MCRB and FFI began a week of multistakeholder workshops on sustainable tourism in Tanintharyi with a two day discussion focussed on Myeik District at the J&J Hotel on 15/16 May attended by around 60 local people involved in the tourism industry, and international and Myanmar tourism experts. Read more: http://www.myanmar-responsiblebusiness.org/news/tanintharyi-tourism-workshops.html

1. Innovative conservation since 1903
Frank Momberg
Developing an Environmental
Responsible Tourism Strategy
for Tanintharyi Region

2. Innovative conservation since 1903
What is responsible tourism?
Responsible Tourism - Tourism that recognizes the impacts
of tourism on a destination and seeks to maximise the
positive impacts and minimizes the negative impacts
Ecotourism – Responsible
travel to natural areas that
conserves the environment
and improves the well being
of local people.

3. Innovative conservation since 1903
To develop a responsible tourism strategy we will share:
• Key principles and actions for responsible tourism
development
• Identification of key biodiversity areas/ nature-based
tourism attraction
• Baseline assessment of current tourism development in
Tanintharyi
• Best practices of world-class tourism management in
Galapagos World Heritage Site and the Philippines
• Lessons learned from tourism developments in Myanmar
(e.g. community-based tourism, responsible resorts)

4. Innovative conservation since 1903
Coral Reef Surveys

5. Innovative conservation since 1903
Social Surveys

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8. Innovative conservation since 1903
Negative Impacts of
Tourism Development
• Land erosions/ land reclamation/ sedimentation causing natural
habitat loss (Sedimentation from coastal land clearing for hotel
development destroys coral reefs)
• Traffic congestions and pollution to access destinations and
attractions
• Building of boat jetties/ marinas in coral reef areas can destroy the
reef
• Habitat degradation due to use of building materials from
unsustainable sources (e.g. timber, sand, gravel)
• Depletion of freshwater sources
• Pollution of air, water, noise (e.g. sewage/ solid waste leads to algae
growth killing off coral reefs)
• Trampling by snorkelers and divers, anchors from boats destroy
fragile coral reefs
• Uncontrolled waste disposal and marine litter

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Maximize benefits to the
environment and minimize
negative impacts
• Responsible Tourism Strategy: The destination has
established and is implementing a multi-year responsible
tourism strategy that has been consulted with all
stakeholders, is publically available, and that considers
environmental, sociocultural, health and safety issues,
including cumulative impacts
• Ecosystem Protection: The destination has a system in place
to measure the impact of tourism and mange impacts on sea/
landscapes and eco-systems
• Energy conservation: The destination has a program in place
to promote energy conservation, reduce reliance on fossil
fuels and encourage tourism operators to conserve energy
and use renewable energy

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Maximize benefits to the
environment and minimize
negative impacts (2)
• Water consumption/ conservation: The destination
encourages tourism enterprises to monitor and conserve
water. The water supply for tourism is ecologically sustainable
and does not adversely effect community users, taking into
account the overall cumulative impacts of all local surface and
groundwater use. The destination has a system in place to
monitor surface and seawater water quality.
• Waste management: The destination has a system in place to
ensure that waste from tourism sites and enterprises are
properly treated and reused or safely deposited without
adverse effects to the local population and the environment.
Ensure that waste from tourism is minimized, re-used or
recycled. Tourism operations are encouraged to support
beach and stream clean ups.

11. Innovative conservation since 1903
Thayawthadangyi/ Daung
islands
• Beautiful beaches on the west
site
• Potential for short forest treks
• Very good coral reefs, but low
visibility, not suitable for
snorkelling or diving
• Threats from destructive fishing
practises
• Potential base for dive
operations to Torres islands
Torres islands
• Most islands have good coral
reefs
• Good dive sites
• Very far from the main land
• Destructive fishing practices

12. Innovative conservation since 1903
Recommendations
Thayawthadangyi/ Daung islands
 Identify beach tourism sites for picnic/ swimming day trips
– identify short forest treks
– provide shelters for shade
– establish waste collection system by tourism operators
– regulate visitor numbers and collect license/ entrance fees in
support of park protection (LMMA/ no take zones)
– Identify safe boat access to the beach without impacting coral
reefs
 Potential hotel development on beautiful beaches (without coral
reefs)
– establish waste collection system by hotel operators
– collect entrance/ license fees in support of park protection (no take
zones)

13. Innovative conservation since 1903www.fauna-flora.org