1. Home exam
BRL 390
Globally Responsible Tourism
«Jæren Friluftsråd»
Candidate number: 9015
Hand in: 26.10.2012
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Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 3
What type of organisation is “Jæren friluftsråd”? ................................................................................... 4
“Friluftshuset på Orre”, a bird protected area of use............................................................................... 5
The main current principal and its purpose ......................................................................................... 8
Economic income in “Jæren friluftsråd” ............................................................................................. 9
Leisure lighthouse Kvassheim, “A window towards the sea”............................................................... 10
Cooperation at Kvassheim lighthouse............................................................................................... 12
(UIS, 17.10.12 «RESPONSIBLE MARINE ECOTOURISM» Model from Dr Carl Cater,
Aberystwyth University, Wales) ................................................................................................... 14
Conclusion............................................................................................................................................. 14
Reference list......................................................................................................................................... 16
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Introduction
In the west, southern coast of Norway we have a large natural environment along the coast.
This great and preserved coast area has a purpose of being a wealthy and beautiful recourse
for both animals and birds. Local residents and tourism visitors are welcome to take a benefit
in form of health activities and having a pleasant time. As a protective and facilitating
organization, holds “Jæren Friluftsråd” a numerous nature centers that have Seasonal open
houses for these visitors. With a sight on the sustainability of use and the sensitive ecosystems
in the sea area we are going to have a closer look on “Jæren friluftsråd”’s type of
regulations. How do they act on their responsibility in sustainable ecotourism?
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What type of organisation is “Jæren friluftsråd”?
This conservation organization started mainly as a board consisting of representatives who
take responsibility for selected protected areas along the Jæren coastline. Nature recourses of
pebble, rocks and very fine sandy beaches are a great attraction for this region. The
environment is also a destination of high necessity for birds, fish, animals and salmon
swimming up small rivers. The birdlife is especially vulnerable because it can be seen as an
international airport for these creatures. The conservation organization opened in 1950 out as
“Nord Jæren Friluftsråd” and as a natural, preserving must they designed in 1972 what exists
today called “Jæren friluftsråd”. It works as an inter- municipal cooperation body for taking
care of garbage and preserved nature, and making people aware of what their nature purposes
should be when they are visiting these beautiful areas.
As they are presenting their preservation and work through their leisure houses, visitors can
find information on their websites as well. Quoted from their main site http://www.jarenfri.no/
(12.09.12): “The board of eight directors, are every each a represent from the municipals
Randaberg, Sola, Stavanger, Sandnes, Gjesdal. Klepp, Time and Hå.»
Jæren beaches are also highly recommended by magazines and other travel agent brochures.
“Stretching everywhere, there are stone fences appearing. It proclaims the countless man
work with stone picking in the fields.” (NAF, “motor”, nr. 7 Oct. 2012:88) “Jæren Friluftsråd”
is the organization functioning as main leader for these reservations. A lot is owned by the
government and the Norwegian state, but there are many different owners. About 300-400 of
them are private. The organization are promoting mostly 4 activity houses, but all of these are
interconnected with other types of travel agencies, museums and light houses.
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This project will mainly include two recreation centers where they have practices much on the
sustainability for the environment. These pillars are “Friluftshuset på Orre” and “Friluftshuset
Kvassheim”. They can both link up to each other that they are centers that have protected
birdlife as a mainly enlightenment and regulation. As “Jæren Friluftsråd” has their social
purpose for the citizens in this local region to have recreational areas where they can be social
and have a varied outdoor life. People use their horses and some have fishing legacy to enjoy
their nature and fishing possibilities in a sustainable manner.
“Jæren friluftsråd” has four visions; “outdoor life, prosperity, health and the understanding of
nature”. The directors are of 5 full-time active employers. They have their main office at
Vibemyr, not so far from Sandnes. This is not so many active workers, as they have to take
care of 27 000 preservation areas. It’s possible to find these natural areas all across the Jæren
country, and this is not just only by the sea.
“We all the time trying to get new vulnerable areas in regulated protection” and are promoting the basic
ethics of use in three highlighted rules: “Prevent littering, and take garbage with you back home again.
Do read about the landscape conservation area across belonging to the Jæren beaches. Be aware of
specific regulations of plant and bird life protected areas.” (http://www.jarenfri.no/ (09/12/12))
Is this the way of promoting creating enough consciousness among visitors? In our modern
days of 2012 there are globalization and a constant development of new ways to travel. We
have different types of tourist occurring with the overcrowding mass-tourist to the most
experienced explorer. People travel from destination to new places for something they have
not seen before. Nature recourses are of high value and the people are hunting new
experiences. This causes a question about these Jæren preservations; Are there enough facts
and regulations to keep the sustainable development in the future?
“Friluftshuset på Orre”, a bird protected area of use.
The season is approaching autumn and the weather changes often abruptly from rain and
windy to more sun and some cool breeze. People need to occasionally use them rainwear and
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wool when going on a trip and it's one of those days where it is spoken about the old morality
and the health prevention activities. Her name is Ingun Haukedal and is the deputy chairman
of the Jæren Friluftsråd. It is a friendly lady who tells about the organization and that it has an
existence of about 60 years. “We have a different politic than the usual travel agencies we
find in other places. It is a moral matter that everybody should go out for a walk in these
areas.” (Ingun Haukedal, Friluftshuset on Orre, 28.09.12)
“Jæren friluftsråd” do not prevent visitors and other typologies of travellers for using and take
a benefit of these natural areas. The boundaries are signs that states on environmental law.
This is to find in the walking area where it shows as a sign in form of interpreting in the
smaller infrastructure. A Norwegian tourist can understand what the sign is saying and that it
states; “landscape protection area” and “bird conservation area”. To a foreign tourist, it is not
sure that they will understand what kind of law that is bounded to this part of landscape.
This message is linked to our Norwegian book of laws §33 “protected areas on land, in rivers
and in the sea pursuant to this chapter shall contribute to the conservation of C) threatened
natural and ecological function areas for priority species "
(Norwegian Book of Laws 19. June, nb. 100, 2009 §33 c.)
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There are only fewer limits like parking spaces and other parking areas where you have to pay
a small price to have your car parked for a limited time. This is not in “Friluftshuset på Orre”,
but they have this kind of determination in Mån and Brekko. These reservation places are in
other parts of Jæren. In this way, because of the limited parking spaces, they can prevent large
occupations of mass tourism. Alternative tourism has a way to find out about these beauty
spots on Jæren coast. There are different types of tourists that seek after the right information
among the natural recourses experience. Some are soft and other ones can be more the type of
explorers.
It is not legal to put out a tent in these limited areas. These types of protected landscapes can
be put into McNeely’s (1990) category I, IV and V: “Strict nature reserve /wilderness area,
Habitat Species Management Area and Protected landscape /seascape” (Natural Area
Tourism: 5). This is in a marine environment and it can go out in the water all the way from 5
until 20 meters deep. Norway is also close to the polar region on our planet, but the water is
still rich on plants and seaweed with all its biological diversity. When the users on Jæren Folk
High School take out garbage and are cleaning the beach, they are not allowed to take away
the seaweed because the birds can fins bugs and other food among the smelly “black” plants.
The house is designed by an architect called Per Line, and you get a very Norwegian and
modern feeling when you take a sit down inside the cabin. It can awake all of your five senses
like smell, taste, touch, hearing and views. The house was built in 1987, but has renewed
because of an accident in 1999. It still has the same style and design. Inside the house, you
can see an exhibition of ecosystems, birds and bugs.
(http://www.regionstavanger.com/no/Produkt/?TLp=468948&Friluftshuset-pa-Orre,
12.09.12).
There are a display in form of dvd interpretation and is also a cooperation with “NRK” and a
moviemaking with Jæren Folk High School. The school use the beaches a lot do to surfing
classes and activity. Some of the interpretation signs and tables inside the house show some
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weaknesses. According to Ingun Haukedal they are planning more English interpretation and
bigger text to this pretty ecotourism exhibition.
“Friluftshuset on Orre” has a “folketeller”. On English, this is a counter that is taking a notice
each time a person passes the gate in Orre. Ingun Haukedal has given the freshest visitor
information of how many visitors and walkers that have passed through the area. Only this
year 2012 it has been quite a lot of visitors. From January until September the gate has
counted about 70000 passages. If you put this together correctly it does mean that 35000
people have been for a walk in the area.
The main current principal and its purpose
Haukedal also states that they have a main current principle that is based on what they call the
“free-principal”. “This is an old moral in Jæren”, she says, “where even poor people and
families can offer a good time on the beach, and have a great walk for not so much money.”
(Ingun Haukedal, Friluftshuset on Orre, 28.09.12)
Wright and Wells (1990) came up with a conclusion about interpretation and visitors use of
national parks. They “refer to the beliefs and attitudes that one brings to the experience as
“baggage”, or preconceived notions about the group and the site as well as individual
prejudices and preferences. The baggage has an impact upon the experience.”
(INTERPRETATION AND THE ROLE OF THE GUIDE:74).
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They also mention that a guide or the interpreter can bring baggage to an experience. In this
case we don’t have any guide, just interpreters through signs and synergistic learning
experiences about the nature in this tour area. That is some kind of Norwegian atmosphere
and history, and shows off a strong culture in the local community.
In the leisure house “Jæren friluftsråd” has been working with the bar, just to make
sociological adjustments for people on wheelchair and children. This makes it much easier to
reach up to the table for every visitor, and to buy food in their little kafè.
Ingun Haukedal (28.09.12) is also telling that for now and for future cooperation with other
tourism sectors, they are willing to let destination companies give their contributions in form
of a pay. This is for purpose of getting more open cooperation with the travel industry. But
this is based on the economy and that they have to understand that the organisation is only
about 8 people working for the possibilities for activity and sustaining the environment.
“Friluftshuset on Orre” is now a regional Centre of culture where firms can rent the house,
have a concert or different types of arrangements. It has a function as a landmark or a type of
attraction. Cooperation with the health industry and sociological organs are making it easier
for foreigner and other people to get to know each other and be in a great shape or activity.
Daycenter and the volunteer center have worked with their main principles; “get most people
out for a walk” and “no cover charge, and no purchase obligations”. It is open for audience,
most tourists and people through part of the year. They have closed in November and
December.
Economic income in “Jæren friluftsråd”
The economic part is working in a way where every municipality pays a membership fee.
This is a cost calculated on how many residents that are living in their area. If they have
approximately 120.000 people it will cost 9,50 kroner each person. This gives a number on
1.140.000 kroners a year for that particular municipality in Jæren, Norway.
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The Norwegian State is also supporting with about 500.000 kroners a year, and of course the
County Authority is offering 800.000 a year. This gives a result that makes “Jæren
Friluftsråd” and all their leisure houses a good and sustainable economy.
(“Jæren friluftsråd” formal facts, 24.10.12)
Leisure lighthouse Kvassheim, “A window towards the sea”
This is an old lighthouse from 1912 that has a lot of history around a group of lifesavers who
has rescued people from drowning in the stranded boats. This is now a museum that is safe for
the children to explore and interpret through playing and learning.
Interpreting with a use of their body and senses, and also collectively with their families, these
types of tourists can draw colors on all the birds. In the top of this museum there are printed
drawing sheets with the birds breed name like for example; “Myrsnipe” in English “Dunlinn”.
Families can also learn about the species and some make a change of behavior and attitude
among the species of birds in Jæren.
“In addition to the posters, which you can see below, the exhibition consists of a nature photo gallery,
sound shower and telescope aimed at the bird life in Kvassheim Gulf. The exhibition is still under
development and new activities and performances are continuously published on this page.”
(http://www.friluftsfyret-kvassheim.no/utstillingene.html , 21.10.12)
It’s easier to find more niche industry and different interpretation signs and facilitating
experiences at the museum. This makes an attitude in a more story-telling way and is clearly a
responsible type of tourism. It is a visitor centre along a walking route, where mostly the local
people in Rogaland use as a cultural trail for a trim with the family in a weekend.
Ecotourism like the interpretations of facts on the lighthouse in Kvassheim can have a great,
learning impact on the collective, local community. Here you find self-guided trails that are
always available depending on the weather.
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“Everyone involved in tourism – government, product owners and operators, (… ) community
service, tourists, local communities, industry associations – are responsible for achieving
goals of responsible tourism” (Grahn,15.09.2010:1) . Adults can sit down for a chat over a
good Norwegian little meal, and also watch DVD as a display of the ecosystem, history and
some of the rules. Inside the lighthouse they have also made a playground of a small boat with
lighthouse toys and life jackets where the children can play and have fun.
There are some critical problems linked to the natural-cultural environment and one factor is
the climate change. Cold temperature can almost eradicate some type of birds in the winter
time. It has almost happened in 2010 as there was a very cold winter.
Visitors make a learning and quick learning about the purposes for use in the protected areas.
What type of birds that are enjoying the coast and why. Not everybody has the time to sit
down and get all the information through the DVD displays. There could be more information
for the elderly people and parents that have more of a choice to behave in a sustainable
matter. Maybe there can be more of environmentally awareness cooperation among local
tourist agencies and smaller hotels?
Until now they have a promoting program with use of art. There are not so much people that
know about the opportunities of art and learning about ecotourism. The program is called “A
necklace of lighthouses, PROGRAM 2012, “on the edge””. This is an interesting arrangement
that not so many people are aware of.
According to Jafaris four platforms (Weaver, 2008:3-6) we have four different platforms that
is the advocacy, where you used to think that tourism will just bring many positive
consequences. Later it became more explored and Jafari is pointing out a cautionary platform.
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This is when it became important to have some sort of rules and careful regulations. This was
a result of negative consequences of mass tourism. As “Jæren friluftsråd” has existed in about
60 years, they have a lot of this safety regulations put out as a reminder in the museums and
signs in the attraction and interpretation.
The adaptancy platform is where they can start steering the different types of tourism getting
into this destination. As referred to Ingun Haukedal, they do not practice that much on this
type of regulation. People are more supposed to go out for economic and friendly walk in the
nature preserved areas. But the fourth and last stage, the knowledge-based platform is one of
the highly sustainable and responsible ways to interpret. People can get to know the identity
to these places and at the same time learn about the nature area and the bird life.
(Ingun Haukedal, Friluftshuset on Orre, 28.09.12)
Cooperation at Kvassheim lighthouse
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran, 1971) is to be found as a mark in the
museum. This is one of many types of prevention marks that are highlighted in signs. It is an
intergovernmental treaty that gives the framework for “national action and international
cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources”.
(http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-home/main/ramsar/1_4000_0__ 25.10.12)
Many birds are flying long distances over the sea to stop over for a hang out at Jæren coast.
Here they find food between stones and wetlands along the coast. For the tourists it is
remarkable to experience that the birdlife has such a huge significance in the tour areas.
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Other remarkable marks the visitor can see are the cooperation between the governmental and
NGOs. We have for example the Norwegian Nature Inspectorate and Norwegian
Ornithological Society. Official boards are The University of Stavanger and important
governmental boards as County Governor of Rogaland, environmental protection department.
As demonstrated, the government are already taking a lot of responsibility for these natural
environments. Quick info about these organisations can give a good sense of understanding
that the Norwegian government are participating in saving species and preserving areas of
important nature. They are committing it up to laws and regulations. The house is mostly open
in summer time from the 25th
of June until the 17th
august. In the spring and autumn they have
open at Sunday’s from 11.00-17.00 o’clock.
Because of this regulation this seems like a good preserved area, that is not “greenwashing” at
all, but taking care of the parts of the nature and striving after more responsibility. They also
have another type over cooperation with “Nasjonale Turistveger in Norway” where they are
working around the roads to the North Sea. There are great photos of Jæren at their website.
(http://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/no/jaeren#img1 20.10.12)
Dr Carl Cater (UIS, 17.10.12), has talked about “greenwashing” and are exemplifying
“symbiotic relationships in ecotourism” and is called “the quadruple bottom line”;
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(UIS, 17.10.12 «RESPONSIBLE MARINE ECOTOURISM» Model from Dr Carl Cater,
Aberystwyth University, Wales)
This model is showing a way of improvement functions in the environment and also,
economy and sociologic society. The model is a great way to get an understanding of what
different factors that are preventing each other and a softly making profit and preserving the
environment.
Conclusion
The situation today seems to be strictly and positively controlled. People are not suffering and
can enjoy a great travel offer for recreation and social activity. It does not cost that much
money, maybe just for the gas and some food at the kafè shop. I’ve learned about the
difference between Norwegian structure in ecotourism management and other countries.
Local people particularly are welcome to track down the walking distances for a healthy
experience. Tourism is not that very regulated, but then again they do not put down on the
needs of natural, affordable activities for the travellers.
Families travelling to Norway can have a great time at Orre beach and a quick visit at the
museum without any extra costs on their holiday. Possible recommendations could be more
quizzes, more social benefits for the people at summertime. On “friluftshuset on Orre” they
could have a better language alternative on more English explanations, but they are also
working on this.
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The government has been working with great principles and should not remove this way of
moral because it gives the destination a uniqueness that not so many other destinations are
practising. As a consideration of future development, it should be even easier for the foreign
visitors to get the right information about the place and the purpose of acting in this kind of
nature. It can be that easy as just more translation in brochures and signs.
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Reference list
- Cater, Dr Carl, «RESPONSIBLE MARINE ECOTOURISM» Model from lecture in
the University of Stavanger 17.10.12, Aberystwyth University, Wales)
- Grahn, Åsa, “Globally Responsible Tourism BRL 390”, lecure notes, first published
15.09.2010
- Haukedal, Ingun “Social Interview”, Friluftshuset on Orre, 28.09.12
- “Jæren friluftsråd” informative formal facts about Haukadals interview, 24.10.12
- Newsome, D., S.A. Moore and Dowling, R. K., Clevedon, “Natural Area Tourism,
Ecology, Impacts and Management. Chapter 1 Introduction”, Channel View
Publications 2002.
- NAF, “motor”, Nr. 7 October. 2012
- NORSK KULTURRÅD ”PROGRAM 2012, EN KJEDE AV FYR, on the edge”, 2012
- Larikka, Lisa Marie, ”Photos from Orre and Kvassheim” 21.10.12
- LOVDATA, STUDENTUTGAVE, UTGITT AV DET JURIDISKE FAkULTET VED
UNIVERSITETET I OSLO, 1687-2010, I KOMMSJON HOS FAGBOKFORLAGET
VIGMOSTAD & BJØRKE AS
- Pond, Kathleen Lingle, ”5 Interpretation and the Role of the Guide” 1993,
DYNAMICS OF TOUR GUIDING, VAN NOSTRAND REINHOLD
- Weaver, David ”WILEY AUSTRALIA TOURISM SERIES Ecotourism” Second
Edition,Published 2008 by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 42 McDougall Street,
Milton Qld 4064
Websites
http://www.friluftsfyret-kvassheim.no/utstillingene.html , 21.10.12
http://www.jarenfri.no/ 09.12.12
http://www.jarenfri.no/ 12.09.12
http://www.nasjonaleturistveger.no/no/jaeren#img1 20.10.12
http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-home/main/ramsar/1_4000_0__ 25.10.12
