"The Sea, sand, sun, spirits, sex"
("5S") - all create a classical tourist product or as some hard- liners opposing "spirits or sex" appreciate only the "3S" best. Unfortunately, this most popular worldwide product does not work in the BSR that is still to be discovered by the tourists. Political transformation after the collapse of the Iron Curtain exhibits unrivalled opportunities for the region.
The World Tourism Organisation (WTO) forecasts for the Baltic Region up to the year 2020 are fairly optimistic but
the competitors |
income.
Tourism success in the BSR is determined by the cooperative outcome
developed by all the relevant actors in the region. Here the main priority of the cooperation should be the sustainable tourism development based on Agenda 21 for the Baltic Sea Region adopted at the 7 th Ministerial Session of the Council of Baltic Sea States in 1998. Appreciatively, also the Union of the Baltic Cities places significant emphasis on the environmental development. Noticeably, the sustainable tourism |
has become ever present. It is the one "which is any form of tourism which respects the environment, ensures long term resources, and is socially and economically adopted".
The objectives of tourism sector according to the Baltic 21 Agenda should be as follows: (1) It should sustain a sound environment to safeguard the recreational quality of natural and man made landscape and to integrate natural, cultural and human environments, (2) promote and sustain the competitive quality and efficiency of tourism business, (3) and create satisfactory conditions for tourists and local population.
The Rugian Recommendations relating to the cultural environment stipulate several issues of major interest as listed below. First, with regard to major tourist projects, critical analyses and rational localisation of major tourism infrastructure investment, involving transportation system and local community's opinions are recommended. Major Projects should not exert negative impact on the region's cultural uniqueness.
Second, with regard to the tourist behaviour, there is a need to raise relatively low tourist environmental awareness, also through projects financed jointly by authorities and the tourism industry. A correlation between the tourist demand and supply is focused on, too. Additionally, there is a close connection between the changes in the environmental quality and tourists behaviour, which should not be neglected.
Third, as for the biodiversity, the need for sticking to Helsinki Commission's assumptions related to biospherical reserves is being stressed. Tourism as such should be the part of the integrated management of the coastal zones. What's more, tourist activities should be limited especially in the areas protected by law, to preserve the habitats. |
do not sleep! Tourism has become the biggest world industry generating new jobs, but at the same time destroying natural and man made heritage. Fortunately, the Baltic countries place themselves in a good position in comparison to other European regions, which enables the BSR to offer more sustainable tourist products.
BSR as a tourist destination area is composed of the countries generating diversified tourism |
development is also the priority for the Baltic Sea Tourism Commission, regional organization which has contributed most to the development of the tourist product under the lead of Arne Ellefors, its former Secretary General.
As a well- timed coincidence this edition of the UBC bulletin is devoted entirely to tourism. In no way can tourism be looked upon separately from environmental issues. Therefore, the term "eco- tourism" or sustainable
tourism
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