •  E.g. airports, stadiums, car racing, e.g Nascar !  Site management •  All tourism facilities, including parking lots !  Regional planning •  Review of impacts of new destination or attraction on region, e.g. transportation, water, waste, noise and costs to manage it at the municipal level !  Transportation corridor planning !  Protected Area and Natural habitat planning !  Bio regional planning ! 

A small-scale lodging facility found in natural areas that: •  conserves neighboring lands •  benefits local communities •  provides interpretation to local populations &

guests

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Ecolodge Definition: a low-impact, nature-based, financially sustainable accommodation that helps protect sensitive neighboring areas; involves and benefits local communities; offers tourists an interpretative and interactive participatory experience; provides a spiritual communion with nature and culture and is planned, designed, constructed, and operated in an environmentally and socially sensitive manner - Mehta (2002), author of International Ecolodge Guidelines

Distinctions between Ecolodges & other Sustainable Buildings Ecolodges are designed based on ecotourism principles: that the tourism business not only is ecologically sustainable but provides benefits to local residents and to conservation.

Ecolodges competitive advantage and revenue generating potential are based on the pristine nature of their surroundings – necessitating the goal of environmental protection.

Distinctions between Ecolodges & other Sustainable Buildings Ecolodges are often very remote, facing infrastructure and transport challenges, in contrast to an urban-based green building

Ecolodges are often in developing countries where there may be a lack of funds to develop a highly technological sustainable building

Criteria: An Ecolodge… •  has minimal impact on the natural and cultural surroundings, •  fits into the physical and cultural environments through attention to design and landscaping as well as building materials, •  utilizes green technologies that provide sustainable means of water acquisition, safe disposal of solid waste and sewage and use of renewable energy sources, •  involves local communities in the ecolodge development and seeks to bring about economic and educational benefits to communities, and •  integrates environmental and cultural education into the visitor s experience.

Ecolodge Design • Conduct environmental and social impact assessments of site, with local stakeholder involvement ensuring plan is appropriate for local biological, geographic, climatic and cultural features as well as potential client expectations • Architecture and infrastructure should integrate harmoniously with surrounding area, for example by using natural materials and low structures – be minimally visible

Ecuador

• labor intensive - local employment • natural, renewable, sustainably harvested materials • Lead-free and no- or low-VOC paints • Take into account each products life cycle • recycled materials (glass, cement, etc.)

Renewable sources such as solar, wind, small hydro and biogas and low energy consumption is the goal • off-the-grid • Passive ventilation & lighting • Solar hot water and photovoltaic panels •  Bio-gas • Insulation, thermal • lighting timers, compact fluorescent bulbs • efficient appliances • Kerosene lamps & candles • Ice boxes & insulated coolers/cool rooms

Conservation and Reuse • Water saving (lowflow) faucets, showerheads & toilets • Rain water storage • Grey water reuse: for gardens and toilets • Less frequent linen washing

Composting dry toilet with roof rainwater catchment, Rainwater sink, Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador Water conserving appliances & biodegradable detergent, Lapa Rios, Costa Rica

Reduce, Re-use, and Recycle. • Onsite wastewater treatment • Compost for use onsite or for local food producers

Separation of recyclables and organic waste at Black Sheep Inn, Ecuador and Sukau Rainforest Lodge, Malaysia

Daily activities that can reduce the impact of the surrounding natural environment

• Limited disposables • Biodegradable cleaning products and personal care products • Chlorine-free/biodegradable/recycled paper products • Incorporate native species for landscaping , avoid exotic • No pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers • Locally produced and natural products • Source organic food for guests meals, onsite organic gardens • Office management: practices and products should include 100% post consumer recycled paper, refillable organic toner for printing • Plant trees and use indoor plants

Sustainability at Lapa Rios http://www.laparios.com/lapgoal.htm

Ecolodges: Exploring Opportunities for Sustainable Business

http://www.ifc.org/ifcext/home.nsf/content/ecolodges 18

!  Complexity

of business !  Community involvement is perceived as risky !  Vulnerable to externalities !  Lack of good collateral !  Heterogeneity and dispersion !  Business inexperience and lack of financials

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! Long

lag time from product offer to

sale ! Know-how in achieving product recognition ! Mastering operational issues ! Lack of business planning & financial management skills ! High staff training costs 20

!  Fund

expansion of existing ecolodge businesses to develop chains

!  Grants

to reduce private businesses costs associated with community partnerships

!  Low-cost

credit mechanisms for solar power, innovative waste, & water systems that are capital intensive, save funds in the long-term, and provide a model. 21