Presentation made at the Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States conference, 23-24 November 2017, Seychelles. A partnership of the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation, IUCN WCPA Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group, University of Seychelles, Paris Tourism Sorbonne (IREST), and Global Sustainable Tourism Council.
2. IOCās actions in sustainable tourism
ā¢ Touristic Cooperation Strategy Study
ā¢ Proposal for a Regional Indian Ocean Sustainable tourism certification
label for touristic accommodations
ā¢ A pledge for Regional Air connectivity improvement
ā¢ Regional Cultural Products enhancement
ā¢ SmartFish Eco-tourism Evaluation and Support program
3. Touristic Cooperation Strategy Study between Members
States of IOC (2014-2015)
The Touristic Cooperation Strategy Study, funded by the European Development
Fund
(EDF), had 3 objectives:
the definition of viable and competitive regional touristic products ;
a strategy concerning priority markets ;
an optimum organization of the touristic sector.
Facts from the study: Niche tourism and cruises could contribute to the growth of the sector up to 100
000 additional tourists in 2020, in addition to the growth of Ā« classic tourismĀ».
4. Roadmap for a Touristic Cooperation Strategy between
Members States of the IOC (June 16th 2015)
ā¢ To harmonize quality service standards and classification, especially for touristic
accommodations in connection with activities of standardization in progress in the Members
States.
ā¢ To define needs in professional training in the standardization area as a priority
ā¢ To develop and commercialize products from touristic cooperation in line with existing synergies,
especially pilot actions of the UCCIOI in the sustainable, responsible and fair tourism in collaboration
with the Vanilla Islands Association
ā¢ To lean more on the Vanilla Islands Association for the implementation of the strategy, especially
concerning regional products.
Actions can to be implemented in the framework of clubs, created in accordance with the thematic of the
strategy.
6. Relevance of a regional certification label
ā¢ To assist the development of touristic activity and new arrivals of
tourists
ā¢ To support inter-islands regional tourism through:
ā¢ A common touristic tool: a marketing power for all the Member States of IOC,
reinforcing the attractivity of the region
ā¢ A regional approach for a positive amplifier effect on the entire area
ā¢ To give guaranties to visitors on a reliable sustainable touristic offer
7. Objectives
To harmonize the standards to ensure continuity in the quality
ā¢ To position the Indian Ocean as an integrated and unique touristic destination,
promoting inter-islands itineraries
ā¢ To develop a touristic offer for regional products contributing to the rise of sustainable
touristic offer notably through ecotourism niche-products
ā¢ To promote and share expertise and individual capacities of each island
ā¢ To protect the environment of vulnerable Islands States and the sustainable
development through responsible resources utilization
9. Methodology
2- Experimental implementation
Training of auditors :
Trainings of one day per Member States done by the consulting firm
Auditors already trained on touristic accommodation certifications
National workshops to inform touristic operators
Realization of 100 audits in 5 Members States:
Sample of 100 touristic accommodations
Self-assessments to be completed by touristic accommodations before the audits
Certification committee : 1 per Member State
Members: 8 professionals from touristic sector + 1 IOC observer + 1 observer from
Vanilla Islands Association
2 certification committees each year during 3 years
Cooperation partners: regional partners as UCCIOI and VIA, national partners as national offices of
tourism, privileged partners as Mauritius Standard Bureau and additional partners as Seychelles Sustainable
Tourism Fundation