In this post Environment Tobago examines the role of nature with a view to gauging its value to the island’s tourism.
Aspects held in common by most every tourism destination are at core; an understanding of the travel trade, having the ability to excel at fairs, conferences and other product visibility events, be able to feature attractions that can excite a particular target, readiness to ensure adequate or better than basic food and drink in the destination, boast other critical tourism services - which should include transport, variety in recreation, accommodation that suits the market, and an atmosphere that is especially welcoming.
The diagram above could easily be mistaken for a supply chain. It is kind of, but here it seeks to identify points of entry along the tourism value chain. Essentially it reads thus; The destination should be ready (Prepared/Prep) with its attractions, amenities, and as well its attitudes. (Note ‘Attitudes’ shows up again in the Improve link of the chain, saying that the value system should always be looking to improve). Monitoring feedback for customer Satisfaction is important - As is monitoring Load on Nature/natural systems.
Using this logic, ‘scaling’ a location’s tourism upward mean that ‘value’ list would expand. Therefore attractions for a particular niche would logically become attractions for even more target markets allowing, preferences can be catered to and according to the standard working for each niche. A common denominator (or shared aspect) for a typical destination - which if it were the Caribbean or let’s say Tobago since we live here, would be nice beach, great reef, ocean view, pristine forest and enough opportunity for the visitor to interact with these spaces.
What this translates to in a real world scenario is; a dedicated bird watcher group may use the same forest trail as the cruise ship crowd, albeit at different times of the day. Both will understand and expect their experience of the forest that day will be different - Nature will assure there is something for everyone. What is not always apparent is the contribution the natural environment makes to the tour operator’s revenue stream.
The entire scaling up ’thing’ however becomes a slippery slope - of knowing just how much load the that part of the destination being loaded can carry. In a previous post we spoke at length about carrying capacity, but that was in relation to the ability of the local human community. What we’re getting to here is establishing that nature does contribute, contribute well and greatly but, it requires as much or probably more cognisance/maintenance than human communities and or built infrastructure.
In the Tobago scenario what is becoming fast apparent is; the tourism supply chain has matured to the point where nature is beginning to unravel at the edges. Examples abound. The wetlands are being degraded to cater to events. As is the case of Bloody Bay: Where the bible tourism operators host camps over the Carnival weekend ‘wisely’ targeting the folk seeking respite from the masquerade. A similar travesty occurs more regularly within the Buccoo Marine Park:; Where ‘savvy’ nature tourism operators have ‘scaled’ their offering and now provide music and more on the scenic sand-spit between the Bon Accord Lagoon and the Nylon Pool. The damage to the nature product there is unimaginable but certainly audible/visible. And also proves that nature does contribute to tourism.
In sum. Tobago is no longer a new travel destination. Over three decades it has scaled its airport and sea-bridge services. It is building new hotels on top of existing ones; justifying everything it does along the way as developing the tourism product. All of which is fine, great for business. Perspective through the environmental lens though suggests Tobago should rethink its ambitions - degrow its tourism priorities to nurture its nature into a fuller, more equitable partnership. That way the island’s business will sustain.