Southern Alaska and, in the country of Canada, the Northwest coast of British Colombia embraces a diverse archipelago called the Haida Gwaii Islands, the old formal name known as Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida is a name for the native nation that lives on the islands, and in the Haida language the name Haida Gwaii means “islands of the people”. It is an attractive tourist destination for its culture, biodiversity, and national park reserve with a marine reserve. Two main extractive industries of forestry and fisheries hold up the community of the islands. Nowadays tourism plays a major role in shaping the islands’ economy as an alternative and supportive source of income. Overall, forestry, fishery and tourism are key industries on the islands of Haida Gwaii. According to the Council of The Haida Nation (TOWARDS A MARINE USE PLAN FOR HAIDA GWAII, 2007) the islands are one of the richest homes of the marine environment worldwide.
Generally speaking, nowadays, studies point out that if fishing practices around the world do not change, the seafood will disappear within four decades (Holman, 2004). Similar results apply to the forestry industry too. Environmental damage appears as consequences of the overfishing and unlimited forestry. Yet there has been less sustainable planning for fishing and other marine and land uses in Haida Gwaii islands.
Stakeholders are committed to managing the ecosystem in Haida Gwaii demonstrated with the land use planning 2003, as well as the creation of the national marine conservation area 2010. (Notzke, 2011). According to the British Colombia government, forestry is the most important industry contributing 33% of the islands income, followed by tourism 7% and commercial fishing 4% of the total income. Previously islanders in Haida Gwaii depended mainly on forestry and fishing, which harmed the surrounding environment and its marine life. Tourism on the islands is growing and developing. It is based on conserving the ecosystem and biodiversity and sustaining the local residence culture and history.
The government of Canada and the Haida nation has been working toward sustainability and managing the islands resources through different projects for better practices and achievements. The creation of Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site during the early nineties is a clear example of that effort. See Map 1
Map 1: Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site.(Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, 2010)
Serious efforts have been taken to protect what is taken from the island resources. The Forest and Range Practices Act is a new approach to the forestry industry 2001; it was implemented by the provincial government of British Colombian 2001 replacing the old regulation Forest Practices Cod (Hetherington, 2006). On a larger scale it focuses more on studying the relationship between the protected areas and the forestry resource management (Yolanda F. Wiersma, 2010)
Although the real beginning of the tourism as a major industry goes back to 1993 when the Gwaii Haanas Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site were created, tourism existed before that. The local people of the islands realise and recognise the importance of tourism as a new source of income and ideal alternative of forestry and fishing consumptions. In other words tourism looks like a more sustainable way to enhance the economy with less social and environmental side effects. The Heritage Tourism Strategy (2003), the Haida Gwaii Community Viability Strategy (2007), and the Haida Gwaii Community Tourism Plan (2009) are reflecting the importance of the tourism sector and how local community consider it as a new key industry for the islands. Ecotourism appear as the main type of tourism in Haida Gwaii.
Tourism within sustainable development
Before exploring the role of tourism in the sustainable development we might need to understand what the sustainable development means. It is about satisfying our needs without compromising the right of the upcoming generation. People’s livings depend on many resources, especially the natural resources from the surrounding environment. Thus, sustainable developments means thinking deeply about how to use these resources and if there are any alternatives to satisfy our needs with minimum consumption. Sustainable development is based on long term plans and strategies with integrated social, economical and environmental priorities. Clearly, satisfying the fundamentals of sustainable development merge basic human needs, social justice, cultural diversity, ecological and environmental conservation (Mitchell, 1994).
Tourism, the service based product, is one of the largest industry nowadays worldwide. It plays a main part in developing many countries and has a major role in enhancing the economic presentation in many destinations. Also it has a positive role in bridging cultures besides job creations and other positive impacts. In other words, tourism could be a tool for sustainable development. At the same time tourism has side effects on environment and societies as well as cultures. Tourism is a product, by its nature, based on people and the natural environment; we travel carrying our own culture to meet other cultures. Also, we travel to other destinations where we will be using their environment and resources. In fact, tourism needs a sustainable framework to function sustainability. Long-term planning, eco friendly transportation means, new technologies, green practices, organic food, environmentally friendly accommodations, and cultural awareness are some components that can help in building a friendly framework for more sustainable tourism. Economic, socio-cultural, political and environmental elements shape the tourism frame work. See Figure 1 for further details.
1: Issues within the three spheres of sustainability 2002.(Sandra I. Rodriguez, 2002)
Sustainable development within tourism
The importance of sustainable tourism comes for the importance of sustainable development. We need to think more seriously about sustainable tourism, simply because the number of tourists is increasing rapidly while the tourism product resources are doing the same. We need well-managed strategies in tourism to ensure a limited usage and consumption of the resources whilst being commercially pleasant. Overlying principles of sustainable tourism development are mixed. It is a complex relation among economic, environment and social factors.
Environmental sustainability in tourism has central ideologies starting from the efficient use of the natural resources, going through waste reduction, recycling, conservation, research and educational programs in environmental awareness. It is also considered important to utilize part of the tourism income for environment benefits.
Social sustainability has essential considerations toward the host/guest relationship. Maintaining the social identity, cultural diversity with the cross-cultural communication, equivalent access opportunities for food, healthcare, employment and education are the main considerations. Moreover, participating in different stages of the tourism production processes includes making the decisions.
In economic sustainability we look for qualitative economic growth with a fine level of steadiness. Also, tourism should be profitable to ensure sustainable economy without blocking the minimal of living standards.
According to (Müller, 1994) in his pentagon, five points are essential to achieve a sustainable tourism development. Healthy economy, best possible satisfaction for tourist, best well-being to local communities, unharmed reserved nature and a healthy society and culture are essential for balanced tourism development.
Although the local community of the Haida Gwaii’s islands was involved in part of the development still there are key community concerns. There is a need for long-term strategies that address more clearly the benefits for the local community from tourism and forestry industries. The role of tourism in promoting the beauty of the biodiversity of the islands and how to insure and maintain its’ environmental sustainability should also be addressed. I consider the capital of Haida Gwaii to be the natural resources. As there is not much salmon to fish in Haida Gwaii we should be careful in our practices toward the nature. Ecotourism and adventure tourism in Haida Gwaii are alternatives replacing fishing and forestry to maintain those resources for the coming generations.
Supply and Demand in Haida Gwaii tourism
Supply and demand in the tourism industry are very much linked to motivations. Tourism motivations are defined as the worldwide complex of external and internal biological, cultural forces, wants, social needs that affect the behaviour and experience of the tourists. Tourism motivations are linked to the tourist’s behaviours, throughout psychological, anthropological, socio-cultural and physical dimensions(Kozak, Gnoth, & Andreu, 2010). Studying tourism motivations helps in understanding the guests’ needs and how to arrange more successful destinations to attract them. Moreover, it is very important to understand and examine the tourist motivations in relation to demand and supply in tourism. Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve is an excellent model portraying the fauna and flora along with the culture of the islands. The supply in Haida Gwaii focuses on the quality of tourist not the quantity, with no doubt this lead to healthier tourism. When talking about supply and demand in Haida Gwaii’s tourism we should include the ecosystem conservation issue which has a strong relation to the carrying capacity of the islands.
Conclusion
Haida Gwaii’s living resources have become a commodity for money. There have been major downward trends in its fishing and forestry industries. On the other hand, more positive practices are occurring throughout the cultural, adventure and ecotourism activities happening in the islands. While the challenges of sustaining the cultural and natural resources are present, the tourism stakeholders in Haida Gwaii are working on supplementary eco-cultural friendly projects like; The Haida Gwaii Watchmen Program, and Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve. Sustainable tourism in Haida Gwaii should be developed and promoted as an alternative to forestry and fishing for more sustainable development in the islands. Sustainable tourism development works better with alternative forms of tourism like ecotourism and adventure tourism. Also, local communities should partake in the tourism planning process and share the returns too. Regulations and researches supports sustainability are essential for tourism development.
References
Hetherington, T. D. a. E. (2006). Forest Hydrology in British Columbia: Context and History [Draft]. FORREX Forest Research Extension Partnership and B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range Retrieved from http://www.forrex.org/program/water/compendium.asp.
Notzke, C. (2011). Tourism’s Role in Sustainable Development. The Case of Haida Gwaii. Faculty of Management University of Lethbridge. (unpublished work).
TOWARDS A MARINE USE PLAN FOR HAIDA GWAII. (2007). COUNCIL OF THE HAIDA NATION.
