"Ecotourism" is defined by The Revise this activity to focus on development of (b) Pilot on ecotourism at Hithadhoo International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as a tourism concept for Hithadhoo Protected "Responsible Area based on a realistic assessment of the travel to natural that domestic and international tourist markets in conserves the environment and improves It has a relation to existing and possible attractions the well-being of local people". high social content and is not the same as (e.g. birds, flying foxes, semi-natural terrestrial nature-based tourism. and coastal habitats, land-based snorkelling). be some potential for off-island may nature-based tourism on Hithadhoo, probably as part of a day trip from the high-end resorts elsewhere in the atoll and/or from safari boats. Any fee-generating tourism development on Hithadhoo would be dependent on marketing a specific product, which would have to be significantly different from other tourism options in the in order to attract customers (e.g. 2-hour bicycle tours). of basic Disappointment if facilities are built but See comment infrastructure for eco-tourism economic benefits from tourism do not (nature trails, observation hides, materialise (see comments above). This interpretation centre, visitor scenario is considered likely in the absence convenience services). of an identified tourist market and business plan - and a full clean up of the whole area to remove all solid waste.
(b) Pilot on ecotourism at Hithadhoo "Ecotourism" is defined by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) as "Responsible travel to natural that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people". It has a high social content and is not the same as nature-based tourism. may be some potential for off-island nature-based tourism on Hithadhoo, probably as part of a day trip from the high-end resorts elsewhere in the atoll and/or from safari boats. Any fee-generating tourism development on Hithadhoo would be dependent on marketing a specific product, which would have to be significantly different from other tourism options in the in order to attract customers (e.g. 2-hour bicycle tours). Revise this activity to focus on development of a tourism concept for Hithadhoo Protected Area based on a realistic assessment of the domestic and international tourist markets in relation to existing and possible attractions (e.g. birds, flying foxes, semi-natural terrestrial and coastal habitats, land-based snorkelling). of basic infrastructure for eco-tourism (nature trails, observation hides, interpretation centre, visitor convenience services). Disappointment if facilities are built but economic benefits from tourism do not materialise (see comments above). This scenario is considered likely in the absence of an identified tourist market and business plan - and a full clean up of the whole area to remove all solid waste. See comment
RP11870v20RP0P00Social000Oct-20110.docx