Programme for El Nido Resorts GREEN (“Guard Respect Educate El Nido”) Campaign, 2011 • ASEAN Green Hotel Award for the years 2008-2009 and 2010-2011 • Responsible Tourism Award, 2009, given by www.wildasia.org • Sustainable Hotel Award in the Sustainable Destination Category, 2010, given by Hotel Investment Conference Asia Pacific • Travel and Leisure’s “Our Fifteen (15) Favorite Green Hotels,” 2008 and 2007, for US, South Asia and Australia • British Airways’ Tourism for Tomorrow Awards, 2007, Investors in People Category • Conde Nast Travel Green List Awards, ENCOURAGING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN BUSINESS AND COMMUNITIES FOR BIODIVERSITY 83 2006 • Islands Blue List Award, 2007 It was also nominated in the 2011 ASEAN Champions of Biodiversity, a recognition programme for outstanding projects on biodiversity conservation and advocacy in the ASEAN region. Managed by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, the award is aimed at generating greater leadership, public and media awareness of the problems facing the region’s rich but highly threatened biodiversity and the need for a concerted effort in biodiversity conservation and advocacy. According to Mr. Nieves B. Rosento, municipal councilor of El Nido, Palawan, “El Nido Resorts’ contribution to the overall image of El Nido as a municipality that promotes responsible tourism practices is unquantifiable. Leading by example, they have shown other operators how to run island resorts with proper environment-saving infrastructure.” He added that “El Nido Resorts has also consistently shown support for the collection of Conservation Fees and the Ecotourim Development Fund by the Local Government Unit, acting as Special Collecting Agent. These funds have been used for the sole purpose of environmental protection.” Challenges As tourism becomes an increasingly important economic activity in natural areas around the world, local governments are faced daily with the daunting task of balancing the delicate relationship between economic development and environmental conservation. Tourism can benefit biodiversity conservation only if it adheres to principles of sustainability and if laws are applied equally, properly and efficiently. Conflicts arise when government units are not able to implement environmental laws properly. Carrying capacity studies are rendered useless when limits are exceeded and no sanctions are imposed. Environmental compliance becomes optional, and breakdown of order ensues. This proves as a disincentive to companies, like TKDC, that have been faithfully adhering to regulations. On the other hand, irresponsible tourism operators flourish undeterred. Some uncooperative boatmen, for example, drop anchor wherever their guests desire to stop to swim or snorkel. Some resorts operate without the requisite Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). Also, too many government agencies that have jurisdiction over El Nido have resulted in confusion as to who truly is in charge of environmental protection. Is it the local police or the Protected Area Office or the El Nido Environmental Law Enforcement Council? Government budgets for infrastructure for sustainable development, including biodiversity conservation, must be passed. At present, there is minimal presence of government authority in the bay to discourage illegal activities. The police do not even have their own patrolling resources. As a result, TKDC had to bridge the gap by including in its annual budget the requirements for a government-deputized Environmental Enforcement Officer who does regular patrols. Finally, government should be strict yet simplify bureaucratic processes, and create incentives for sustainable tourism practitioners to attract responsible investors.
In Celebration of His Majesty the King of Thailand’s 84th Birthday Anniversary
To see the actual publication please follow the link above